Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-12-14
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.


Senator Teller, who represents the
free silver Republican group in the SEN
ate, says that he thinks it will require
three or four months TO pass the finan-
cial bill. lie said Democrats and free
silver men would not attempt obstruc-
tive methods, but would go on record
in speeches. Others believe the bill
will be passed within 60 days.
The rush of bills in the house of rep
resentatives on the 4th was the great
est in the memory of house officials, the
total being SCI bills public and private
and 30 resolutions.
The financial bill drafted by a special
committee of Republican members was
introduced in the house by Rep. Over
street, of Indiana, on the 4th and ac-
corded the distinction of being bill No.
1 on the records of the house.
Sen. Chandler on the 9th introduced
bills applying the customs and internal
revenue laws of the United States to
the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico after
Jan. /, 1900. Goods between the ISL
ands and the United States are to be
exchanged as between the states.
Nearly 500 bills and joint resolutions,
several important concurrent resolu-
ton and petitions numbering hundreds,
were presented TO the senate on the
9th. majority of the bills were old
stagers. 4 few were of national inter
est and importance.
Mr.. Aldrich had the honor of intro
ducing the first measure in the senate.
1t was the financial bill drawn by the
senate committee on finance, of which
Mr. Aldrich is chairman, and probably
was the most important measure in
troduced on the 9th.
The Republican caucus unanimously
approved the house financial bill and
recommended its immediate considera-
tion and passage. The bill was not
amended except in two minor particu-
lars
A bill to permit the building of a
bridge over the Detroit river between
Belle Isle and Detroit was introduced
in the house by Rep. Corliss on the sth.
The house ON the Sth adopted n
special order for the consideration of
the currency bill. The general debate
will doubtless occupy the greater part
of weeks time.
The session of the house on the eth
only lasted 30 minutes, during which
time the speaker appointed the COM
mittee on rules, which is to include
himself; Mr. Bell, of Pennsylvania; Mr..
Grosvenor, of Ohio; Mr. Richardson, of
Tennessee, and Mr.. Bailey, of Texas.
1t is long time since any measure
for public improvement on the Great
Lakes has occasioned so widespread an
interest as is caused by the bill which
| Hon. John Il. Corliss, congressman
from Detroit, introduced on the 9th for
! the construction of a dam across the
! Niagara river. The purpose of this
| dam is to raise and control the level &
| Lake Erie and Detroit river, Lake st.
! Clair, St Clair river and to a limited
extent of Lake Huron. The bill is
| based upon the findings and recommen-
dation of the board of distinguished
engineers appointed by the President
! in 1897 to investigate the project OF
constructing a deep waterway from the
Great Lakes to tide water.
In the senate on the eth Mr.. Harris
introduced joint resolution providing
/ for the Limitation of the time Presi
dent shall be elected to one term of sin
years and making the terms of mem
bers of the house four years. He also
| introduced a bill for the granting OF
pensions to persons who served in the
confederate service and afterward in
the army and navy of the United States
Mr.. Roberts, the mormon represent.
ative, despite the adoption of the Tay
Ter resolution. which in terms deprive,
him of his seat during the tendency OF
his case. was in the hall throughout
the session on the eth and occupied the
seat he selected on the opening day.
The senate in executive session or
the eth confirmed the following APP
pointments: Joseph w. Fifer, of Hi
nois. TO be a commissioner of interstate
commerce.; Frederick w. Wines, of Hi
nois, to be assistant director of the
census.
Congressman Weeks ha introduced 9
public bill to fix the term of service OF
the surfmen in the life-saving service
on the lakes and rivers at 10 month.
out of the year, closing the stations
only during January and February
and fixing the compensation at s7O pei
month.
Rep. Corliss in speaking of his Pacifi,
cable bill, says he will get it through
if he don't accomplish another thing a
this session.
Rep. Fordney has introduced bill
appropriating $4,000 for publ,
building at Owosso.
Since Congressman Corliss' bill for
government cable across the Pacific t,
Manila was introduced, Senator Hale
of Maine. has reached out after som,
of the glory by introducing a simila
measure. His bill differs from Mr.
Corliss' in that it places the construc
ton of the line in the hands of tn,
navy department instead of cabl,
commission, and after completion i
places the operation in the hands of tn,
postmastcr-general, but does not pro
vide a reduction in rates as fast as tn,
revenues exceed the operating expenses
as does Mr.. Corliss' bill.
Congressman Tawney on the 5th in
Z an ,.,ao1,,tipr, t,rnuiI; mr. e.. 4