Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1900-05-04
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS
THE BACON RESOLUTIONS PASS
In Reference to Allowances Made to
OHcers In Cuba and Puerto Rico
Several Bills Pass-The Quay Case
Up-NOtes of the House.
In the senate.

At the conclusion of the routine bust
ness in the senate Thursday, Senator For
aker' called up the joint resolution intro
duced previously providing for the admin
istration of civil affairs in Puerto Rico,
pending the appointment of permanent
officials. Under the recently passed
Puerto Rican law no temporary appoint
ment is to extend in tenure beyond Au-
gus l, 1900.
The bill relating to the allowance of
exceptions was passed The bill was re-
ported from the judiciary committee by
Senator Hoar. 1t recently passed the
house of representatives. The bill
amends section 953 of the revised statutes
SO as to provide that in case of the death
or inability OF trial judge his success
sor may hear and pass upon motions for
new trials and allow and sign bills of
exception. The bill is intended to remedy
defect in the law pointed out recently
by the supreme court, which held that a
judge who did not preside at trial could
not perform these functions, thus often
preventing a review of causes by the
higher court.
After discussion lasting more than two
hours Saturday, the senate agreed to the
two resolutions offered by Senator Bacon,
calling upon the secretary of war for in
formation as to the allowances made to
army officers stationed in Cuba and
Puerto Rico and the sums expended in
providing quarters, equipages and other
conveniences for them. The debate took
a wide range, many senators participating
in it.
In an extended discussion of the sub
juct, Senator Platt of Connecticut ex-
pressed the opinion that it would be found
chat no officer had received an additional
salary. Allowances probably had been
made, and he deemed such allowances as
perfectly proper. He pointed out that
Cuba was not now and probably never
would be q part of the United States.
Senator Bacon, the author of the resolu-
tons, discussed them at some length. He
dissented strongly from the proposition
that the president could collect and dis
burse, according to his unrestrained judg-
ment, the resources of Cuba. He did not
have that unlimited power.
The resolutions were agreed to without
division.
"A bill increasing the limit of cost for
the Leadville, Colo, public building to
$ll7,00 was passed soon after the senate
At the request of Senator Cullom the
conference report on the Hawaiian civil
government bill was laid before the SEN
ate. 1t was disagreed to and new con-
ference requested, Senators Cullom, Nor
gan and Clark of Wyoming being named
as conferees.
Senator Jones of Arkansas offered and
secured the adoption of resolution re-
questing the attorney general "to send to
the senate a statement of the action taken
by him in the case of George Cruise, res
dent of Puerto Rico, alleged to have been
brought into this country under con-
tract to labor and what steps have been
taken or are in contemplation looking to
against the said George Cruise
or the party bringing him into the United
States"
The Quay resolution was taken up and
Senator Perkins spoke in favor of the seat
ing of Mr.. Quay as senator from Penn
sylvania on the appointment of the gov
ernor. He said he was not actuated by
this position by mere personal
motives, but that he was controlled by
the law and the constitution.