The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1900-05-25
WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING.
Proceedings of Our National Lawmakers
from Day to Day in Condensed Form
Resolutions and Bills.

The senate on the 18th passed the naval
appropriation bill. the armor plate prop
osiuon being finally agreed to. Senator
Nelson (Minn.) secured the passage OF
an act providing for free homesteads on
the public lands for actual and bona fide
settlers. A bill also passed to supply
portion of the proceeds of the sale of
the public lands to the endowment of
schools of mining and metallurgy In
the several states and territories in con-
nection with the colleges for the benefit
of agriculture and the mechanic arts.....
The house passed the general deficiency
appropriation bill. 1t carries $3, S39, OIL.
Little of the debate on the bill was perti-
nent to the measure Mr. De Almond
(Mo.) arraigned the administration with
cowardice for allowing no official utter
ance of sympathy to go out to the Beers.
Senator Clark CMont.) fairly swept the
senate with surprise on the 18th by
formal announcement that he had sent
his resignation as senator to the govern
or of Montana. His address was a sharp
arraignment of the committees action
on his case, an analytical discussion OF
evidence adduced at the investigation, an
explanation of political and business af-
fairs in Montana and bitter excorta-
ton of Marcus Daily and his friends
The rest of the session was occupied in
routine business. The house sent to the
senate the last of the general appropria-
tiOn bills-the military academy bill.
When the session opened Mr. Gillett
(Mass.) asked unanimous consent to con-
slider the senate bill to reincorporate the
American National Red Cross, but Mr..
Bailey (Tex.) in unmistakable terms an
nounced his objection.
Senator Bacon (Ga.) addressed the
senate on the 18th on his resolution di-
recting the committee on relations with
Cuba to make an investigation of the
conduct of financial affairs of the is
land. He said that since the disclos-
ures OF the past few days had been made
with respect to the alleged misappropria-
tion of funds in the postal service the
obligation upon congress to make an in
vestigatiOn was doubly heavy. The con-
ference report on the District of Coium-
bia appropriation bill was agreed to
without debate. Many minor bills were
also passed, among them being " private
pension bills. The house accomplished
little besides passing the senate bill to
incorporate the American National Red
Cross. No progress was made with the
Alaskan code bill The conference report
on the District of Columbia appropria-
tiOn bill was returned after an extepded
debate and the naval appropriation bill
was sent to conference.
The post office appropriation bill was
considered in the senate on the 17th. The
committee amendment for the extension
of the pneumatic tube service created
some debate and was under discussion
when the measure was IalQ ASIDE. Inc
conference report on the agricultural ap-
preparation bill was afterwards agreed
to. The senate then held a brief execu-
tive session. -. The house passed spe-
cial river and harbor bill, carrying $780,
900 for surveys and emergency work, and
then took up the Alaskan code bill. The
general debate was devoted almost ex-
clusively to political topics. Four of the
617 pages of the bill were disposed of.
Nearly the entire day of the 18th in
the senate was devoted to the pneumatic
tube system service in the post Office ap-
preparation bill. The debate at times
was sharp and almost personal. The
matter went over without final action.
Senator Morgan (Ala) introduced a res
olution to investigate the Panama Canal
company and in a speech severely crit
icised that company. The resolution was
referred. Senator McCumber IN. d. then
addressed the senate on the Philippines.
He said it was to our commercial, finan-
cial and naval interests to retain the is
lands. The bill to enlarge the powers of
the department of agriculture prohibit
ing the transportation by interstate COM
merce of game killed in violation of local
law was passed. -. The house passed
bill introduced by Mr.. Cox (Tenn.) to
pay the confederate soldiers who sur
rendered at Appomattox for the loss of
horses and other personal effects taken
ulation to Grant, by which officers and
men of Lees army were allowed to retain
their baggage and side arms and horses.