Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-12-12
Washington correspondence:

Washington correspondence:
The second session OF the Forty-sixth
Congress convened Monday at noon. The
Presidents annual message was read,
and the Senate and House then adjourn
ed out OF respect for the memory Of
Senator Davis of Minnesota. The real
work Of the session began Tuesday. Con-
gress must adjourn March 4, but an enor-
nous amount Of legislation will be &C
compiished. Nearly every important
measure that has been selected for pas
sage at this session. including the army
reorganization, steamship subsidy, Mac
arsgua canal, Pacific cable, rivers and
harbors, public buildings and amend
ments of the war tax bills, has been con-
sidered in committee.
President McKinley's annual message
to Congress was presented Immediately
upon the assembling OF Congress at noon.
1t had been planned to withhold the mes
sage until Tuesday. so that both houses
might adjourn Immediately after assem-
bling on Monday as mark Of respect
for the late Senators Davis aud Gear,
but this plan was altered after confer
ence between the President and Senator
Frye. The message was presented in the
usual manner and received by Senator
Frye, as president pro TEN. VI the Sen
ate, and Speaker Henderson. 1t was read
In both houses. 1t was deemed best not
to violate the old tradition OF Congress
regarding tbs presidential message and
its presents don OF the opening day OF
the session.
No business was transacted beyond the
reading of the Presidents message ow-
ing to the death of Representatives DAILY
OF New Jersey and Hutfecker OF Della
ware, and Senator'S Davis and Gear,
which occurred during the recess.
The leaders Of the House are prepar-
ing to press with great vigor the impor-
tant business of the session Already
considerable preliminary committee work
has been done on the important meas
ures, and the uouse found work cut out
for IL as soon as ii assembled.
On Tuesday the Senate accepted Gre
dentials Of Jonathan T. Dolliver OF Iowa
as successor to the late Senator Gear OF
Iowa. Passed bill apprcoriating $780,
600 In aid OF interstate exposition at
Charleston, s. c., in 1901, and admitting
exhibits thereat free of duty. BY a vote
OF So to 20 decided to take no the ship
| subsidy bill as unfinished business, and
| Mr.. Frye spoke at length in support OF
| the measure. IN the House Chairman
| Hull of military affairs committee asked
unanimous consent 10 take up army re-
| organization bill, but Mr.. Sulzer IN. "
objected. Bill by Mr.. Marsh Qll) to as
sist military instruction in the public
schools was passed Received resolution
| from Mr.. Sulzer urging that Great Brit
ain arbitrate South African war
The Senate on Wednesday passed bills
| permitting Captain Il. IL. MeCalla and
| Commander W. C. Wise of the United
| States navy 10 accept decorations from
| the Emperor OF Germany; also House
bill providing for the celcbI4tion Of the
centennial anniversary of the establish
mint of the national capital 10 Washing
ton. Listened to Mr.. Frye's closing
| speech on the ship subsidy bill. The
| House under special order took up CON
| sideration of the army reorganization bill
| Messrs. Hull Gowal, Grosvenor (Ohiol
and Parker IN. j. spoke in support OF IL,
and Messrs. Mccall (Mass), Cochran
| tMo), Kleberg (Texnsl, Mcclellan IN.
" Shafroth (CoIoJ, Cummings ~. "
| and Cox fTenn) against II.
The Senate was In executive session
| for more than four hours on Thursday.
| the entire time being devoted to the dis
cussion by Senator Morgan OF Alabama
of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty for the
abrogation OF the portion OF the Clayton
| Bnlwer treaty which relates to the Mica
| ragua canal. The Senate passed a bll
| providing for a bridge across the Mis-
sissippi river at Dubuque. Iowa, 81 that
draw shall be 175 instead of 300 feet, The
| House, after considering the army reor.
| ganzation bill two days, passed it by
vote of i6G 10 1873. A heated discussion
was prccpitated by an amendment offer
ed by Representative Littleheid tMel,
and finally adopted. embodying the rec
concentrations Of the W G. T. T.. for
the abolition Of the cantecn. The bla
provides for a lighting force OF Cd. $50
men. The fact that both Representa-
tives Grosvenor and Dick of Ohio. who
are generally credited with being the
monthpieccs Of the administration ON the
| TO-, made speeches indorsing the Little,
| field amendment prohibiting the sale of
/ liquors on military reservations and AT
military posts was accepted by a major
/ ttf VI tHt latHHHIfAlS OF the House as
| direct intimation that the President
wanted the ca fteen abolished, and conse.
quentfy they v jtcd almost solidly for the
amendment. The bill passed is generally
known rs the Gorbin-Hull bill aud was
the first measure to receive the iud0rse-
ment Of President Mckinley. An effort
is to be made to force if through the
Senate before the Christmas holldays
so that the work Of getting new men into
the Philippines and the old volunteers
home may be accomplished before July /.
Three Democrats, Messrs. Hail Of Penn.
eylvanis and Underiill aud CLAYTON of
New York, voted with the Republicans
for the bill. and Mr. Mccall REM Of
Massachusetts with the Democrats
against it Otherwise It was strict
party vote. One amendment passed pro
vents The retirement Of Gen. Shafter as
major general and Of Gen Fitzhngb Lee
and James II. Wilson AS brgadier geper-
ais. The vote on the anti-cantecu amend.
nent was 15J yeas to ~ nays.
odds and Enda