Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-24
DOINCS OF CONGRESS.


dry civil bill, a point of order was
made by Chairman Cannon of the APP
preparations committee. that it was
new legislation. The objection was
supported by Rep. Bennett, of New
York, who advocated the consideration
of his bill 10 paw IA subsidy To Pac.f ic
cable company. 'Corliss contended
that his bill was for the continuation
of the cable route 10 Hawaii, of which
the naval appropriation bill of 1891
appropriated So. 900 for the survey Of
the route was made. lie then asked
consent TO withdraw the bill. but this
was denied.
There was a pronounced movement
in the senate looking 10 compromise
on the army reorganization bill. The
movement originated with several Re
publican senators, who advanced the
opinion that IA compromise was prefer.
able TO an extra session of congress.
The Cocllrell bill was reported by them
as the the first advance on the part of
the Democrats toward an understand
ing, and many felt that they would 90
publicans should indicate Willingness
to meet them half way
A very sensational and unexpected
thing happened in the house during
the consideration of the the sundry
civil bill. The paragraph carrying APP
preparation of $50. 900. 600 for payment
to Spain under the terms of the peace
was stricken out upon point of order
made by Mr.. Wheeler, a Kentucky
Democrat. who declared that he OPP
posed the appropriation on principle
and would resort to any technicality
TO defeat it. The point Of order was
debated for hours and finally sustained
by vote of 10 to ST.
The military academy appropriation
bill has been passed in the senate
After a spirited debate over the amend
ment providing for an appropriation
10 secure fast mail service between
New York and Washington and At
lanta and New Orleans the amendment
was retained in the bill. A house reso-
luton to pay ccertain laborers and
mechanics at L. = navy and naval sta
tions so per cent additional for work
performed in excess of eight hours per
day was adopted.
The house finally settled the fate of
the Nicaragua canal bill in this con
gress by refusing to override the de-
cision Of the chair in committee of the
whole when the chair held that the
canal bill offered as an amendment by
Mr.. Hepburn was out of order. The
friends of the Nicaragua bill were
very confident for two days that they
would triumph, but after four hours
of debate the chair was sustained,
l27 to 100.
The senate committee on commerce
has completed its considerations Of the
rivers and harbors bill. Aside from
the provisions for the construction of
the Nicaragua canal the committee
increased the cash appropriations to
the extent of about 5000. 900 over the
house appropriation, while the amount
of continuing contracts is increased
to the extent Of about $40, 900, 600
The house has passed the sundry
civil appropriation bill. TO which it
had devoted over week without MAX
ing any important amendments. The
speakers ruling upon the motion TO re
commit the bill with instructions to
incorporate in it the Nicaragua canal
amendment was sustained. 100 to %.
Petitions from all sections of the
country are being received by members
of congress asking that the war reve.
nue. act Toe amended so as to compel the
telegraph and express companies to
pay the tax on kilograms and packages
sent by express.
The senate committee on appropria-
tions reported the postotiice appropria-
tion bill increasing the total appro-
priation OF the bill over the amount as
it passed the house to the extent of
1898, 23s. and raised the total to SlO5.-
533.G3s
The President mas definitely decided
TO nominate Rep. Samuel j. Barrows.
of Boston. Mass. for librarian of the
congressional library. to succeed the
late John Russell Young