The Mena star., 1899-01-25
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.
Work of Our National Law makers at Wa h. ington During the Closing Days Of
 the Fifty Firth Session.

SEEAToR BACON tGa) made a speech in tEe senate on the 18th in support of his resolutions declaring that the United States would not as- sume sovereignty over the Philippine islands Following his speech the Nicaragua canal bill was taken up Senator Allison (Ia) offered an amendment providing that the secretary of the treasury should issue bonds to raise money with which to construct the canal An adjourn ment was then taken %. The house passed number of minor bills reported from the com mittee on interstate and foreign commerce, most of which authorized the construction of lighthouses. fog signals, etc. Then the Ha- waian cable bill was discussed, but no conclu- sion was reached February was fixed for the exercises for accepting the statues of Benton and Blair from the state of Missouri
 SENATOR TURNER (Wash) delivered speech in the senate on the l9th in favor of the Vest resolution. It for the most part constitutional argument against the policy of expansion. The Nicaragua canal bill was then discussed for three hours In the executive session Joseph H. Choate of New York. was confirmed as ambassador to Great Britain The house passed a bill authorizing the con- struction of a railroad through the Choctaw and Chic8asaw nations in the Indian territory. bill was also passed granting site on the Fort Supply military reservation to Oklahoma for an insane asylum. The post office appro- priation bill was then taken up.
 IN the senate on the 20th Senator Nelson Nhluh maue q speech III opposition to Lne Vest anti-expansion resolution. The consider ation of the Nicaragua canal bill was then re- sumed ... The house passed the post office ap- propriation bill An arrangement was made for the consideration of the army reorganiza- tion bill on the 2ith Speaker Reed appointed Mir Payne tN. Y.) to the chairmanship of the ways and means committee. made vacant by the death of MT. Dingley At night Il session was held for pension legislation and an adjourn ment was afterwards taken to the 23d.
 The resolution Of Senator Caffery (dem.). re- questing certain information from the presi- dent in regard to the Philippine islands, was laid before the senate on the 2lst and adopted after a short speech by Senator Caffery. The Nicaraugua canal bill was passed by Q vote of 48 to The ant-scalping bill was then taken up but was afterwards temper ariy laid aside and the Indian appropriation bill was consid cred The house was not ir session.
 IN the senate on the 23d Senator White Gal made an address in support of the Vest anti expansion resolution and the Bacon resolution, declaring that the Philippines ought to be free and independent A bill passed authoriz- ing Oklahoma to use certain buildings at Fort Supply as an insane asylum and one to grant pension of TOO month to ex- Senator Palmer for his services in the civil war The executive session was taken up in a discussion over tho promotion of Admirals Sampson and Schley and others over the heads Of officers who were their superiors in rank. The controversy was afterwards postponed for 20 days. .. Most of the time of the house was occupied with Dis trict of Columbia business A bill was passed to extend the navigation laws of the United States to the Hawaiian islands MT. Clark Qa) introduced bill providing that no polyg- amist shall be a senator or representative