The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-03-09

criminal laws for the district OF Alas
ka. The Notifications bill was passed
precisely as it came from the house
and goes to the president The con-
ference reports on the census and ma
val personnel bills were agreed to and
these measures also 60 to the presi-
dent
Washington, March 4.-Excitement.
| confusion, heavy strain and hard
words characterized the last legislative
day OF the Fifty-sixth congress In the
senate. At times the confusion was
so great in this usually staid and de
corous body as TO render the transac-
ton of business almost impossible.
Business that ordinarily would have
had the undivided attention of every
senator on the floor was transacted
amidst so much noise that it was next
to impossible to follow the proceed
ings. Toward midnight order was be-
ing evolved from the seeming chaos or
! the early part of the day and evening,
and the prospect was fair that con-
gress would adjourn at noon to-day
with its absolutely necessary work
completed.
When the senate convened at II
o'clock yesterday morning it faced the
task of considering two Of the great
appropriation bills. these for the army
and for supplying the general detic-
iencieS. The former carries appro-
priations exceeding SSO.OOO0oO and
the latter about S2O.OOO.OOO. With
determination TO complete the appro-
priation bills the senate began at IL
O'Clock TO consider these bills and at
O'Clock last night the army appro-
priatiOn was passed, the deficiency
bill having been passed three hours
before A conference report on the
Alaskan criminal bill was presented
and agreed to. A partial report on the
snndry civil appropriation bill was
agreed TO. but the inability of the sen
ate confereeS to secure an agreement
| on the Hawaiian cable proposition
| created n heated discussion, in the
course of which Speaker Reed was al
luded to in uncompimentary terms.
| When the river and harbor conferences
report was presented a debate upon
| the recession of the senate conferees
| from the senate amendment providing
| iOi ItStl OlIS 10 lTTlgdit dTll ldIluS Ut
the headwaters Of the Missouri river
was precipitated by the advocates OF
| the proposition An effort was made
! to recommit the bill to the conferees,
| but it failed after an impassionetf
speech .v Senator Frye who submit
ted the report. At II 80 D. m. the de-
| bate was still in progress with no In
| dicatfonS of an early conclusion.
The House.
Crowded galleries looked down upon
| the struggling members of the house
as the closing scenes of the last legis-
| lative day Of this congress were being
enacted. Step by step the leaders I'm
charge of the appropriation bills
| pushed them through the final stages
and during every lull in the consider
alton Of conference reports members
clamored for recognition for belated
| local bills in the vain hope of rescuing
them from death on the calendar At
times the house was like n Bedlam.
| The noise and confusion on the floor
| punctured with the beating of the
speakers gavel or backed with the
drOning voices of the clerks. members
facing each other and talking at the
same time. pages scurrying up and
down the aisles, all this was utterly
| diStracting.
| Mr.. Walker of Massachusetts, after
many unsuccessful attempts. got an
opportunity during the afternoon to
voice his views on currency reform,
and severely criticised some of his Re
| publican colleagues. When the great
beacon light on the dome blazed forth
as darkness fell thousands upon thou
| sands were attracted to the brilliant
| ly illuminated wings of the capitol,
where the two houses We're to sit out
! the night. The big questions in dis
| pute between the two houses being
naturally the last TO be adjusted were
postponed far into the night. From
| time To time short recesses were taken.
! These We're simply breathing spells,
however I'D soon the leaders were at
| ii again than ever.
| Carl I.TON WINS. >