The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1898-01-27
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
The House Monday,


of the District of Columbia committee,
claimed the day and the house pro-
! ceeded to the consideration of district
business. After the passage of three
bills of purely local Importance, the
house resumed consideration of the
army appropriation bill, which was
begun on Saturday. In the course OF
the general debate, Mr.. Griffith, of
Iowa, defended the policy of retiring
officers on three quarters pay. The
debate was enlivened by an attack
upon the efficiency of the several
branches of the army by Mr.. McClel-
Ian, of New York. The army today,
he declared, was little better than
clumsily organized national police
force, op-heavy with the gold lace OF
staff officers, many of whom had not
seen more active service than falls to
the lot of member of a member of
the police force. The army should,
he declared, be entirely recognized.
He was followed by Mr.. Lewis, OF
Washington, who made vigorous
speech against any increase in the
army. Mr.. Hull OF Iowa, expressed
concurrence in the views of Mr.. Nc
Clellan to the extent that he believed
| that the army should be reorganlzed,
as the present organization was obso-
lete. The discussion of the needs of
the army was continued by Messrs.
Wheeler, of Alabama; Cox, of Tennes-
nee and others . =. Without complet-
IL, LII
at $40 p. IN. the house adjoured.
The Senate.
In anticipation Of an interesting
session of the senate today, all the
galleries were well filled sometime be-
fore the senate convened. Mr..
Hanna, who has just been elected SEN
ator from Ohio, made his first appear
ance on the floor since his election.
| Mr.. Foraker presented the credentials
| of Mr.. Hanna for the remainder of Mr..
| Sherman's term of six years, ending
March 4, 1892 They were read. As
there was no objection to the admins
tration of the oath of Office, Mr. For
presidents desk and the oath was
iministered. go Among the motions
presented were the remOnstrances of
512 Roman G ,tholic societies of the
United States, representing more than
$4,000 members, offered by Mr.. Muir
ply, of New York, against the enact
ment of the pending immigration bill.
49,. At II 80 Mr. Wolcott, of Colorado,
chairman of the bimetallic commission,
WAS recognized for a speech upon the
work of the commission, who spoke for
one hour and fifteen minutes, and at
the close of which he was greeted with
a burst of applause. -. Mr. Lodge, of
Massachusetts, then demanded the
regular order, which was the immigra-
ton bill, and he was sustained in his
demand by the vice-president. Mr..
| Hoar spoke in favor Of the bill. An
amendment was offered by Mr.. Spooner
providing that steamship compan es
should take back to Europe the wife
and children of an emig ant who failed
to meet the requirements of the pro-
posed law. Adopted by 40 ayes and %
noes. An amendment to fix the age of
emigrants affected by the bill fpom 16
to q years was lost. The bin was
then placed on its passage and passed
| by vote of As to %. -. A bill author
izing the Muscogee Coal & Railroad
company to construct and operate a
railway through the Indian Territory
and Oklahoma Territory, and for other
purposes, was passed. Bills were
passed providing for an American reg
lister for the steamer Navahoe and tc
amend section 400 of the Revised
Statutes authorizing the licensing o
mates on river and ocean steamers
The joint resolution providing for par
ticipation by the United States in the
fisheries exposition to be held this yeal
in Bergen, Norway, which had beer
passed by the house, was passed 49,
The senate then, at 4:45 p. M, went
into executive session and at p. L.
adjourned
The HOuse-Tuesday.