The National tribune., 1900-05-24

I
State Governments cost. criticised the
violation of law III the allowance Of addi-
| tlonal salaries to army officers, and then
attacked the alleged frauds and eXtraya-
gances in Cuba. He emphasized especi-
| ally the unlimited power placed i'll the hands
of Director Rathbone. Senator Bacon in
sisted that the contracts which had been
| made in Cuba should also be investigated,
and closed with an argument 10 show that
the United States now occupied the island
without authority.
No action was taken upon the resolution.
as Senator Platt. of Connecticut, desired
to answer Mr.. Bacon.
| Routine matters and consideration of the
| Alaskan code bill occupied the House.
In the Senate on Thursday the day was
devoted to the consideration oil the Postoflice
| appropriation bill. The committee amend
ment providing for a continuance of the
Postal Commission to investigate the cost of
| transporting mails, occasioned some de
| bate, but was finally agreed to without
division. Mr.. Butler of North CIrolina,
offered an amendment reducing the amount
appropriated by the bill for railway trans
portation of the mails from S33.S10,00O to
$50, 600; and directing the Postmaster
General to readJlst the compensation to be
paid from and after July /, 1900, for the
transportation of mails on railway routes
| by reducing the compensation 10 all railroad
companies for the transportation OF mails
at least 10 per cent per annum from the
present rate. This amendment was re-
iected by a vote of IL to Al. The committee
amendment appropriating S7150,000 for the
transportation of mail by pneumatic tubes
was taken up, and Senator Wolcott ar
raigned the proposition as a costly luxury.
He discussed the efforts of the pneumatic
tube people to secure favorable action by
Congress upon the pending amendment.
He said they had 'Swarmed the Senate
corridors all Winter like bees in hiving
time. They did not want merely the
S25O,00 necessary to support the present
service, but they wanted the additional
Appropriation. of 100000"
MIR. Mason made an extended reply to
Mr.. Wolcott. He presented petitions and
memorials from trade and commercial
bodies in Chicago showing that the people
Of the Western metropolis were unit
in demanding the service. He declared
there was not an official connected with the
Postoflice Department who was not i'll
favor of the extension of the service.
In the House a special bill was passed
making provision for emergencies in river
and harbor work, for certain surveys, and
for the diversion of certain appropriations
heretofore made. The amount carried by
the bill is 100000.
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole, and took up the Alaskan code
bill, an agreement having been reached for
three hours general debate with general
L
of the majority, who objected Wednesday
to granting leave to print, explained that
he would not object, as he understood that
many members on both sides had prepared
compositions" which they desired to 'em-
balm in the Record for political reasons.
The general debate was devoted almost
exclusively to political topics.
The Senate devoted most Of Friday to a
discussion of the pneumatic tube system
provision in the Postoffice bill.
More comment was aroused among
Senators by the announcement in the
press that Gov. Smith, of Montana, had
appointed Martin Mag innis United States
Senator to succeed William A. Clark
The Governor sent the following message
to Senator Clark:
Il have this day disregarded and revoked
your appointment as United States Senator,
made by Gov. Spriggs on the 18th instant,
as being tainted with colluSion and fraud,
and have this day appointed Hon. Martin
Maginnis United States Senator, to fill the
vacancy, caused by your resignation.
The object OF Gov. Smith apparently was
to complcate matters before the Senate by
having two sets of credentials presented.
The Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections decided to press to vote the
resolution declaring Senator Clark, of
Montana, not entitled TO seat in the SEN
ate. Senators Pritchard, Harris, and
Pettus voted in the negative, on the ground
that, as Mr.. Clark had resigned, the Senate
had no further jurisdiction. Senators
Chandler, Hoar, Burrows, McComas,
Caffery, and Turley took the opposite view,
holding that Mr.. Clark s resignation did
not in any way bar the further action Of
the Senate, as the resolution is directed at
the action OF the Legislature in originally
attempting to place him in Office.
In the House measure was passed to
pay Confederate soldiers for losses grow
f,,.r o,,t - flna ,ix
introduced by Mr.. Cox, Of Tennessee, TO
pay the Confederate soldiers who sur
rendered at Appomattox for the loss of
horses and other personal effects taken
from them in violation of the terms of
Lees capitulation 10 Grant, by which
officers and men of Lees army were allowed
10 retain their baggage, side arms, and
horses. The bill originally carried $780,
600, but the specific sum was stricken out
and the appropriation was made indefinite.
The bill was taken up and passed out Of It's
order as a special compliment to Mr.. Cox.
who, after 1Oyears' service in the House, is
to retire at the end of his present term.
In the Senate and the House on Satur-
day there was a formal acceptance OF the
statue of Gen. Grant presented by the
Grand Army.
In the Senate the pneumatic tube amend
ment was tabled by a vote OF - to 16
szThe Senate formally accepted from
Missouri the statues of Thomas II. Benton
and Francis Z. Blair.
The resolution regarding the Montana
Senatorial case was laid before the Senate
on Monday, but at the request Of Senator
Chandler, Chairman Of the Committee OIL
Privileges and Elections, the consideration
of the resolution went over until Thurs
day.
Two bills from the Committee on Labor,
one bill limiting the hours of daily serv
ice of aborers and mechanics employed
upon work done for the Tn ted States or
any Territory or the District of Colum bia,
and one to prevent competition with pris-
on-made goods were passed by the House,
under suspension of the rules. There was
keen debate on both measures.
B. & o. Weekend Excursions.
Tickets sold Saturdays and Sundays, for
return until following Monday, at reduced
rates from Washington to Charlestown,
Frederick, Annapolis junction and inter