Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-01-12
A WEEK OF CONGRESS.
The Expansion Policy. Nicaragua Cana
and Government of Alaska Considered.

Congress reassembled January after
the recess, In the Senate a message was
received from the President transmitting
the Peace Treaty, and 1t was referred in
executive session to the Committee on
Foreign Relations. Mr.. Allison announced
the death of Senator Morrill,, and present.
ed the usual resolution of sorrow. This
was adopted, and the Senate then adjourn
ed. The House disposed of sixty-sevcn
pages of the bill providing a criminal code
for Alaska, and adjourned out of respect
to the memory of the late Senator Mng-
rill.
The Senate, Thursday, upon motion of
Mr.. Hoar adopted a resolution requesting
the Foreign Relations Committee to re-
port what is the status under the peace
treaty of claims against Spain, held by
citizens of the United States, and which
were In existence before the recent war
Senator Caffery concluded his speech in
opposition to the Nicaragua Cana bill In
the House many bills were passed from
the Judiciary Committee In considering
the bill to codify the laws of Alaska there
was protracted discussion over the section
providing fine and imprisonment for per-
sons convicted OF preventing or endeaVor-
ing to prevent employees working and it
was stricken out.
| The Senate Friday, in executive session,
adopted Mr.. Hoars resolution calling on
the President for information as to the in.
structions of the Commissioners who ne
gotiated the treaty of Paris, together wit
all correspondence and reports relating TO
their work. In open session, Mr. Gallery.
OF Louisiana, spoke in support OF the re-
solution offered some time ago by Mr.
Vest. in opposition to expansion. At the
conclusion of Mr.. Caffery's argument, Mr..
Morgan of Alabama, announced on behalf
of the Nicaragua Canal Committee the aC-
ceptance in a modified form of the amend
ments offered by Mr.. Berry before the
holidays to the pending Canal bill. The
amendments We're not passed upon. The
Legislative Appropriation bin was consi-
dered in the House. and Mr.. Evans of
Kentucky, moved to strike out the appro-
priation for the Civil Service Commission.
The motion was carried-61 to Tin CON-
mittee of the whole. Mr. Moody, OF Mas
sachusetts gave notice that he would de-
mand a record vote in the House.
The District Of Columbia Appropriations
BILL carrying trihe over seven million
dollars, was passed by the United States
Senate on Saturday A memorial was pre-.
scented from a camp of Confederate vetcr-
ans in opposition to the proposition to
pension ex-Confederate soldiers. The Le-
gislatlve and Executive Appropriation bill
was considered by the House. An appro.
priation of ST., 900 for a series of engrossed
nautical charts of construction from Gov.
eminent surveys of the coast and harbors
of the Philippine Islands was ruled out
Mr. Grosvenor, of Ohio, made speech on
political questions.
The discussion in the Senate Monday
was OF an interesting character Senator
Hoar speaking at length in support of the
Resolution declaring II to be in oppositio or
TO the Constitution of this country to ac.
quire foreign territory, to be governed per.
manently as colonies. HIS speech was de-
liVered with unusual earnestness. and wa.
listened to with close attention by his col
leagues. Mr.. Plat replied to some point.
In the speech, and then Mr.. Caffery con
tinued his speech in opposition to tho
Nicaragua Canal bill. An effort to fix
; time for vote failed, and then Senator
Morgan announced that If n vote was no
taken by this afternoon he would ask IN,
! friends of tho bin to stand by him in III
support The House reversed the decision
of the Committee OF the Whole last f'r!
day, when the appropriation for the sup
port of the Civil Service Commission wa
stricken out by a vote of 81 to g. Monda Y
when the roll was called, the vote was .
to ll9.
senator Mason. of Illinois. made one o
; the most notable speeches of the session
In the Senate Tuesday in advocacy of hi
resolution declaring that the United
states VIII never attempt to govern tn
people OF any country without their con
sent. 1t was an impassioned plea for hu
man liberty and tho right OF the Filipino
Tor self-sovernment. An agreement wa
,, reached to consider the Nicaragua Cana
bill on Tuesday next, with fifteen minut
speeches,--The House spent the day 4
discussing the Alaskan bill.
In the Senate Wednesday, Senator Fsra
ker argued In favor Of our right to acqulr
and govern territory falling into our hand
as result OF war The House passed III
d bill for codihcation Of the criminal law
, of Alaska, with an amendment proyidn
a nigh license system in the territory wit
}, a species of local option.