The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-04
THE SENATE

Washington March 3.-Excitement, con-
fusion, heavy strain and hard work have
characterized this the last legislative DAY
of the Fifty-sixth congress in the senate.
At times the confusion was so great IN thls
unusually sta.d and decorous body as to
render the transaction of business almost
impossible Business ordinarily would have
the undivided attention of every senator on
the floor who was transacted with SO much
noise that 1t was next to impossible to fol-
low tho proceedings. Towards midnight
quiet was being evolved from the seeming
chaos of the early part of the day and eV-
ening and the prospect was fair that con-
gress would adjourn at noon tomorrow with
absolutely necessary work completed.
When the senate convened at IL o'clock
this morning 1t faced the task of consider
ing two of the great appropriation b1lls
those for the army and for the supply or
the general deficiencies. The former carries
appropriations exceeding $s0.0oo000 and the
latter about 500, 900, 000 With determina-
ton to complete the appropriation bills the
senate began Immediately at IL O'Clock in
the morning to consider these measures and
at 8 o'clock tonight the army bill was
passed, the deficiency bill having been
passed nearly three hours before.
Speaker Reed Criticised
A partial report on the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill was agreed to but the in
ability of the senate conferees to secure an
agreement on the Hawaiian cable PROPOSE
tion created heated discussion in the dis
course of which Speaker Reed was alluded
to in uncomplimentary terms.
Tonight when the river and harbor con-
ference report was presented debate upon
the recession of the senate conferees from
the senate amendment providing for reser-
voirs to irrigata arid lands at the head
waters of the Missouri river was precipi-
tated by the advocates of the proposition.
An effort was made to recommit the Dill to
the conferees but 1t failed after an impas-
stoned speech by Senator Frye, VINO SUD-
mtted the report.
At II 80 the debate is still In progress
with no indications of an early conclusion,
Temporarily the general deficiency bill
was laid aside while Mr.. Allison presented
q partial conference report on the sundry
civil bill He said there were 22 items in
the disagreement. The senate amendment.
which made appropriations for large
number of public buildings, had been held
up by the house conferees. who insisted
that II should contain provisions only for
buildings, the bills for (which had been
passed by the house and senate.
The Ia ,iic Cable
One of the important amendments which
the house conferees had declined to accept
was that providing for a Pacific cable. AS
that amendment was agreed to practically
unanimously by the senate, Mr.. Allison
said the senate conferees decided to refer
the matter back TO the senate
Mr.. Morgan denounced what he termed
the "log-rolling'' in both houses regarding
public buildings, declaring that the action
of the rules of the house was a fraud and
an outrage.
.I saw" said he, 'bills passed by the
senate in such hurry that many of the
names of the cities could not be understood
bv the senators. 1 want to protest against
that sort of legislation. 1 know where the
incentive of this performance comes from.
know the. origin of that wrong. 1 know
the man who inspired it. His will and
pleasure was to make fair weather for
the narticular ruler of the house,