Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-21
Senator Hawley Makes a Statement
to the Senate.
PASSAGE Og THE POST OFFICE BILL
Senator ~ tharges Public
BuMNlngscombine.
~
VIEW N Avn ACAD EN- Y

Soon after the Senate convened today
Mr.. Pettigrew Is. D. presented resolutions
| of the legislature of South Dakota urging
the senators of that state to support the
treaty of peace. Commenting upon the
| resolutions, Mr. Pettigrew said that he
denied the right of the legislature to in
struct him, although he was always glad
to hear from the body. 1.-The present iegis-
lature of South Dakota said he, lis the
third since l was elected senator the
last time. In one resolution was passed
indorsing the free and unlimited coinage OF
silver Both houses of the next legislature
passed similar resolution. The present
legislature is in favor of the single gold
standard. If I should undertake TO follow
the course laid down by the legislature I'd
be on almost every side of almost every
public question He pointed out that a
majority of the legislators were not mem
bers of successive legislatures, and he be-
lleVed that on great national quesuo1S
they were as likely to be wrong as right.
A bill for the relief of certain Lynchburg,
Va, tabocconists who had failed to pay
their internal revenue taxes in time was
passed.
The conference report on the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation bill
was agreed to-
A joint resolution appropriating $4,000
to prevent the spread of contagious dis
ease in the District of Columbia was
adopted.
Mr.. Allison reported from the finance
committee House joint resolution amend
ing the act of June IL, 1898, by adding to
it provision that whenever any bond or
note shall be secured by a mortgage or
deed of trust but one stamp shall be re-
CURED. that being the highest rate required
for either paper. The bill was passed.
Mr.. Quay Pa.), chairman of the commit
tee on public buildings and grounds, pre-
sented batch of reports favorable TO the
erection of public buildings in various parts
of the country.
Public Building Combine.
These reports brought Mr.. Alien tNeb)
to his feet with an inquiry as to why GER
tain bills which had been before the COM
mittee for year or more had not been
acted upon. He said: This reporting OF
public building bills is like the expert shut
fling of cards. The favored bills are placed
on the calendar in the order in which the
committee desires their passage. l make
this distinct charge: There has been no
meeting of the committee on public build
ings and grounds at which these bills We're
authorized to be reported. If any meeting
Of the committee has been held it was
secret meetng.n | make this statement
simply to call the attention of the Senate
and country to the matter and not because
1 expect any change in, the methods oil the
committee.
A House bill withdrawing from entry and
sale and granting to the state of Wiscon-
sin certain lands1 was passed.
The S2O,6OO.0O0 for Spain.
A message was received from the House
transmitting the bill passed by that body
appropriating $4,000 900 to be paid to 81 ain
in accordance with the. terms of the Paris
treaty. 1t was referred to the committee
on appropriations.
The post office approximation bill was laid
before the Senate and its consideration was
Mr.. Butler CN.oc ) restmed his speech of
yesterday.
Voting on the Post Office Bill.
At o'clock the debate closed and the
voting began. s-. ~
Mr.. Buffers amendment reducing the
amount paid to railroads was defeated-i5
to 10.
The bill was then passed.
The Army Bill Taken Up.
Mr.. Hawley was then recognized to speak
on the army reorganization bill. and as he
He said he did not see how anybody could
have voted against taking up the bill, for it
was evident to all that something must be
done to strengthen the PRESIDENT arm He
thought there could be no doubt that the
Spanish cortes would ratify the peace
treaty within the next two three days
With this proceeding concluded and the eX-
change completed, the army must neces-
sarly be reduced to its original dimensions
of 81 900, unless some law should be en-
acted.