Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-03-02
WORK OF CONGRESS-

VI SahiSa'ioh piii was utSuu III tut Spu-
ate yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Hawley
and Mr.. Warren, Republicans, SUP.
ported the measure and Mr.. Mitchell
and Mr.. Cockrell, Democrats, opposed
1t, while Mr. Porter, Republican, ad-
dressed The senate in favor Of some
amendments which he had proposed to
the bill. All the speakers are members
OF the committee on military affairs
MIR. CockrellS speech, though brief,
was particularly notable as he spoke
deLaitely for the opposition 10 the
army reorganization bill. He declared
practically. in so many words. that the
Hull-Hawlcy bill could not become a
law at this session. He and those VINO
stood with him were willing to give the
president all the money ana 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
rigrew of South Dakota having con-
cluaed 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
10 instruct him, although he was al
ways glad to hear 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 S545 per ton. The provision
in tile bill went out on 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 II the point OF order pend
ing an adjournment was raised.
Much of the time was occupied in de-
batting the Amendments offered by Mr.
Audd iRcp, MIDI appropriating 500.
600 10 complete the thrre buildings au-
thoYiZed 70 be erected At the naval
academy at Annapolis The naval
committee. with the exception of Mr.
Cummings, stronu0usly opposed pro.
cJediEg with the work Of Tchabiltating
the naval academy until comprehensive
plans had been decided upon. but the
house overruled the committee and
adopted tho amendment. Two impor-
tant provisions in the paragraph pro-
viding for the constructing of new
ships went our on points Of order. one
provided that 10 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 an adequate plant.
Washington. Feb. 23.-The house In
augurated the session by listening to
the reading OF Washington farewell
address on Washington's birthday.
The address was read at the request
of Mr.. Bailey Of Texas. the Demo-
cratic leader. Two hours were de-
voted to the naval appropriation bill,
but, seemingly, only the Threshold Of
the debate upon the ccst Of armor plate
has been passed. Mr.. Boutelle's amend
ment fixing the maximum price OF
armor plate at $545 per ton, but re-
stricting the provision to the appropri.
alton made In the present bill, was
ruled out of order. whereupon another
proposition was offered by Mr. Under
wood of Alabama for the erection Of
an armor plate plant by the govern
ment. A point of order against the
latter proposition was pending when
the consideration Of the naval bill was
suspended to allow the members Of
the house to pay tribute to the memory
of the late Senator Morrill, of Vermont.
The senate.
The session of the senate was de-
voted to two special orderss. reading
Washington's farewell address, an an.
Dual custom of the senate Oh Washing
tons birthday. and the pronouncing OF
eulogies on the late Senator Morrill,.
Washington. Feb. 24.-The naval ap.
preparation bill finally passed the
house after four days Of acrimonious
debate, most Of which was spent upon
the question of rehabiltating the
naval academy at Annapolis In ac-
cordance with the scheme inaugurated
by the appropriation Of half a million
dollars In the last naval bill and the
proposition to increase the maximum
price to be paid for armor plate to
$545 per ton, existing law limiting II
to $4OO. Upon both propositions the
naval committee suffered signal de-
feats. The amendment to build q
great armor plant was ruled out upon
a point Of order, but after q rancorous
debate. in which the price to be paid
for armor was cut down from $545.
the price which the committee insisted
was being paid for the new Krupp
armor, to $445. and a proviso was also
added precluding the government from
paying more than was paid by any
other foreign government for similar
armor. When the bill was reported to
the house Mr.. Boutelle attempted to
secure a reversal OF the verdicts Of the
committee Of the whole on the naval
academy and arrnor plate amend
ments, but In both cases he was de-
feated. a motion to recommit the bill.
made by him, being voted down-151
TO 70.
Another victory over the committee