The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-03-09


ing and remained there during the clos.
ing hours of congress. This has been a
customary practice with many presi-
dents at the close of the short session,
when the passage Of important bills are
delayed frequently until almost the con-
stitutional expiration of the congress.
The executive is thus put in easy COM
munication with the Legislators with
whom he can consult respecting the
merits of such measure as might ut first
seem Objectionable. Friday the presi.
dent approved among others the follow.
ing bills in addition to those already
reported:
For taking the twelfth census; the
Buffalo exposition; TO reimburse gov
eInors of states and territories for ex.
penses incurred in the Spanish war; pro-
viding a new building for the depart
ment of Justice in Washington; making
approximations for Notifications and
other works of defense.
For public buildings, additions, etc.,
in part as follows:
Cleveland New Brighton, Pa, Lock-
port, Pa; also those authorizing First
Lieutenant John Il. Williams, Third
artillery, Colonel Victor Vifquain, Third
Nebraska volunteer infantry, and Briga.
dier General A. Il. Bates, United States
volunteers, to accept certain decorations
and honors from foreign potentaies.
Excitement, confusion, heavy strain
and hard work characterized this, the
last legislative day of the Fifty-fifth
congress in the senate. AT times the
confusion was so great in this usually
staid and decorous body as to render the
transaction of business almost impossi-
BILE.
Toward midnight order was being
evolved from the seeming chaos OF the
early part of the day and evening, and
the prospect was fair that congress would
adjourn at noon today with its abso-
lutely necessary work completed.
When the senate convened about IL
o'clock Friday morning it faced the task
of considering two of the great appro-
priation bills, those for the army and
for supplying the general deficiencies.
The former carries appropriations ex-
ceeding $50, 900, 900 and the latter about
S20,O00,000. With determination to
complete the appropriation bills the sem
ate began to consider these measures
and about 8 o'clock last night the army
bill was passed, the deficiency bill hav-
ing been passed nearly three hours be.
fore.
A partial report on the sundry civil
appropriation bill was agreed to, but the
Inability of the senate conferrecs to Sc
cure an agreement on the Hawaiian
cable proposition created heated dis
cussion, in the course of which Speaker
Reed was alluded to in uncOmpliment-
AIRY terms.
The Toledo exposition bill, carrying
an appropriation of $j00,0OO, was passed
without debate.
Last night, when the river and harbor
conference report was presented, q de.
bate upon the recession of the senate
conferrees from the senate amendment
providing for reservoirs to irrigate arid
lands at the headwaters of the Missouri
river was precipitated by the advocates
of the proposition. An effort was made
to recommit the bill to the conferrees,
but it failed after an impaSsioned speech
by Senator Frye, who submitted the
report.
Crowded galleries looked down upon
the struggling members of the house
Friday as the closing scenes Of the last
legislative day of this congress were
being enacted. Step by step the lead
ers in charge of the appropriation bills
pushed them through the final stages
and during every lull in the considera-
ton of conference reports members
for recognition for belateG bills |
in the vain hope of rescuing them from |
death on the calendar.
The noise and confusion on the floor,
punctuated with the constant banging
of the speakers gavel or back grounded
with the droning voice of the clerk;
irate members facing each other and
talking at the same time, pages scuITy-
ing up and down the aisles, all this was
utterly distracting.
Mr.. Walker (Mass.) after many un-
successful attempts, got an opportunity
during the afternoon to voice mis- views
ON currency reform and severely criti-
cised some Of his Republican colleagues.
When the great beacon light on the |
dome blazed forth as darkness fell,
thousands upon thousands were attracted |
to the brilliantly illuminated wings of
the capitol, where the two houses were
to sit out the night.
About o'clock this morning the con-
ferrees agreed to report another dis
agreement on the armor plate and the
amendments Of the senate ON
the naval hill. They agreed upon all
the other provisions. These two items
were later submitted to vote of the
senate.
The confeTTees ON the river and har.
Dor bill were unable to make any change
In the bill and it was reported back TO
the senate as it was first agreed upon.
At about 3:20 u. m. the senate re-
sumed legislative business. Mr.. Frye
no further agreement could be
the house conferrees declining
TO reopen the river and harbor agree
ment already reached.
Mr.. Warren said he was satisfied that
the senate conferrees had done all they
could, and rather than imperil the great
bills he would yield the
point.
The reporS was then agreed to without
The conference report on the Wash
ington public library bill was agreed to.
A partial report of the conference on
the naval appropriation bill was pre-
sented by Mr.. Hale. He explained that
the senate armor plate amendment was
the serious stumbling block and it had
been suggested that the senate take a
vote upon the proposition as it now was
presented. Ne declared the situation
was very serious, as il would affect tho
nf.ioa ~ ag-,agr mot onJv for the shina