The Van Buren press., 1899-01-28
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.
Work of Our National Lawmakers at WASH
ington During the Closing Days OF
the FIfty-Fifth Session.

SEEAToR BACON Ga.) made a speech In the
senate on the 18Th in support of his resolutions
declaring that the United States would not as
sumo sovereignty over the Philippine islands.
Following his speech the Nicaragua canal Bill
was taken up Senator Allison (Ia) offered an
amendment providing that the secretary of the
treasury should issue bonds to raise money
with which to construct the canal An adjourn
ment was then taken.... The house passed
number Of minor bills reported from the COM
mittee on interstate and foreign commerce,
most of which authorized the construction OF
lighthouses fog signals, etc. Then the Ha-
waiian cable bill was discussed, but no conclu-
sion was reached February was fixed for the
exercises for accepting the statues of Benton
and Blair from the state OF Missouri
SENATOR TURNER (Washl delivered a
speech in the senate on the 18th in favor of the
Vest resolution. 1t was for the most part
constitutional argument against the policy Of
expansion The Nicaragua canal bill was then
discussed for three hours In the executive
session Joseph Il Choate, of New York, was
confirmed as ambassador to Great Britain -.
The house passed a bill authorizing the con-
struction of railroad through the Choctaw
and Chickasaw nations in the Indian territory.
bill was also passed granting site on the
Fort Supply military reservation to Oklahoma
for an insane asylum. The post office appro-
priation bill was then taken up,
IN the senate on the 20th Senator Nelson
| (Minn.l made a speech in opposition to the
| Vest anti expansion resolution. The consider
atien of the Nicaragua canal bill was then re-
sumed -. The house passed the post office ap-
| preparation bill An arrangement was made
| for the consideration of the army reorgani2a-
| ton bill on the 24th Speaker Reed appointed
| Mr. Payne IN. V to the craftsmanship of the
ways and means committee made vacant by the
death of Mr. Dingey AT night session was
held for pension legislation and an adjourn-
nent was afterwards taken to the 23d.
The resolution of Senator Gaffery (dem.) re-
questing certain information from the presi-
| dent in regard to the Philippine islands, was
| laid before the senate on the 2lst and adopted
after a short speech by Senator Gaffery. Tho
Nicaragua canal bill was passed by a vote of
is to 6 The anti-scalping bill was then taken
up. but was afterwards temporarily laid aside
| and the Indian appropriation bill was cOnsid-
| cred -. The house was not in session.
| IN the senate on the 23d Senator White (CaL)
made an address in support of the Vest anti
| expansion resolution and the Bacon resolution,
declaring that the Philippines ought to be free
and independent bill was passed authoriz-
ing Oklahoma to use certain buildings at Fort
supply as an insane asylum and one to grant
pension Of 100 a month to ex-senator Palmer
Tor his services in the civil war The executive
session was taken up in a discussion over the
promotion of Admrals Sampson and Schley
| and others over the heads of officers who were
their superiors in rank. The controversy was
afterwards postponed for 20 days ... Most of
| the time of the house was occupied with Dis
| .riet of Columbia business A bill was passed
| to extend the navigation laws of the United
States to the Hawaiian ISLANDS Mr. CLARK
Qa) introduced bill providing that no polyg-
| amtst shall be a senator or representative