The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-05-12
WORK OF CONGRESS.

SeSSlOu u liz; mouse WAS IuEOWn5 SUD-
denly after three hours consideration
of private bills, into a session Of spir-
tied speechmaliing among Democratic
members that savored at times much
of acrimony. The storm was precipi-
tated by Mr.. Lewis Dem. Wash J, who
referred in the course Of a speech to
the recent vote Of Mr.. Cummings Of
New York in support Of the war re7e-
nue. bill with it's Incorporated bond
feature. He made reference to Mr.
Cummings assertion that this period
was time for placing country above
party, intimating that the New York
members had served the Republican
party and perhaps contributed to the
satisfaction Of unpatriotic monopolists
and capitalists. This brought an i'm
FASHIONED and patriotic speech in re-
ply from Mr.. Cummings, interspersed
with some sarcastic comments that in
tensitied the interest and called an out
pouring of members from the cloak
rooms. MI. Clark Deln.. Mo- entered
-; the lists and proceeded to criticise I'M
reservedly the six Democrats who had
voted for the revenue bill on it's final
passage and questioned their Democ-
racy. Messls. Fitzgerald (Mass.) and
McAleer (Penn.), two other Democrats
who voted for the bill, were heard in
defense of their votes and in refuta
ton of the imputations of the Missouri
member. Just before the recess until
the night session was taken the leader
OF the Democrats, Mr.. Bailey of Texas,
spoke briefly in depreciation Of the
speeches of the Democrats as being
subject to misCorstruction indicative
of more serious differences III the party
than really existed. He reviewed the
record to show that no appreciate
ground for such construction existed. /
q Washington, May 5.-Quite >unexpect-
edly brief but sharp debate was par
ticipated in by the senate on the in
come tax proposition. The resolution
proposing an amendment to the con-
stitution of the United States relating
to the succession to the presidency
was under discussion. Mr.. Mills Of
Texas proposed an amendment in the
form OF a new section intended to au-
thorlze congress to lay a tax levy On
incomes in such forms as to meet the
requirements of the decision Of the
supreme court. He was sharply criti-
clsed for endeavoring to place such 4
rider on a resolution which practical
ly all senators favored, but stood his
ground and insisted upon vote on his
amendment. The amendment was de-
feated-32 to 29-all of the republicans
voting against the amendment and all
the democrats except Mr.. Caffery of
Louisiana, together with the populists
and silver republicans, voting in favor
of it, The joint resolution which was
adopted reads as follows:
In all cases not provided for by arti-
Gle ?, clause so Of the constitution,
Where there is no person entitled to
discharge the duties Of the office of
president the same shall devolve upon
the vice president. The congress may
by law provide for the case where
there is no person entitled to hold the
office Of president or vice president, de-
claring what officers shall act as pres
ident and such officer shall act accord
ingly until the disability shall be re-
moved or a president shall be elected
The conference report on the fortifi-
cations appropriation bill was present
ed and agreed to. ~ .-~
In the House.
The house adopted the conference
report upon the Notifications bill The
remainder of the session was con-
sumed with the consideration Of the
Alaskan land bill and a resolution for
the repeal of an act prohibiting the
passage of importations in bond thro'
the territory of the United States into
the ''free zone" of Mexico. The latter
was passed but the Alaskan measure
went over.
W9ShinO f0n OIL nct
the entire session the senate had under
consideration the postoffice appropria-
ton bill. The measure carried $685.
224, 500, being very much the heaviest
of all the appropriation bills. The
most important action taken upon the
measure was the adoption of an
amendment offered by Mr.. Tillman of
South Carolina reducing the number
of deliveries of mail in all cities of the
country to a number not exceeding
four each day. The amendment was
sharply antagonized as a blow to
business interests in the large cities,
but the feeling of the senate was such
that despite the vigorous opposition, it
prevailed by a decisive majority. A
lively debate was precipitated by an
amendment Of the committee striking
out the appropriation of 100000 for
rural free delivery. The proposition
was discussed for nearly two hours,
Mr.. Chandler of New Hampshire and
Mr.. Butler of North Carolina leading
the fight in favor of rural delivery.
6y the close vote of 25 to %, however,
the committee was sustained and the
DILL now carries no appropriation for
such delivery. An important amend
ment to the bill was one which will
prevent star route contractors from
subletting their contracts. In order to
get their money they must swear that
they performed the service themselves.
Just before adjournment the senate
passed an important war measure au-
thorizing the president and general Of
Ulcers of the army to supply the Cuban
insurgents with arms and munitions Of
war, and empowering officers of the
army serving in Cuba to supply needy
inhabitants of the island with medi-
cines and subsistence.
IN THE HOUSE.