Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-03-02
WORK or CONGRESS

WORK OF CONGRESS-
Washington. Feb. 21-A separate bill
appropriating $20,OOo.OOO for the pay
ment to Spain under the provisions Of
the treaty of Paris was passed by the
house Under suspension Of the rules.
No amendment was in order and an at
tempt TO secure unanimous consent to
offer an amendment declaratory of our
policy not permanently to annex the
islands was objected TO. Mr.. Wheeler
of Kentucky, upon whose point OF or
der the appropriation went out of the
sundry civil bill, made the only speech
liz open hostility to the measure, but
upon the roll call "a members - 81
Democrats, 2 Populists and l Silver
Republican voted against it. The
votes of 30 members We're cast for it.
The senate bill to reimburse the gov
ernors of states for expenses paid by
the states in organizing the volunteers
for service in the wal with Spain be-
fore their muster into the service In
the var was also passed with snspen-
sion of the rules. The bill appropriate
ing $500, 900 for the Pan-American ex-
position TO be held at Buffalo. n. Y,
in 1901 was before the house when alb
sence Of a quorum compelled an adj
journment.
The scnntc.
During almost six hours yesterday
afternoon the p~ostoffice appropriation
bill was under discussion in the SEN
ate, the time being consumed largely
by Mr.. Butler of North Carolina and
Mr.. Pettigrew of South Dakota in an
amendment providing that the postal
commission should present Its final re-
port to congress by March j, 1900.
Fai .ag, after many trials. to obtain
unanimous consent for the insertion OF
the amendment in the bill, Mr.. Butler
permitted ii to come TO a vote. 1t was
d~efeated-27 to 10. Agreement was
reac ed to vote ON The bill and the
Amendment at 2 o'clock today.
At 2 o'clock Mr.. Hawley, chairman
of the military affairs committee,
moved to take up the army reorganiza-
ton bill. unanimous consent having
been refused to take up the measure
without displacing the unfinished bust
ness-the anti-sca ,ping bill. Mr.. Haw-
ley's motion pre2ailed-44 to 26, thus
making the army bill the unfinished
business. 1t is agreed that this action
disposes finally of the anti-scalping bill
for the present session.
Washington, Feb. %. e. Formal dis
cussion of the Hull-Hawley army re-
organization bill was begun in the SEN
ate yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Hawley
and Mr.. Warren. Republicans, SUP
ported the measure and Mr.. Mitchell
and Mr.. Cockrell, Democrats, opposed
ii, while Mr.. Porter, Republican, adj
dressed the senate in favor of some
amendments which he had proposed 20
the bill. All the speakers are members
of the committee ON military affairs.
Mr.. Cockrells speech, though brief.
was particularly notable, as he spoke
definitely for the opposition to the
army reorganization bill. He declared
practically, in so many words. that the
Hull-Hawley bill could not become a
law at this session. He and those who
stood with him We're willing to give the
president all the money and every man
he desired, but they were determined
that no great standing army should
be fastened upon the country without
full and free discussion. The postof-
flee appropriation bill was passed, Mr..
Butler Of North Carolina and Mr.. Pet
tigrew Of South Dakota having con-
cluded their speeches.
Soon after the senate convened Mr..
Pettigrew presented resolutions Of the
legislature of South Dakota urging the
senators Of that state to support the
treaty of peace. Commenting upon
the resolutions Mr.. Pettigrew said that
he denied the right of the legislature
to instruct him, although he was al
ways glad to h ar from that body.
The House.
The house reached the last page of
the naval bill yesterday and adjourned
with a point of order pending against
the provision fixing the price OF armor
plate at $545 per ton. The provision
in the bill went out on n point Of order
on the ground that it was not limited
to the armor to be purchased with the
appropriation in the bill whereupon it
was modified to meet this objection,
and against it the point OF order pend
ing an adjournment was raised.
Much of the time was occupied in de-
batting the amendment offered by Mr..
Mudd fRep., Md appropriating $T20,-
600 to complete the tbr, buildings au-
thorized to be erected ut the naval
academy at Annapolis. The naval
committee, with the exception of MI.
Cummings. strenuously opposed pro-
ceeding with the work Of rebabilitating
the naval academy until comprehensive
plans had been decided upon, but the
house overruled the committee and
adopted the amendment. Two impor-
tant provisions In the paragraph pro-
yiding for the constructing OF new
ships went out on points of order. One
provided that no more than two battle
ships, two armored and two protected
cruisers should be built at any one
yard. and the other provided that no
BID for the construction of ships should
be entertained from any firm or com
pany which had not at the time OF
bidding al adequate plant.
Washington, Feb. 23.-The house In
augurated the session by listening to
A.. .~.lu- 20 xv.~tsrx u--r