The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-02-21
WORK OF CONGRESS.
Senate.

Monday, Feb. 12.-The final weeks discus.
sion Of the pending financial bill was begun
in nth the Senate The speakers were two Re
pubicans-Mr. Elkins CIV. Val and Mr..
Wolcott (Col.)-and one Populist-Mr But
Ter IN CO.. In addition to large attend
ance of senators, the public galleries were
Wen filled. After passing number Of bills,
and after short executive session, the Sem
ate adjourned.
Tuesday, Feb. 13.-Heard Mr.. Allison in
support Of the financial bill. and Mr.. Jones
II Of, Nevada in opposition thereto. Passed
bill appropriating $150,O0O to enlarge public
building at Portland, Or.
Wednesday, Feb. 14.-By a vote of 45 to
20 rejected an amendment to the financial.
bill, offered by Mr.. Chandler, authorizing
the President to appoint commissioners to
any future international bimetalic confer
ence. Devoted the rest of the day to de-
bate on the Aldrich amendment providing
that the provisions of the bill not in
tended to place any obstacles in the way of
international bimetallism.
Thursday, Feb. 15.-Passed the Senate
substitute for the House currency bill by a
vote of As to %. Made the Hawaiian bill
unfinished business, giving it right Of way.
Friday. Feb 16.-Resumed discussion of
Ine Phlilppine question. Mr. McEnery
strongly opposed permanent acquisition Of
the islands and believed United States ought
TO relinquish them as soon as authority Of
this country had been asserted. Mr.. Stew
art took pronounced position in favor of
admission of the products of any Of the
island possessions of the United States free
of duty. Hawaiian bill was read, but moth
ing was done with it.
House.
Monday, Feb. IAN important bill was
passed by the House which makes univer-
sally applicable the law that now permits
the transit OF goods in bond through certain
ports of the United States. Under it goods
in bond can be shipped through any portion
eign ports. It is principally designed to
give the transportation companies of the
United States q share of the transcontinen-
tai trade to the Orient. The bill also re
pealS the law Of March 1, 1895, prohibiting
the shipment Of goods in bond to the Next
can free zone. The latter provision was
fought by Mr.. Stephens of Texas. The re-
mainder of the day was occupied in passing
the private pension bills favorably acted
upon at last Friday nights session and in
District of Columbia legislation.
Tuesday, Feb. 13.-Passed bill Increasing
limit Of cost of new government printing of,
flee by $4,000 on account of rise in prices
of building material.
Wednesday, Feb. 14.-Debatc the legisia-
tive, executive and judicial appropriation
tinge. The future was a Sharp coioauy '
between Messrs. BarthOldt, Benton and
pearce, all Of Missouri, on the Nesbitt cleo
ton law in that state.
Thursday, Feb. 15.-Completed twenty six
OF the 124 pages of the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill without
a Am nIet; During the general debate
MI. bOuteil illl.), Mr.. MlefS (lnu.) ana MI.
ShOwalter (Pa.) discussed the Philippine
question; Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohio) and Mr. Gil
lette Mass.) civil service reform, Mr..
briggs On. " pensions, and Mr.. Under
wood (Ala.) his resolution to repeal the
fifteenth amendment to the constitution.
Friday, Feb. 16.--By vote of IS to e.
in committee of the whole, struck out from
legislative appropriation bill all provision
for civil service commission Action regard
ed as annual joke, as item will probably be
restored In open session when members
have to go ON record on roll call. Rest of
the time devoted to assertions by Mr.. Sims
Oem., Tenn that Northern volunteer sol
dierS in Spanish war were much more clam
orouS for pensions than the Southern ones,
and attributing this to the debauching of
public sentiment in the North the pen
sion question. Mr.. Pearce Rep., Md
raised the storm by stating that hundreds
Of Massachusetts soldiers who never smelled
powder had applied for pensions. This
brought out an indignant reply from Mr..
Fitzgerald Dem, Mass.), who detailed the
record of the Massachusetts volunteers. He
was followed by others, who defended the
soldiers from their several states. Mr..
Hepburn QowO especially assailed Mr..
Sims.
Saturday, Feb. 17.-Passed the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation bill.
The civil service appropriation. stricken out
in committee of the whole, was restored to
the bill by vote of II to 125.