The age-herald., 1898-02-22
AN OFF DAY
 IN CONGRESS Senate Galleries Yell Filled Hith YiSi- tors But There Was No Show. EXPECTED TALK ON MAINE Aliens Resolution Calling for Senate h. Testl6atiOn Passes Without Debate. PROVIDING FOR THE NEXT CENSUS House Spends Most of the Day Considering Bills From the Senate Calendar,
 Some of Which Were.
 War Claims
EXPECTED TALK ON MAINE
PROVIDING FOR THE NEXT CENSUS

Washington, Feb. 2-The galleries were crowd of spectators doubtless being at- tracted by the probability of further de- bate upon Cuban affairs or matters con- nected with the disaster to the battseship Maine.
 The joint resolution providing for the bodies of the officers and men from the wrecked bautleship Maine and for the re- covery of valuable property on the ship, which was passed by the house last week was presented to the senate and passed immediately. Ib carries an appropriation of $2O0 QUO.
 . MT. Hoar introduced a joint resolution directing the transfer of valuable hiStord- cad documents from the several govern ments to the national library.
 Mir. Allen, of Nebraska, introduced the following resolutions:
 - Resolved That the committee on naval affairs be- and 1t is hereby directed to make a thorough inquiry into the destruction of the battleship Maine dn Havana harbor on the 18th instant, and report to the sem ate. The resolution was passed immed- lately without a word of debate
 Unobjectcd Bills
 As no other business was pressing, the senate, at the suggestion of MT. Hale. of Maine, began to consider unobjected bills  were the following:
 Requiring masters and mates of sail yes- sels of over 700 tons to have license Issued by United States inspectors; granting to the state of Wyoming 50,0OO acres of land to aid in the continuation, enlargement and maintenance of the Wyoming state soldiers and sailors home; authorizing the White and Black river Valley Rail- road company to build a bridge across the Black river in Arkansas; to require pat- ents to be issued to land actually settled under the act entitled "An act to provide for the armed opening and settlement of the unsettled part of the peninsula of Florida, approved August 1, 1S42,' and to amend act to prohibit the passage of local or special laws in the territories to limit indebtedness, etc.
 Twelfth Census
 At 2 o'clock the measure providing for the, twelfth and subsequent censuses was laid before the senate MT. Allison thought the census bureau ought not be made an independent bureau, but be placed under the department of the interior, under the general supervision of the secretary of the interior, and he proposed an amendment to that effect.
 Mr. Teller offered an amendment to Mr. Allison's amendment providing that the census bureau be placed under the de- partment of labor, and that the commits soner of labor have supervision over the WOrK. LOSt. The Allison amendment was then adopted.
 The senate at 5:22 D. m went into execu- tive session, and few minutes later ad- journed.
 IN THE HOUSE.
 After the passage of twenty-two pension bills had been passed, the house went into committee of the whole on the private call endar.
 The first bill to appropriate s15,O00 for damage and injury sustained by New Ser " college, South Carolina, while occupied by New York regiment as a barracks in lS6o, after Lees surrender, was opposed by MT. Dingley, MT. Dalzell and other prominent republicans. MT. Dalzell de- clared it was an attempt on the part of the democrats and southern republicans to rob the treasury.
 MT. Cooper (dem) of Texas and MT Lat timer (dem.) of South Carolina, warmly championed the bill. The former inveighed against the spirit of sectionaism which still prevailed in certain quarters
 Mir. Mahon (rep. Pa.); Mr. Walker (rep Mass), and other republicans joined in the appeal to the house to pass the bill, and it was favorably acted upon without a divis- ion. l. Two other minor relief bills were laid aside with favorable recommendations.
 Mir. Bailey moved that the house observe Washington's birthday by adjournng over tomorrow. S
 MT. Dingley opposed the motion but it was carried--5S to B.
 MT. Dingley made the point of no quo rum, which the speaker sustained.
 At this moment the hands of the clock pointed to o'clock and the speaker an- nounced that under the rule the house was in recess until o'clock tonight, the even ing to be devoted to private bills.