The record-union., 1899-03-04
The Last Legislative Day Of the
Fifsy-EFiiith Congress
Characterized by Much Excitement Among
Members Of the Upper House.
At Times the Confusion 50 Great In
the Usually Staid and Decorous
Body as to Render the Trans
action Of Business Almost Inn
possible.

action Of Business Almost I'm
possible.
WASHINGTON, March 3-Excite.
ment, confusion heavy strain and hare
work have characterized this, the las1
legislative day of the fifty fifth Con
gress in the Senate. At times the CON
fusion was SO great in this usually
staid and decorous body as to render
the transaction of business almost i'm
possible. Toward midnight order was
being evolved from the seeming chaos
OF the early part of the day and even
ing, and the prospect was fair thai
Congress would adjourn at noon to-
morrow with its absolutely necessary
work completed.
When the Senate convened at II
O'Clock this 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 carried appropriations ex-
ceeding $S0,O00000, and the latter
about 500, 100000 With a determine
ton to complete the appropriation bills,
the Senate began Immediately at II
O'Clock in the morning to consider
these measures, and at o'clock to-
night the army bill was passed, the
deficiency bill having been passed near
ly three hours before.
A conference report on the Alaska
Criminal Code bill was presented and
agreed to.
A partial report on the sundry civil
appropriation bill was agreed to. but
the Inability of the Senate conferrees
to secure an agreement on the Ha-
waiian cable proposition created a
heated discussion, in the course d
which Speaker Reed was alluded 10 in
uncomplimentary terms.
Tonight, when the river and harhcl
conference report was presented, a 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 Mis-
souri, River was precipitated by the
advocates of the proposition An ef-
fort was made to recommit the bill to
the conferrees, but it failed, after an
impassioned speech by Senator Frye
: who submitted the report.
AT 80 the debate was still in pro-
gress, with no indications of an early
adjournment
W0en Tile OcHdlc cOuNcHtu III ~ ldo'
legislative session at II o'clock to-day
more than the usual number of Sen
ators were on the floor. Morning bust
ness was suspended practically, and the
Senate proceeded Immediately to bust
ness, looking to adjournment.
The following bills were passed: TIC
incorporate the National White Cross
of American amending the in
lou LOT 4,
distilled spirits, and for other
purposes; authorizing the construction
of a bridge over the Tennessee River at
Sheffield Ala. authorizing the Wash
ington and Gettysburg Railroad Com
pany of Maryland to extend its line OF
road into the District of Columbia; a
bill providing a site for the Washing
ton Public Library building.
Mallory of Florida presented the Gre
dentials of his colleague, Samuel Pasco
appointed a Senator by the Governor
of Florida to fill a vacancy untitled by
the LEGISLATURE The credentials were
filed. Platt of Connecticut dissenting
from the constitutionality of the APP
pointment-
Hale of Maine called up the general
deficiency appropriation bill, and tbs
ton.
Temporarily the general deficiency
bill was laid aside. and Allison pre-
scented a partial conference report en-
the sunny civil bill. He said there were
still twenty-five items in disagreement
The amendment which made appropri-
ations for large number of public
buildings had been held up by ths
xuh n inciStpd fh1t III
should contain provisions only for
buildings the bills for which had passed
both the House and the Senate. One
of the important amendments which
the House had declined to accept was
that providing for a Pacific cable. AS
the amendment was agreed to rrac-
tically unanimously by the Senate
Allison said the Senate conferrees de-
cided to refer the matter back to the
Senate.
Morgan denounced what he termed
the ''log-roiling" in both houses re
pardiug public buildings, declaring thai
the. action of the rules of the House
was a fraud and an outrage. I saw
said he. ssbills passed by the Senate IL
snch a hurry that many of the names
of the cities could not be understood By
senators / want to protest agairs
that sort Of legislation. know wher'
the incentive of this performance comes
from. know the origin of tina
wrong. / know the man who inspiret
1t. His will and pleasure was to MAKE
fair weather for a particular SET O.
men who are favorites of the particular
rules of the House.
The refusal of the House conferrees U
yield on the Hawaiian cable vas as
cussed at length.
Butler of North Carolina spoke II
support of the Senate conferrees. ant
was followed by Chandler, who ex
pressed the hope that the Senate con
ferrees would adhere to the Senate'
proposition. even if an extra session
were thereby forced. There are SOM
things he said, worse than an ex
ira session.
Pettigrew of South Dakota did not re
gard the Pacific cable as of overwhelm
ing Importance. The number of Amer
leans in Hawaii was cornparativel,
few, and the cable would not nearl,
pay expenses. He suggested that ;
cable to Alaska would be much pre-
.ferred.
Stewart and Morgan considered tn
cable amendment as the most impor
fant feature Of the sundry BILL Nor
gan said the cable would give the Unit