The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-05-30
WORK OF CONGRESS.
SENATE.


Monday, May pa pyrotechnic discus
sion of the status of the Boer commission
ers now in Washington was precipitated in
the Senate today by resolution offered by
Mr.. Allen pop, Neb.) extending to the com
missioners the privileges of the floor of the
Senate during their sOjourn in the national
capital. The resolution was defeated by Il
vote of 36 to p, but not until after sharp
controversy between it's author and Mr..
Davis, chairman of the committee on foreign
relations. The postoffice appropriation bill
was passed, the amendment to carry out
existing contracts for the pneumatic tube
service being agreed to. An effort was made
by Mr.. Morgan (Ala.l to displace the Spoon
er Philippine bill with the Nicaragua canal
bill as the unfinished business, but 1t fai lea
southern division of the southern district OF
Iowa for judicial purposes was passed
Tuesday, May 22.-Heard Mr. Spooner In
support of his resolution giving the Presl-
dent full power over the Philippines until
the suppression of the rebellion. Received
the credentials of Senator Clark OF Mon
tana, on the appointment of Lieut.-Go
Spriggs, and allowed them temporarily to
lie on the table. Adopted a resolution by
MI Allen asking the President to send to
the Senate TRANSACTIONS of the constitutions
of the South African republic and the
orange Free State; also one by Mr.. Jones
of Arkansas directing the secretary of war
thoroughly to investigate the operations OF
the North American Trust company Ha-
vsna; also one by Mr.. Allen calling upon
the secretary of war for information regard
ing conditions III the PllnpplneS.
Wednesday, May 23.-Agreed to the con-
ference report ON the army appropriation
bill, passed the Morgan resolution calling
upon the secretaries of war and navy for
portation of troops to the Philippines, and
devoted the rest of the day to debate on the
Cuban postal frauds with Messrs. Platt
Comm, Spooner and Hale as speakers
Thursday, May 24.-Devoted the day to
debate on the nations duty toward it's new
island possessions, Messrs. Spooner, Allen
and Bacon leading in the discussion. Sent
to the committee on contingent expenses
mittee on relations with Cuba to make an
investigation into the islands finances.
Friday, May 25;,Discussion of the
Mr.. Morgan. On the general question Of
government of the islands by the United
States he was in accord with Senators
Spooner and Lodge, but he regarded the
Spooner bill as unwise and dangerous legis
lation because of the great power 1t placed
in the hands of the President. Mr. Allison
then called up the sundry civil appropria-
tion bill. which carries $50, 81, $3.50, or over
$4,Oo0,OOO more than the bill as it passed
the House. SiXty-five Of the 157 pages Of
the bill were disposed of.
Saturday, May 26.-Agreed to the resolu-
ton for an investigation by the committee
on Cuban affairs of the Cuban postal and
other Irregularities authorizing the COM
mittee to visit Cuba if necessary to pursue
the inquiry. Some time was given to the
sundry civil appropriation bill without com
pleting it, and to District of Columbia bust
ness One of the latter measures provides
extensive. depot and terminal improvements
in Washington for the Baltimore & Poto-
mac and Baltimore & Ohio railroads, and
for the removal of the historic long
bridge the highway from the North to the
Passed the bill granting a pension of $50
a month to Mrs. Mary L. Stotsenberg, wild
ow Of the late Col. StOtsenberg Of the First
Nebraska Volunteers, who was killed in the
Philippines.
HOUSE.
Monday May 21.-Two important labor
measures were passed under suspension OF
the rules, one to extend the eight-hour law
to all laborers employed under contract on
government work, the other to prohibit in
terstate traffic in prison made goods by
bringing them under the jurisdiction of the
police powers of the state. Mr.. Payne, floor
luton for a sine die adjournment of Con-
gress on June 6. 1t was referred TO the
ways and means committee.
Tuesday May 22.-Deyoted the entire day
to the Alaskan civil government bill. An
amendment to reduce the number of judges
in Alaska from three to two was defeated.
The conference report on the army appro-
priation bill was adopted. the Senate amend
ment for the library at Manila having been
stricken out.
Wednesday, May 23-Passed resolution
for sine die adjournment June &; also reso-
luton authorizing committee on ways and
means to SIT during recess of Congress to
frame bill reducing war taxes; also the
Nee'y extraditiOn bill.
Thursday, May 24-Devoted eight hours
to consideration of the Alaska civil govern
ment bill. Three amendments of Importance
were adopted. One authorizes the secretary
of war to issue permits to excavate or
dredge for gold below low water mark on
the beach at Cape Nome. The secretary
has heretofore issued permits, but the bill
as it passed the Senate Cancelled them. An
other provides for territorial delegate 20
Congress. House
chapter relating to arrest and bail which
permitted arrests in certain civil actions.
The conference report on the Indian appro-
pration bill was adopted
Friday, May 25.-Devoted two hours to
consideration of the Alaskan civil govern
ment bill without completing it. The ses-
sion from noon until adjournment was de-
voted to private pension bills. Mr.. Tabert
Is. ca continued his obstructive tactics.
After 100 bills had been favOrably acted up
on in committee of the whole he blocked
their passage in the House with the point
of no quorum. Among the bills favorably
acted upon were the Senate measures to
pension the widow of Capt. Gridley, who
commanded the Olympia in the battle of
Manila, at $50 month, the widow of Com
mOdore r. w. Meade at $40 a month and
the widow of Gen. M. Il. Force of Ohio at
500 a month.
Practically completed the consideration of
the Alaska civil government bill. A few
paragraphs, passed over during the reading
of the bill, will be considered Monday. Mr..
Cooper (Wis.), chairman of the committee on
insuar affairs, presented a favorable re-
port on the Hay resolution calling upon the
postmaster general for certain information
regarding the reports of Z. 6. Rathbone, di-
rector of the posts in Cuba, and the resolu.
ton was adopted without division. AnOth-
err resolution from the same committee, in
trOduced by Mr.. Jones (Va), calling upon
the secretary of war to report In detail the
payments made and to whom from the reve-
nue. of Cuba and Porto Rico, was also adopt