The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-01-12
DOINCS OF CONGRESS.
Abstract of the Important Proceed
ings.

Congress convened Jan. 4. The session of
the Senate lasted only IA minutes.
Mai. Pruden, Assistant Secretary to the
President presented message from Presi-
dent Mckinley. The message contained the
treaty of Paris. The Senate then went into
executive session in order that the treaty
might be referred to the Committee ON For
eign Relations.
The House of Representatives considered the
bill tn define and punish crimes in Alaska and
provide code of criminal procedure for the
| Territory. The bill was prepared by the
commission appointed to codify the laws of
| the United States, and is volumlnOus meas
ure of 232 pages. Sixty-seven pages were
completed and the bill made continuing
order until disposed of. not, however. to inter-
fere with appropriation bills or other special
orders.
Adjournment by both Houses was taken
out OF respect to Senator Morrill's memory.
In the absence of the Vice-Prcsident, OH
account of illness. Mr. Frye. of Maine. Presi-
dent pro tenn, presided at the opening of
Thursdays session OF the Senate.
Mr. Berry ARK, ID. presented a protest
from j. Z. Murray Camp Of United Conied-
crate Veterans of Arkansas against the
adoption OF the proposed amendm mt OF Sena-
tor Butler (N. c., p to the pension appro
priation bill providing for the payment Of
pensions to Confederate soldiers.
Mr. Berry said the members of the Camp
deemed it unwise TO adopt such PROPOSE
ton. They say, said Mr.. Berry, that they
have provided for themselves and their
families for more than q generation, and they
regard such a proposition as that of Mr..
Buffers as " ungracious."
Mr.. Hoar introduced resolution request
ing the President, if in his Judgment not in-
compatible with public interest. to communi-
cate TO the Senate all instructions given by
him to the Commissioners who negotiated the
treaty of Paris; all correspondence between
the Executive and the State Department and
the Commissioners, and all reports made by
the Commissioners, either to the President or
the State Department.
At the request of Mr. Davis. one of the
Peace Commissioners, the resolution went
over.
Mr.. Hoar then proposed the following reso-
luton, which was adopted:
That the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions be directed to inquire and to report to
the Senate whether the proposed treaty with
Spain makes any provision for claims of
citizens of the United States against Spain.
which were in existence before the beginning
of the present war; the extent and number OF
such claims and what will be the legal con-
dtions of the same after peace shall have
been declared"
On motion of Mr. Morgan. the Nicaragua
Canal bill was taken up. and Mr.. Gallery was
recognized to continue his speech in opposi-
tion to the pending bill. MIR. Gallery de-
voted his remarks especially to the Clayton
Buiwer treaty, asserting that the bill sought
to do by indirection what the treaty pro-
hibits doing directly.
The House devoted the day to consideration
of bills presented by the Committee on ,Iudici-
ary. The first bill called up was one Great
ing an additional Judge in the Sixth .Jud cial
Circuit. 1t is this Judgeship with which
rumor has connected the name of ex Secretary
of State William II. Day. Mr.. Henderson
UOwa, r. Chairman of the judiciary Com
mittee, said there were 7,1O8 cases pending
in this District The business of the circuit
was excessive, he said, and the Judges Of the
circuit earnestly favored it.
Mr.. Moon ('renn, D. opposed the bill,
conlending that the situation in the circuit
did not warrant the crea ion of another
Circuit Judge. The bill Was laid aside with
favorable recommendation.
In the Senate on Friday, in secret legisla-
tive session, Mr.. Hoar made a speech, and
when he had finished the Senate agreed to
the resolution calling for the instructions to
the Peace Commissioners without division.
Mr.. Hoar insisted that other members of the
Senate had as much right to full information
as the members of the Committee on Foreign
Relations, and urged that it was derogatOry
to their dignity as Senators not to supply all
the light that could he given.
The open session of the Senate was then
resumed, and Mr.. Caffery, of Louisiana,
made an address on the joint resolution
offered by Mr. Vest, of Missouri, declaring
that under the Constitution of the United
States no power is given to acquire territory
to be held and governed permanently as
colonies.
Mr.. Caffery declared that the resolution
went to the very root of the question OF the
power of the United States to establish per-
manently Governments in Territories far
distant from our own lands. He held that
Washington in his counsel and teachings was
opposed to the acquisition of foreign territory
Tor despotic Government. He referred then
to that sentences OF Jefferson that Govern
ments can only acquire their just powers from
the consent OF the governed.
We have heard,' said he. some start
ling doctrines as to the power of the United
States to establish Governments in foreign
territory acquired by the United States an
n0unced on this floor"
Mr.. Gallery declared that these announced
doctrines were more arbitrary than any which
had ever before been heard in the United
States Congress They conferred on Congress
supreme power-a despotic power, unlim-
tied and unrestricted.
In the House the Legislative, Executive and
judicial appropriation bill was considered
Mr.. Evans Ky, II. moved to strike out
the appropriation for the Civil Service Com
mission He was not spokesman. he said,
but believed in merit and in the improve
ment OF the public service. He was opposed,
however, to life tenure and to tue present
conduct Of the law.