The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-01-27
WORK OF CONGRESS

al, almost majestic In its impressive
ness, was given the late Representa-
tive Nelson Dingley ut noon yester.
day III the house Of representatives,
where he has long been such q COM
handing figure. The president, his
cabinet, the distinguished members of
the diplomatic corps, members Of the
supreme court. senate and house and
distinguished members In military and
civil life were ranged about his bier on
the floor of the hall, while the CALLER
les, to which admission could be OBJ
tanned only by card, We're occupied by
the families Of those who sat upon the
J floor and prominent persons invited to
be present. Some of them, like Il del.
egation from the New York chamber
OF commerce, had come from a dis
lance to pay their last tribute of re-
spect to the dead statesman.
The remains were taken from Hotel
Hamilton to the capitol in the morning
and We're borne into the hall of repre-
sentatives by Il squad of capitol police
under the direction of Sergeant-at-
Arms Russell. The casket was placed
on a. bier in the area i'll front OF the
marble rcstrum Of the speaker. and for
an fotr the public, which would nave
no opportunity to witness the official
ceremonies later, were allowed to
view the remains as they lay in state.
The decorations of the hall We're very
simple. but strikingly beautiful.
Immediately in front of the white
marble rostrum the casket lay banked
on either side with rare and exquisite
flowers. During the interval before
II almost every member Of the house
in the city came and stood for mo-
ment by the casket with bowed head.
Mr.. Dingley's desk was wrapped in
black and covered with roses and
lilies. Speaker Reed called the house
to order. An air of deep sadness per-
vaded the hall as the members rose to
listen to the brief and simple prayer
of the chaplain. The clerk read the
resolutions adopted on Saturday after
the announcement Of MIR. Dingley's
death, and the clerk Of the senate an
lions by the senate. The vice presi-
dent and the senate entered the cham
her in q body, followed by the diplo-
matte corps, with whom came the
members Of the Anglo-American COM
mission, of which Mr.. Dingley had
been a member. Then followed the
chief justice and associate justices OF
the supreme court in their sOmber
robes and they in turn We're followed
by the president with his cabinet, Sec
retaries Hay, Gage, Alger. Attorney
General Griggs. Secretaries Long.
Bliss and Wilson, who took places i'm
mediately to the right of the casket.
Washington, Jan. 1S. - Almost the
entire session Of the senate was de-
voted to consideration of the pending
Nicaragua canal bill. Speeches We're
made in support of the measure by Mr..
Chiffon of Texas and Mr.. Turner of
Washington, and in opposition to it by
Mr.. Spooner of Wisconsin. At 3
O'Clock consideration of the bill under
the fifteen-minute rule was begun, and
was continued to the close of the ses-
sion. The first vote reached was on
an amendment offered by Mr.. Rawlins
OF Utah. which. in brief. provided that
the United States should have abso-
lutte control of the canal for military
or naval purposes. with power to die
tate the use Of the waterway during
the existence of war. The friends Of
the pending bill rallied against the
amendment and it was defeated by the
decisive vote Of 80 to 8. A provision
no more than S5OOO,OOO should be
paid the Maritime Canal company for
its concession and work already done
on the canal When adjournment was
taken the substitute measure offered
by Mr.. Caffery of Louisiana was be-
fore the senate.
The House.
The house passed the naval persoIi-
1i1,;c.
passage. thus accomplishing what the
officers of the navy have striven for
during more than decade BY it's
provisions the line and engineer corps
arc welded INTO an amalgalnatcd line.
staff officers are given positive rank,
but their command is limited to their
own corps and system OF voluntary
and compulsory retirement OH three
quarters pay as Of tho next higher
rank OF forty officers Il year is nstab-
llshed, which is designed to remove
the congestion in the lower rank at
forty-five. The bill also practically
eq,laliZes their pay with that of army
officers. Three important amendments
We're adopted: one creates Il Judge adj
vocate's court. another abolishes prize
money and a third provides for the re-
tirement on three-quarters pay of en-
listed men and petty officers in the
navy. after thirty years. service. But
the most important change in the bill
as reported was the adoption after
hard fight Of a substitute for the or
ganization of the marine corpse by
which the corps is to consist of GOOO
enlisted men and petty officers with
general officers and staff This will in
crease the marine corps by 1000 men.
and increase the cost of it's mainten.
ance $1.50O,OOO. Several unimportant
bills were passed by unanimous con-
sent before the personnel bill was
taken up.
Washington, Jan. 19-The feature of
yesterdays session of the senate was
q: speech delivered by Mr.. Bacon of
Georgia in support of his resolutions
declaring that the United States would
not assume sovereignty over the Phil.
lppine islands. Mr. Bacon is one of
the orators of the senate, and as he
gave himself free reign, not combining
himself to manuscript, he spoke
strongly and pointedly. His perora-