The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-04-07
WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING.
Proceedings of Our National Law malsers
from Day to Day In Condensed Form
Resolutions and Bills-

The Puerto Rican tariff and government
bill was discussed for nearly three hours
IN the senate on the 9th. but little prog
Tess was made on the measure. The
Alaskan civil code bill was considered
during the morning hour and an amend
ment to set aside the secretary of wars
permits for mining gold under the sea
precipitated a lively debate. A resolu-
ton offered by Senator Harris (Kan.)
calling upon the secretary of the In
terror to furnish the senate all papers
or charges filed with the government
relating to c. NJ. Barnes. governor of
Oklahoma. was agreed to.....The house
debated the army appropriation bill, the
discussion covering a wide range Of OPP
les. Mr.. Lentz (O) denounced mill
tarism and the war in the Philippines,
which drew a heated reply from Mr..
Marsh Gll.). Mr.. Carter (Kan.) introduced
"a bill to establish a bureau of criminal in
formation in connection with the depart
ment of justice.
The senate on the 18th agreed to vote
on the Puerto Rican government and
tariff bill on the afternoon of the Sd or
April. Senator Davis tMinn.), in the de-
bate on the measure, advocated free
trade between the United States and the
island. The Alaskan civil code bill was
discussed for a short time. senator Gal
linger IN. HI presented a resolution
from the committee on pensions proVld-
Ing for additional help for the committee,
stating that there were 1,750 senate bills
before the committee and hundreds of
house bills yet to come. $50. The house de-
| voted nearly the whole day to the army
appropriation bill, a good deal of talk
taking place, little of which was pertinent
to the bill. The senate bill to approve a
revision of certain sales of Otoe n Mis-
souri, lands in Nebraska and Kansas was
no ceaJ md tho copfprpnpp rpnOrtS on the
urgent deficiency and pension appropria-
ton bills were agreed to.
In the senate on the 18th the propo-
tition to strike from the Puerto Rican
measure the provision levying Is per
cent. of the Dingley duties on the is
lands products was defeated by a vote
Of IS to SO. Senator Beveridge Und.)
made a speech advocating reciprocity
between the United States and Puerto
Rico. Senator Platt IN. " introduced an
amendment to the indian appropriation
bill. providing for a congress of the rep
resentatives of the various Indian tribes
IF the United States at the Buffalo PAN
american exposition and appropriating
10000 for the payment Of the expenses
Of the congress. q. The house passed the
army appropriation bill. One of the
amendments adopted opens the soldiers
homes to the officers and men OF the vol
unteer and regular armies. incapacitated
by service during or since the Spanish
war.
Senator Pettus (Ala.) delivered the
funniest speech on the 30th heard in the
senate for many years. 1t sparkled with
wit and sarcasm at the expense of Sen
ators Gallinger IN. HI and Beveridge
0nd). 1t was occasioned by the debate
On the Puerto Rican bill. Senator Davis
Mimi introduced a bill for the extern
sion of the provisions of the laws re-
lating to the soldiers homes so as to
include soldiers who participated in the
Spanish war and the wars succeeding and
also to those participating in the Indian
wars....The house devoted most of the
fay to war claims. three small bills being
passed. The conference report on the
diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill was adopted.
The feature of the senate's session on
the 31st was an exhaustive discussion
Of the Puerto Rican bill by Senator Fair
banks Und.). He supported vigorously
the pending measure. Senator Pettus
(Ala) offered an amendment that the
legislative assembly of Puerto Rico shall
have no power or authority to enact any
law in conflict with the constitution of
The United States. The amendment was
lost. IL to 81. The house finished up a
hard weeks work by passing the forth
f~cations appropriation bill. Not a single
amendment was offered and the bill
passed as II came from the committee.
1t carries s7.093.4 ass. A resolution was
adopted rejoicing the present board Of
managers Of the national soldiers home.