The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-03-09
WORK OF CONGRESS

aSnlngt0n. feD. q. - After two
hours devoted TO the consideration of
bills on the calendar the senate at |
o'clock began the consideration of the
compromise army reorganization bill
which had been agreed upon by the
members of the military affairs COM
mittee. Until a short time before the
measure was taken up ii was sun
posed ii would be passed during the
day without serious difficulty, but
when Il was learned by some senator's
that the bill provided for a permanent
increase in the standing army obiec-
tons were heard and ii became evil
dent that the measure would have to
run the gauntlet OF sharp criticism.
Mr.. German desired that no authoriZa-
ton OF a permanent increase I'm the
army should be given, ana prepared
an amendment. as follows:
That each and every provision OF
this act shall continue In force until
July l, 1900. and on and after this
date the officers and men, including
general officers and staff officers, shall
be restored to rank and numbers as
provided for by law prior to April 1.
1898, except the cadets appointed
prior TO July l, 1901, and except as
provided for in the act to authorize
two additional regiments of artillery
approved March 8, 1898
Mr.. COckrell, who has consistently
opposed large standing army. gave
the pending measure his support. de-
claring IL was the best army measure
ever submitted to congress. No agree
ment to vote on the bill had been
reached when the senate adjourned.
The House.
The house continued work on the
army appropriation bill, but failed to
complete IT, Considerable animoSity
was developed during the debate. and
there was sharp passages between Mr..
Grosvenor and Mr. Cannon on one
hand and Messrs. Simpson and Cock
ran on the other. The senate bill
granting a right Of way through the
Nez Perces Indian reservation to the
Clearwater Short Line railroad, was
passed: also the senate bill to COM
pensate certain persons for private
property in the Yellowstone Park.
Washington Feb. %. - After n con-
test that will be memorable in the
history of the senate the compromise
army reorganization bill was passed
last evening at 40 by vote Of 50 to
Is. When the senate convened Mt II
o'clock It seemed more than likely that
the bill might not be passed during the
day Mr.. German of Maryland insisted
that his amendment providing that
the army should not be increased per-
manently or beyond July l. 1901, be
incorporated in the measure. For sew
eral hours it appeared probable that
this insistence at least would throw
the bin over until to-day. and, perhaps
defeat it. An agreement was reached
finally, however, and Mr. Germans
amendment. in n slightly modified
form, was accepted The notable
speech OF the day against the measure
was delivered by Mr. Vest Of Missouri.
but his brilliant elsquence availed
nothing against the measure as finally
agreed upon.
| Last night the senate took ND the
sundry civil bill ana completed its read
ing. all the committee amendments be-
ing agreed TO except those relating to
the District of Columbia. The bill was
laid aside TO be completed to-day.
The House.
The house was In session seven
hours yesterday and sent 10 the SEN
, ate two more appropriation bills. the
army, which has been under consider
alton for several days. and the fortif-
cations. The former carried about
10000 900, and the latter approx
mately S4.100,00o The final confer
ence report upon the Indian appropria-
ton bill was also adopted. The only
amendment of Importance attached to
the army bill was one giving two
months extra pay 10 enlisted men in
the regular army who served beyond
the limits of the United States during
the war with Spain, and one months
extra pay to those who served in the
United States. The discussion of the
administration policy relative to the
Philippines which has been occupying
the attention of the members to the
exclusion of almost everything else
during the consideration of appropria-
, ton bills for the last two weeks was
continued. several speeches being made
on the subject. Mr.. DockeIs' OF Mis-
souri,, the leading Democrat on the APP
preparations committee. asserted that
! the appropriations for this congress
would reach 81 ,600.OOO,00O.
Washington, March IA frenzy OF
bill passing was on the senate yester-
day The bills passed were principally
public building measures, and 1T times
during the day and nighc the scenes in
the senate were remarkable. Senators
usually calm and dignitied sticklers for
order and decorum in the senate. clam
oral for uaSSopa of bills OrOyiliny for
the erection of government buildings
in which they were interested. Late
in the afternoon batch OF such
measures passed by the house was re-
ceived by the senate. Instantly con-
fusion reigned. Senators crowded
about the clerks desk and began TO
sort over the bills from the house
picking them out as they found their