The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-12-29
SENATE AND HOUSE.
WORK OF OUR NATIONAL LAW.
MAKERS.
A Week's Proceedings in the Halls Of
Conxress-Impor Measures Dis
cussed and Acted Upou-An Impair
tia1 Resume of the Business.

Monday was suspension day in ths
House, and several bills we're passed, the
most important of which was the bill ap.
propriatiug s350.0O0 for the Philadelphis
exposition Of 1899. The vote was exceed
ihgly close. 1t had but two votes more
than the necessary two-thirds. Bills were
also passed under suspension of the rules
to authorize the distribution OF the as
sets Of the Freeduen's Bank, to enlarge
the scope of the Fish Commission TO In.
clude game birds. for the relief OF the
Fourth Mounted Arkansas Infantry and
for the relief Of John W. Lewis, of Ore
gon. The Senate had busy day, and
there were several important speeches.
Mr.. Platt, of Connecticut spoke against
the Vest resolution, which declares that
the United States has no power to acquire
territory. Mr.. Proctor, Of Vermont, and
Mr.. Hale, OF Maine, exchanged divergent
views upon the subject of a commission
Of Senators to visit Cuba The confer
ence report on the urgent deficiency bill
was agreed to. The Senate then took up
the Nicaragua canal bill, and Mr.. Berry
(Ark.) spoke upon his amendments to the
measure.
The House resolution providing for ad-
iournment Of Congress from Dec. 81 to
Jan. was adopted by the Senate without
! division on Tuesday. Mr.. .Gallinger favor
ably reported Mr. Proctor's resolution pro-
| vidng for committee of Senators to visit
| Cuba and Porto Rico with view to as
| certaining the conditions on the islands
and reporting on them, with recommends
| tions. Senator Teller then addressed the
I - n =.
| ing that under the constitution no power is
given to acquire territory to be held and
| governed permanently as colonies. Sew
eral private pension bills were disposed of.
| after which Mr.. Elkins called up the bill
relating TO the registry Of foreign built
| vessels in this country. At 2 o'clock the
| Nicaraguan canal bill displaced the regis
| try measure. and Mr.. Caffery spoke in op-
| position to it. The debate, on the agricul-
| tural bill was sigualized by the first
| speech in the House on the question of
| annexation of the Philippines. Mr.. VIII
| liams Of Mississippi submitted a general
| argument against their annexation After
| Mr.. Williams remarks the agricultural
| bill was passed. 1t carried 1866, 800. or
| $751;, ,120 more than the current law. Be
| fore adjournment for The day the confer
ence report on the army and navy def
cheney bill was adopted.
The last session of the House before the
holiday recess was held on Wednesday
and lasted but an hour. The Bailey reso-
luton directing an investigation Of the
| right of the members who volunteered in
the Spanish-American war to seats in the
House was adopted, and several bills Of
minor Importance were passed. One Of
these provided for holding terms of the
District and Circuit courts at Hammond,
Ind. The absence of quorum of the
Senate saved Senator Proctor's resolution
providing for the appointment of a COM
mittee of Senators to investigate the con-
ditionS in Cuba and Porto Rico during the
approaching long recess of Congress from
decisive defeat. An effort was made by
Mr.. Daniel of Virginia to obtain consider
alton for the resolution, but his motion
mustered only eight of the thirty-eight
votes cast. No business of Importance
was disposed of at Wednesdays session.
Only some routine business, including the
passage OF few private pension bills, was
transacted. Adjournment was taken to
Jan. 4, 1899.