Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-03-18
FIFrY-FIFrH CONGRESS.
HOGSE.

HOUSE.
, Washington, March 1.-The bill to nav
the Bowman act claims, aggregating g.
100000 for stores and supplies furnished
the union army during the war, was before
the house until o'clock to-day, but beyond
completing the general debate little prog
ress was made. OF the 500 odd claims in
the bill all but a few come from the south.
and dilatory tactics Were resortcd to to
prevent progress with the bill. -
SENATE.
Washington, March 14.-The senate pass
ed considerable number of bills from the
general calendar, among the number being
one authorizing the construction of eight
new revenue cutters, not exceeding in. ae-
gregate cost the sum Of Sl,O25. 600. The
resolution offered by Mr.. Chandler author
izing the committee on naval affairs to
send for persons and papers in an inyesti-
cation of the Maine disaster was adopted,
..& HOUSE.
The proceedings We're utterly devoid Of
public interest. The time was devoted to
District of Columbia business.
SENATE
Washington, March 15-After the pass
age of numerous bills of minor Importance,
the senate began the consderati ton Of the
matter Of providing for u national system
of quarantine. Little beyond the reading
OF the bill was accomplished, some desul-
tory discussion arising on an amendment
offered by the committee. but no progress
being made on the general bill.
HOUSE.
The house spent the day considering the
postofice appropriation bill. Little pro-
gress was made, as the debate was mainly
Of Il political nature.
SENATE.
Washington. March lG.-Business trans.
acted was confined to bills of u local char
acter. Davis, chairman of the committee
on foreign relations, presented a joint reso-
luton for the annexation of Hawaii 1t
was placed on the calendar. In executive
session the nomination of +. V. Powdcrly
to be commissioner of immigration was
confirmed.
HOUSE.
During consideration of the postoffice
appropriation bill the Cuban-Spanish
question, which had been kept in the back
ground heretofore, forged to the front. In
an address Cochran of Missouri referred
to the rumor that the president desired
the adjournment of congress in order that
he might be able to settle the Spanish
affair without interference from congress.
Grosvenor emphatically denied that the
president desired any such thing. Norton,
uem., "a, expressed amazement that the
republicans had been so long silent in the
lace OF the outrages heaped upon us by
Spain. He criticized the presidents policy
and prophecied that he would take the
position of Grant and Fish and see humil-
iatlon and dishonor perch upon our
Banners.
SENATE
Washington, March Ex-senator Proctor,
Of Vermont, who has just returned from a
trip to Cuba. made carefully prepared
address TODAY on the conditions existing in
Cuba. 1t was lengthy and the senator
was accorded the closest attention by the
members. He SAID he went to Cuba think.
ing that reports had been overurawn, but
but fonnd the condition Understandable.
The condition of the reconcentradoes, he
declared. will not be changed till peace
comes. 1t is too late for autonomy. He
said to him the strongest appeal was the
spectacle of Il million and a half of people
struggling for freedom from the worst
misgovernment he had ever any know
ledge of.
HOUSE.
The house spent the day OH the postof-
flee appropriation bill, making good pro-
gress. Hull, Of Iowa, chairman of the
committee on military affairs, introduced
. bill reorganizing the line of the army.
It is sweeping measure making many
changes in the existing system. Itauthor.
ICES the president to reorganize the army
on the ideal three battalion system, and
would increase the strength of the army
to 100000 men, leaving skeleton to be
filed up as occasion required. The bill is
regarded as an administrative measure
and will be pushed to u speedy conclusion.