Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-01-27
SPIRITED DEBATES.
The Senate Stirred Up Over Curtail-
ment of Carrier Service.
BATTLE over CUBA IN The HOUSE.
The Diplomatic and Consular Appropriae
Bill Considered and All Amendments
to 1t About Cuba Ruled Out
Of Order.

ton BY Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts,,
providing for an inquiry by the COM
mittee on post Offices and post roads
concerning the recent order Of the
postmaster general reducing the force
Of letter carriers in several cities OF
the country. The debate took wide
range, Senator Wolcott, chairman OF
the committee on post offices and post
roads, insisting that many New En-
gland people represented by the senator
from Massachusetts, were responsible
for the deficiency In the funds Of the
post office department because they in.
sisted that the government should
carry second-class mail at an enormous
loss, and Senator Allen, Of Nebraska,
charging that the government was an.
nually defrauded out OF millions OF
dollars through the underweighing Of
mail matter. The resolution went
over.
Senator Tillman presented a resolu-
ton. for which he asked immediate
consideration, extending the authority
of the interstate commerce committee
so that 1t might inquire to what ex-
tent railroad companies issue passes,
whether the railroads gave transpor-
tation for any other consideration
than cash, and what arrangements
they had with newspapers regarding
transportation. Senator Cullom OBJ
jected to the consideration Of the reso-
luton.
Senator Vest gave notice that he
would move to-day to take up for con.
sideration the Teller resolution re-
ported by the finance committee pro-
viding that bonds Of the United States
may be paid in standard silver dollars.
Senator Vest, from the committee on
quarantine and public health, report.
ed substitute for Senator Caffery's
providing regulations for quarantine.
The bill, as reported, practically places
the control Of all matters pertaining
to the quarantine service in the con-
troll Of the federal government.
Senator Morgan continued his speech
in advocacy of the ratification Of the
Hawaiian annexation treaty in the ex-
ecutiye session of the senate.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20-When the
house convened yesterday Mr.. Lacey,
of Iowa, asked unanimous consent for
the consideration Of a bill to extend
the homestead laws to the territory Of
Alaska and 70 grant right of way to
any railroad company organized under
the laws Of any state. Mr.. Simpson
said the bill was too important to con-
slider by unanimous consent and he
objected.
Immediately afterward the storm
broke, and the battle over Cuba was
once more on. Mr.. Bruckner, of Michi.
gan, asked unanimous consent for the
consideration of resolution which he
sent to the clerks desk. The speaker
took occasion to examine the resolu-
ton and, while SO doing, Mr.. Bailey,
the leader Of the minority, loudly de-
manded that the resolution be report
ed. The speaker thereupon directed
the clerk to read the resolution, which
proved to be resolution to instruct
the committee on foreign affairs to re-
port without further delay the senate
Cuban belligerency resolution. Like
a flash, Mr., Hit, chairman Of the for
eign affairs committee, was on his feet
with a point of order which the
speaker promptly sustained
The house, then, on Mr.. Hits mo-
ton, went into committee Of the whole
and resumed consideration of the dip
lomatic and consular appropriation
bill. As soon as the first paragraph
was read, the struggle was resumed.
Mr. Williams, OF Mississippi, offered
an amendment to direct the president
to appoint three commissioners to pro.
coed to Cuba, and, If possible, nego-
tiate treaty of peace, amity and
commerce with the republic of Cuba,
and appropriating $4,000 for defray-
ing the expenses OF the commissioners
1t was ruled out OF order.
Immediately afterward Mr. Lewis,
OF Washington, offered another amend
ment providing that to emphasize the
TACT that STATE OF war existed IN
Cuoa the consul general OF the united
states at havana DC withorawn ana
the government OF SPAN DC notlheo OF
suspension OF olpiomatlc relatlons az
iaat point Mr. hitt quickly raised a
Mr. Wilson ~ Sou.h Carolina rre.