Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-23

In the House on Friday the bill to pay
the Bowman act claims, aggregating ST.
10000, for stores and supplies furnished
the Union army during the war was con-
sidered until o'clock, but beyond COM
pleting the general debate little progress
was made. or the 500 odd claims in the
bill all but few come from the South,
and dilatory tactics were resorted to to
prevent progress. During the filibuster-
ing the House was in an uproar. At
o'clock, after completing two pages of the
bill, the House recessed until o'clock
for an evening session TO be devoted to
pension legislation. Afto he evening
session the House adjourned until Mon
DAY. The Senate was not in session.
During its session of three hours on
Monday the Senate passed a considerable
number of bills from the general calen-
dar, among the number being one author
iZing the construction of eight new rev.
enue cutters not exceeding in aggregate
cost the sum of S2,025,000. A resolution
offered last Thursday by Mr.. Chandler
IN. H. authorizing the committee on na-
val affairs to send for persons and papers
IN the course of the investigation of the
Maine disaster, was adopted. Mr.. Lodge
(Mass.) of the foreign relations commit
tee called up the joint resolution for the
relief of August Bolten and Gustaye
Richelieu. The resolution as reported from
the foreign relations committee Is as fol-
lows: THAT the President of the United
States be, and he is hereby empowered to
take such measures as in his judgment
may be necessary to obtain the indemnity
Sb hn
wrongs and injuries suffered by August
Boiten and Gustave Richelieu by reason
of their wrongful arrest and Imprisonment
by Spanish authorities at Santiago de
Cuba in the year 1895; and TO secure this
end he is authorized ana requested to
employ such means or exercise such power
as may be necessary
In the House on Tuesday it was agreed
to consider the bill for the relief of the
legal heirs of the victims and survivors
of the Maine disaster as soon as the post
office appropriation bin is out of the way.
During the general debate on the post
office bill members eagerly took advantage
of the latitude allowed in committee of
the whole on the state of the Union TO
discuss various political questions. Messrs.
Griggs Dem, Ga.) and Walker CRep.,
Mass.) discussed the conditions of the cot
ton industry. and Mr.. Tawney tRep.,
Mimi, a member of the Ways and Means
Committee, replied to the speech of Mr..
Johnson (Rep., Ind.) made some time ago
against the ACCESSIBILITY of annexing the
Hawaiian islands. Mr.. Tawney strongly
advocated the annexation of the islands.
After the passage Vf numerous bills from
the general calendar the Senate began
consideration Of the measure providing for
national system of quarantine. Little
beyond the reading of the bill was accom-
plished.
On Wednesday the postofIice appropria-
ton bill, which was technically the sub
ject before the House, was almost lost
track of in the debate. The Cuban Span
ish question, which had been kept in the
background heretofore, forged to the
front. Mr.. Cochran CDem Mo- brought
the question into the arena, and in the
course of the debate that followed Mr..
Grosvenor of Ohio took occasion to deny
emphatically the stories afoat to the ef-
feet that the President desired an early
adjournment of Congress in order that he
might effect a settlement without con-
gressional interference. The subject of
Hawallan annexation also came in for
attention. Mr.. Williams (Dem Miss.),
Mr.. Adams (Rep., Pa) and Mr.. Berry
Dem.. Ky.), all members of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, made speeches on the
subject, the former in opposition and the
two latter in favor of the proposition.
Business in the legislative session of the
Senate was confined to the passage of a
few bills, largely of a local character
The national quarantine bill was not con
sidered.
On Thursday the session Of the House
was devoted strictly to the postoflice APP
preparation bill, which was taken up for.
amendment under the five-mnute rule
The questions which consumed the mai
portion Of the time related to the allow
ance for clerk hire at postofices and to
rural free delivery. The House increas-
ed the allowance for rural free delivery
from $150,000 to 100000 and defeated
the proposition for increased clerk hire.
Among the bills passed in the Senate was
one to authorize the construction of
gunboat on the great lakes to take the
place Of the United States ship Michigan,
and to cost, exclusive Of armament. not
to exceed $230,000. Adjourned till Mon
day.