Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1899-01-28
CONGRESSIONAL. =

Jan. 2o.-In the house there was a
lively duel of words between Gros-
venor of Ohio and Lewis of Washing
ton and Simpson of Kansas over a bill
to refer to the court of claims the
claim of Cramp & Son, the shipbuild-
ers, for damages from the govern
ment for delays incident to the
building of warships. Mr.. Lewis
made the bill the text for a general
! attack on army and navy contra ctors,
whom he charged with being traitors
for taking advantage of the necessities
of the government in time of stress
Mr.. Simpson, the Kansas Populist,
| followed along the same line Mr.
| Grosvenor did not deign to make
an extensive rejoinder, though he
! displayed a lot of documents and
| intimated that he had plenty OF re-
serve ammunition in store for Mr..
Lewis The Cramp bill was edged out
of the way after the flow of oratory
ceased The postoffice appropriation
bill was passed Speaker Reed de-
nounced the appointment of Mr. Payne
of New York to the vacancy on the
ways and means committee caused by
Mr. Dingley's death House adjourned
to Monday.
In the Senate two notable speeches
were delivered, one by Mr. Nelson,
Republican, of Minnesota, in op-
position to Mr.. Vests anti-expan-
sion resolutions, and the other by Mr..
White. Democrat of California. a per-
sonal explanation of his position with
respect to the instructions given the
California Senators by the legislature
in that state as to voting on the pend
ing peace treaty. He did not consider
that United States Senator was un-
der obligations to subordinate his own
conscience and convictions in national
questions to the temporary operation
of a state Legislature
Jan. 19.-Turner of Washington de-
livered a speech against expansion.
Foraker said that in his speech last
week he spoke only for himself and
not for the administration. The Mica
rauga canal bill was under considera-
ton nearly three hours. After much
debate substitute presented by Mr.
Morgan of Alabama for the bond
amendment offered by Mr.. Allison was
| adopted, "a to %. 1t reads: That the
| authorized and required to limit the
payments of the appropriation made
in this act SO that such payments shall
not exceed the sum of $50. QUO, 900 in
any fiscal year" Harris of Kansas
| voted for and Vest and CockrelI OF
Missouri against the amendment.
Jan. 1S.-In the House the bill to
| grant the Pacific Cable company a sub
! sidy of 500, 900 year for twenty years
for the construction of and operation
! of a cable was called up, and very
spirited debate followed. Bailey and
Dockery opposed the measure as
creating Pacific cable monopoly.
The bill went over. During the con-
! sideration of a bill to establish light
house in Rhode Island Hepburn and
Cannon had sharp clash OF
words The bill passed. In
! the Senate Bacon of Georgia
spoke in support of his resolution de
claring that the United States would
not assume sovereignty over the Phil
ippine islands. Nicaragua bill was
then taken up. Amendment after
amendment was voted down until
Allison of Iowa offered an amendment
providing that the secretary of the
treasury should issue bonds to raise
money with which to construct the
canal, when the Senate adjourned
without voting on it.
Jan. 17.-Almost the entire day in
the Senate was devoted to the Nicar
aqua canal bill Rawlins' amendment
giving the United States absolute mil
itary control of the canal was defeat
ed, 3S to 9. A provision was adopted
that no more than S., 900, 600 should bt
paid the Maritime Canal company fol
its concession and work done on the
canal. House-The naval personnel
bill was passed without division, thus
accomplishing what the officers of the
navy have been working for over ter
years. 1t equalizes their pay.