The Holly chieftain., 1898-12-16
CONGRESSIONAL DoINGS.
The Closing session of the Memorable
Iifty-fIfth ut Work on L-Ei.lation
Affecting the Nation

AT the opening OF the seuate's session on the
1th Senator Hawley tCoDr J. chairman Of the
military affairs committee introduced = bill
for the reorganization OF the regular army
Senator Hoar tMAssD secured the adoption OF
= resolution for a committee OF seven senators
TO take action on that part of the presidents >
message relating TO the celebration OF the CEN
tennLal OF Washington as the nations capital
Ia the executive session lively debate was
had over re ent appointments OF senators By
the president on commissions. Senator Hoar
tMasS) making o vigorous protest against the
practice and asking what became OF their
functions senators when their report Was
placed before the senate Hon John Hay was
confirmed as secretary Of state In the house
the anti-sealping bill was passed by q vote OF
il9 10 Ioi, after q spirited debate lasting four
hours Nj. Hull ia chairman o; the COM
miitee oa military affairs. introduced bill In
creassng the regular army to approximately
100 10 men, This bill is not the one framed by
Gen Miles
WILLY the senate was considering pension
bills on the calendar on the sth Senator
Vest CMol made vigorous protest against
passing them by simply reading their titles
and when quorum was not present Senator
Vest also introduced resolution for the ap-
Pointment Of a joint commission TO investigate
the charges o. corruption in the conduct Of the
war with Spain and bill prohibiting senator's
and conzresSmcn from serving on presl-
dental commissions Senator Canrey La)
introduced u resolution to modify the
Clayton Bulwer treaty as far as IL
related to constructing canal scross
the isthulus OF Dariea Senator Mitchell
tWiSJ introduced a bill TO allow volunteers
disabled in the war with Spain TO enter yolun-
te soldiers homes The Siearagua canal
bill was then made the unfinished business and
IN ac!ournrn mt was taken TO the leth -. The
house passed the urgent deficiency bill prac-
tiealIy without opposition The amount car
rlei by the bill is 81. .ss,sfs The house then
adjourned TO the I2th to give committees an
opportunity to work without interruption
In the senate on the Ieth- as soon the
morning routine business had been disposed OF.
Senator Vest mo called up his resolution de-
caring II to be unconstitutional al for The United
States government to acquire foreign territory
except for coaling stations or some other like
purpose unless its intention was to confer
statehood upon the territory. The senator con-
tended that the principle had been sustained
by the supreme court and spoke for over an
hour against territorial expansion Senator
PiEtt Comm took issue with Senator Vest
and gave notice OF speech on the subject in
the near future Senator Morgan (Alal then
opened the debate on the Nicarauga canal bill
with three hour appeal for sction a; this ses-
sion Senator Pettigrew IS d. introduced a
bill for raj ing the battleshio Name and Sena-
tor Hoar tMassD introduced reso-
luton looking to the mustering out
OF volunteers who had families dep" "nding
on them or whose bus ness Affairs would be
seriously interfered with by longer continu-
ance In the service .... The house spent most Of
the day on District of Columbia affairs Mr.
Mcclellan IN Y, introduced a bill for the re-
orcanization OF the army and Mr. Hepburn Ua
bill authorizing the president to acquire by
purchase land in Costa Rica and Nicaragua
necessary for d canal and approprtating si4o
0ono1c for the purpose Mr. Hepburn also in
troduced joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the constitution that no territory not
under the Jurisdiction of the United States on
january /. 1885 should be admitted into the
union unless three-fourths of the members of
DO houses Of congress vot. afrrmatlvely fol-
such admission.