Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-03-16
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
SENATE.

Washington, March AFTER debate
lasting several days the senate passed the
bill extending the homestead laws and pro-
viding for right Of way for railroads in the
| district of Alaska. Comparatively little
| discussion OF general interest was created
! by the bill.
Two more appropriation bills were sent
| to the president to-day, the pension bill
and the consular and diplomatic, both of
which went through their final stage in the
| house. This was private bill day. The
most important action taken was acquies-
| ing in an agreement to make the bill appro-
prlating about 81 POO, 900 for war claims ap-
proved by the court of claims under the
provisions Of the Bowman act q special or
der for next Friday. The claims carried
by the bill, 13O in number. are for stores
seized during the war in the southern
states.
SENATE.
Washington, March ITO days session
of the senate was devoted entirely to the
consideration of the District of Columbia
appropriation bill.
HOUSE.
Chairman Cannon, of the appropriations
committee, introduced bill entitled
making appropriations for national de-
appropriated out of any money in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated for
national defense and for each and every
purpose connected Herewith to be ex-
pended at the discretion of the president
and remain available till June 30, 1899,
fifty million dollars" 1t was referred to
the committee on appropriations. The bill
is the outcome of the conference at the
White House this morning at which Can
non, Long, Dingley, Allison and Grosvenor
were present. The situation is considered
SO grave it was deemed imperative that an
immense appropriation of this character
be made at once to prepare for national
de1ense. by almost an unanimous vote
the Hawley bill, providing for two addi-
tional regiments OF artillery, was passed
under suspension of the rules Bailey,
the democratic leader, pleaded for more
time than the forty minutes allowed under
the rule, and because it was refused after
the bill had been passed he inaugurated a
filibuster against District of Columbia leg
islation that continued all dav. Bailey de-
sired to speak in favor of the bill.
SENATE.
Washington, March S.-After an ex-
tended discussion the District of Columbia
appropriation bill, containing a provision
for the reduction of about one-half of the
present rates of telephone charges in the
district, was passed. A message was re-
ceived from the house conveying to the
senate the bill appropriating $50, 1S3, 900 for
The bill was laid before the senate and on
motion of Allison referred to the COM
mittee ON appropriations.
HOUSE.
The session was devoted to debate of the
bill appropriating $4,000, 900 for national
defense. 1t passed by unanimous vote.
While almost every member who spoke de-
precated the possibility of war, wide di-
vergence of opinion as to how close were
hostilities manifested itself in the debate.
The general contention on both sides was
that this appropriation by preparing for
war would prove the surest guarantee of
peace. Others insisted that wars alarms
would soon be heard, and Mann, of Illinois
declared that war actually existed in all
save name.
SENATE.
Washington, March 9.-Hale reported
the house bill appropriating $50 600, 900 for
national defense and asked it's immediate
consideration. The bill passed without
debate. Yeas and nays were taken on the
passage OF the bill and there was not dis
sentlng vote. All pairs were broken and
those present voted in the affirmative.
Seventy-siX senators voted for the bill
HOUSE.
The house devoted itself to routine bust
ness. The legislative. executive and
judicial appropriation bill went through its
last reading and the adoption of the final
conference report, and the remainder Of
the day was consumed in the consideration
of the senate amendments to the Indian
appropriation bill.
SENATE.
Washington, March 10-The senate after
short open session in which no business
of Importance was transacted, went into
executive session, after which adjournment
was taken till Monday.
HOUSE.
After debate in the house WHICH lasted
more than five hours, the senate amend
ment to the Indian bill providing for free
homes on Indian lands was today nom
concurred in by vote of so to 1876.