The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-12-16
CONGRESSIONAL DoINGs.
The Closing Session OF the Memorable
Fifty-FIfth at WORK on LegIslation
AReetinR the Nation.

AEthe opening OF the senate's session On the
tn Senator Hawley Conn. chairman Of the
military affairs committee introduced a bill
for the reorganization Of the regular army.
Senator HOar tAIass) secured the adoption OF
q resolution for a committee Of seven senators
70 take action on that part Of the presidents
message relating 70 the celebration OF the cen
tennial OF Washington as the nations capital
In the executive session q lively debate was
had over recent appointments Of senators BY
the president On commissions. Senator HOar
Mass making vigorous protest against the
practice and asking what became Of their
functions as senators when their report was
placed before the senate Hon John Hay was
confirmed as secretary Of stats--.-In the house
the antt-scalping bill was passed by vote Of
ll9 70 I01, after a spirited debate lasting four
hours Mr.. Hull Qa), chairman o. the COM
mittee on military affairs. introduced a bill in
creasing the regular army to approximately
10000 men This bill is not the one framed By
Gen Miles
WHILE the senate was considering pension
bills on the calendar On the sth Senator
Vest CAO-) made q vigorous protest against
passing them BY simply reading their titles
and when quorum was not present Senator
Vest also introduced a resolution for the sp-
pOintment Of q joint commission TO investigate
the charges OF corruption IN the conduct Of the
war with Spain and a bill prohibiting senators
and congressman from serving on presi-
dental commissions Senator Cafrey U4a)
introduced q resolution 70 modify the
ClaytOn-B ulWer treaty as far as it
related 70 constructing q canal across
the isthmus Of DarieI Senator Mitchell
(WiS) introduced Q bill 70 allow volunteers
disabled in the war with Spain TO enter vOluu-
ter soldiers homes The Nicaragua canal
bill was then made the unfinished business and
an adjournment was taken TO the l2th----The
house passed the urgent deficiency Dill prsc-
tiCalIy without opposition The amount car
ried by the bill is s69. s9j-s32 The house then
adjourned TO the 18th to give committees an
opportunity 70 work without interruption
IN the senate on the 18th, as soon as the
morning routine business had been disposed Of.
Senator Vest (AIO) called up his resolution de-
Claring IL 70 be unconstitutional for the United
States government to acquire foreign territory
except for COaling stations or some other like
purpose unless its intention was 20 confer
statehood upon the territory The senator con-
tended that the principle had been sustained
b. the supreme court and spoke for over an
hour against territorial expansion Senator
Platt (COnn-) took issue with Senator Vest
and gave notice OF a speech on the subject in
the near future Senator Morgan (AIa) then
opened the debate on the Nicarauga canal bill
with three-hOur appeal for action at this ses-
sion Senator PettigreW Is d. introduced
bill for raising the battleship Name and Seua-
tor HOar (Mass) introduced a resO-
luton looking 70 the mastering out
Of volunteers who had families depending
on them OF whose business affairs would be
seriously inteTfered with by longer COntinu-
ance in the service &C., The house spent most Of
the day on District Of Columbia affairs Nj
Mcclellan (N- " introduced q bill for the re-
organization OF the army and Mr. Hepburn (Ia-)
. bill authorizing the president 20 acquire BY
purchase land in Costa Rlca and Nicaragua
necessary for q canal and appropriating $40,
O0O. 90 for the purpose MI Hepburn also in
troduced q joint resolution proposing an amend
ment TO the constitution that no territory not
under the Jurisdiction Of the United States on
January /. 1875 should be admitted into the
union unless three-fourths OF the members Of
such admission.