Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-02-20
WORK OF CONGRESS.
Senate.

Monday, Feb 12.-The final weeks discus
sion Of the pending financial bill was begun
In the Senate The speakers were two Re-
WolcOtt Cola one Populist-Mr But
Ter IN. c.. In addition to a large attend
ance OF senator's, the public galleries were
well filled. After passing number Of bills
and after short executive session, the SEN
ate adjourned.
Tuesday, Feb. 13.-Heard Mr. Allison in
support of the financial bill, and Mr.. Jones
Of Nevada in opposition thereto. Passed
bill appropriating $15O00O to enlarge public
building at Portland Or.
Wednesday, Feb. 14.-By Il vote Of 10 to
70 rejected an amendment to the financial
bill, offered by Mr.. Chandler, authorizing
the President to appoint commissioners to
any future international bimetaIlic confer
ence. Devoted the rest of the day to de-
bate en- the Aldrich amendment providing
that the provisions of the bill are 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 46 to %. Made the Hawaiian bill
unfinished business giving it right of way
Friday, Feb. 16.-Resumed discussion of
the Philippine 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. 12.-An important bill was
passed by the House which makes upiver-
sally aDplica bic the law that now nprnits
ports of the United States. Under it goods
IN bond can be shipped through any portion
OF the territory Of the United States to for
eign ports. 1t is principally designed to
give the transportation companies of the
United States share Of the transcontinen-
tai trade to the Orient. The bill also re-
pealS the law Of March l. 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 ia
District of Columbia legislation.
Tuesday, Feb. 13.-Passed bill increasing
limit Of cost Of new government printing Of
fee by S429, 900 on account of rise in prices
or building material.
Wednesday, Feb 14-Debatc the Iegisla
tive, executive and judicial appropriation
bill, the arguments assuming a poIiticaI
tinge. The future was a sharp colIonnr
between Messrs. Bartholdt, Benton and
Pearce, all Of Missouri, on the Nesbitt cleo
ton law In that state.
Thursday, Feb. 15.-Completed twenty-six
or the ia pages of the legislative, execu-
1--WE ana judicial appropriation bill without
amendment. During the general debate
MI boutell llli.), Mr.. MlerS tlnd.t and Mr..
Showalter (Pa) discussed the Philippine
question: Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohio) and Mr. Gil
!ette (Mass.l civil service reform. Mr..
briggs (N. " pensions, and Mr.. Under
wood (Ala.) his resolution to repeal the
fifteenth amendment to the constitution
Friday, Feb. 16.--By a vote of 10 to 81.
In committee of the whole, struck out from
legislative appropriation bill all provision
Tor 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
CDem., Tenn that Northern volunteer sol
diers in Spanish war We're much more clam
orous for pensions than the Southern ones.
and attributing this to the debauching Of
public sentiment in the North on the pen
sion question. Mr. Pearce Rep. Md
raised the storm by stating that hundreds
of Massa chusetts soldiers who never SmelleGi
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 Qowa) 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.