Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-02-09
CONGRESSIONAL DoINes.
Tho Closing Session OF the Memorable
Fifry-FIfth at Work on Liquidation
Affecting tho Nation.

IN Jne senate on inc JUln senator AlllbOn
| la.l made an effort to obtain consideration OF
the Indian appropriation bill, which precipl-
tated running debate about the resolutions
for and against expansion until the senate
went into executive session Senator Mason
| Ill) offered o resolution, which was adopted,
calling on the secretary OF war for information
| about the sickness and deaths OF American
soldiers In our new territorial acquisition. In
the executive session the peace treaty was con-
sldered and the correspondence bearing upon
| II, which the president had sent In, was read
-. The house had completed 10 OF the 70 pages
OF the army bill when 1t adjourned the COM
mittee amendments being adopted providing
| for an army OF 00 900 men, with discretion In
the president TO reduce 1t to $4,000 Mr. Hop
kins ILJ reported the census bill aud gave
notice that he would call 1t up February
MOST OF the time in the senate on the 81 st
was taken up In discussing the policy OF this
country TO be pursued In the Philippine Is
lands No action was taken on any OF the
pending resolutions bearing on the matter,
Senators Gray DELI and Money Miss oc-
oupied the entire executive session In speeches
on the peace treaty, Senator Gray favoring
ratification and Senator Money opposing IT,.
The bill for the reorganization and increase Of
the regular army to about 900 men, but
giving the president authority to reduce II to
so, 900 was passed by the house by vote OF 1893
for to l25 against Six republicans voted
against the bill and four democrats and one
populist in favor Before adjournment was
taken the river and harbor bill was formally
called up In order to make 1t the unfinished
business In committee OF the whole.
For time In the senate on the ist II looked
| as II o vote would DO taken on one or more OF
the resolutions relating to expansion that we're
pending, but as II seemed evident that the vote
could not be taken before two o'clock-tAe hour
for the senate to go into executive session on
the peace treaty-Senator Bacon (Ga,) asked
for unanimous consent that vote be taken at
1890 o'clock the next day TO this request
Senator Carter (Mon) objected and the whole
question was left suspended. Senator Raw
Inns (Utah) then addressed the senate upon the
Vest anti-expansiOn resolution. In the eXecu-
tive session Senator Teller (Col) made u
speech In support of the treaty and Senator
Hoar (Mass,l spoke in opposition ,.. The house
entered upon the consideration OF the river
and harbor bill and before adjournment had
completed 50 OF the Ss pages OF the bill. II OPP
propriates directly about Sl2 5OO0O and au-
thorizes contracts to the extent Of tlS, OOOOOO
additional Mr. Hepburn Ia) made speech
in opposition TO the measure,
SENATOR SPooNER (Wis) spoke for three
hours In the senate on the I'd, He discussed
the question Of expansion In all its phases and
urged the ratification of the peace treaty. He
was several times interrupted by Senator TILL
man Is, O. asking questions, the latter senator
declaring at one time that he would not vote
for the treaty because, rs Senator SOooner adj
mitted, the 1000 200 people Of the Philippines
could take the first ship to America and enter
into competition with American labor The
executive session held after Senator Spooner's
speech was only continuation OF the debate in
| 1Ntfnn
passed by the house by the large majority OF
1850 to 1t carries little more than 100000
900 A resolution was introduced that tho
United States flag on all government buildings
should always be displayed at half-mast on
February Is In memory Of the destruction Of
the battleshlp Maine. A bill was also intro
duced to repeal the law which prevents an ex-
confederate soldier from sitting on federal
grand or petit jury.
In the senate on the Sd arguments were
made In opposition to expansion and In opposi-
ton to the ratification OF the peace treaty,
Senators Money (Mss) and Daniel (Va)
being the speakers Senator Harris (Kan.)
offered q resolution disclaiming any intention
of the United States to permanently hold the
Philippine islands TWAS laid on the table at
his request Senator Baker (kan) introduced
q bill changing the place for holding court In
the central district OF the Indian territory
from Cameron to Poteau. -. Most OF the time
Of the house during its session Of three hours
was taken up in fillbustering against relief
bills on the private calendar, the ilibuster be-
ing successful and the house adiourning with
out taking up any OF the bills The conference
report upon the diplomatic and consular APP
preparation bill was agreed to, Mr. Curtis
| (Kan) reported favorably from the commit
tee bill to put in force in the Indian territory
| Al, a1vNtv
tions. The Curtis bill providing for legisla-
ton touching railroad right-of-way through
the Indian territory was also reported favor-
| ably.