Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-03-17
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.


Of the senate was largely devoted to
consideration of the District of Col
umbia appropriation bill After an
extended discussion the bill was
passed. The bill authorizing the relo-
cation and rebuilding OF the pontoon
bridge across the Mississippi river at
Prairie du Chen, Wis, was also pass
ed. Another bill passed was that for
the relief of the Methodist Episcopal
church Of the south in Tennessee, ap-
propriating S2SS,000. Mr.. Allen (pop.,
Neb) presented and secured the adop-
ton Of a resolution calling upon the
attorney general to inform the senate
how many writs of injunction were
| granted during 1S97-9S by the United
! States courts against labor leaders
and labor organizations, with certi-
| fed copies Of such writs, affidavits
and other papers.
Washington, March SIN a spirit
of patriotism and with eloquent words
! ringing in the ears of every member
of the house the representatives re-
! sponded to the presidents first call to
their vote for the bill placing in Presi-
dent McKinley's hands S50,000,000 to
be expended at his discretion for the
national defense. Party lines were
swept away and with a unanimous
voice congress voted confidence in the
administration. Many democrats
paired with absent colleagues took the
! responsibility Of breaking pairs, an
unprecedented thing in legislative an
nails, in order that they might go on
record in support of this vast appro-
priation to maintain the dignity and
honor of the country. Speaker Reed,
who as presiding officer seldom votes
only in case of a tie, had his name
called and voted in his capacity as a
representative. The scene of en-
thusiasm which greeted the announce
ment Of the vote (ayes 81, nays o. has
seldom been paralleled in the house.
All day long the galleries were damned
with encouraging spectators applaud
ing to the echo the sterling patriotism
and words of eloquence which were ut
tered by the members on the floor All
the speeches were brief. Although
four hours were allowed "0r debate, so
great was the pressure for time that
no one member was given more than
five minutes and most Of them had to
content themselves with a beggarly
fraction Of a minute. in all, fifty
nine speeches we're made. With one
acclaim, the members from the north,
south, east and west, states and terri
tories, battle SCARED veterans
of the union and confederate
armies Joined in proclaiming support
of the country's chief magistrate in
the face of a possible foreign war.
In the whole debate there was only a
slight discordant note caused by the
speech of General Bingham (rep., Pa.),
gallant soldier who served with dis
tinction under Hancock He spoke
too cOnssrvatiVely for the aroused
temper of the house, and when he in
sisted that our relations with Spain
were as friendly as they had been for
years, many members Kissed him.
Washington, March 9.-President
McKinley's hands have been upheld
by both branches of the American
congress with an enthusiasm, fervor
and promptness almost unparalleled
in the senate in time of peace. That
body has passed the emergency appro-
priation bill, carrying $50,000,000 for
the national defense. The vote by
which the measure was passed was
unanimous. Seventy-six short, sharp
and emphatic speeches were deliver
ed in favor of the BILL each one being
simply a ringing AYE during the
roll-caIl upon the passage of the
measure. Not only did every senator
present register his vote in favor Of
the bill, but for every absent member
an authoritative announcement was
made that if he were present he would
vote aye. From the time the bill
was presented to the senate by Mr..
Hale (rep., Me- until it passed there
was not an unharmonious note sound
ed. Party lines were swept aside.
In the general outburst of patriotic
feeling pairs were broken, every SEN
ator being anxious to register his
vote on the measure. The members
Of the committee on appropriations
had previously affected an arrange
ment whereby there would be no
debate on the bill and after it's pres
entation it was read. Vice President
Hobart placed it Immediately on its
passage. Twelve minutes after the
bill was reported to the senate the
vice president announced it's passage.
Washington, March 9.-The house
devoted itself to routine business.
The legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill went through it's
last stages in the adoption Of the fl
nancial conference report and goes to
the president. Mr.. Mcclellan (dem,
n. - introduced bill appropriate
ing 100000 for the return Of the
bodies Of the Maine victims to the
United States and their burial at pub
lie expense at such places as the rela-
tiyes of the deceased might designate.
The unknown dead, by the terms Of
the bill, are to be buried at the ma
t1onal cemetery at Arlington.
| Washington, March Ex-senator
Chandler introduced a bill providing
| for remission of duties on war ma
terials that may be imported
Washington, March 10.-A bill was