Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-05-11
WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING.


Senator Pettigrew fSDo on the 18th
called up in the senate his resolution of
sympathy for the Beers in their war
with Great Britain, but call for a
vote on a motion to refer it to the COM
mittee on foreign relations it was found
that there was not a quorum and an
adjournment was taken. Previous to
that resolution was adopted Providing
that the exercises appropriate to the ac-
ceptance from the G. A r. of the statue
of Gen. Grant, to be erected in the cap
ftol. be made the special order for Sat
urday, May 10, at four p. The house
passed number Of bills of more or less
Importance. The bill for a commission
to adjudicate the claims of American
citizens against Spain consumed consid-
cradle of the session, but it was finally
recommitted.
In the senate on the 30th Senator Pet
tigrew Is. Do tried to get his resolution
of sympathy for the Beers up for con-
sideration, but the motion was defeated
by a vote of 20 to @. The conference re-
port relating to the administration Of
civil affairs in Porto Rico was agreed to
and then the Alaskan civil code bill was
taken up..... The house passed the Lacey
bill to enlarge the powers of the depart
ment of agriculture over game and birds.
The bill for a constitutional amendment
to disQualify polygamists for election as
senators and representatives and to pro-
hibit polygamy. was referred to the
committee judiciary, after meet
ing with opposition from both sides of
the house. The house agreed to the
conference report on the Porto Rico bill
After having been under consideration
more than two months, the Alaskan civil
code bill was passed by the senate on
the 1st. The army appropriation bill
carrying supplies for the military estab-
lishment of more than $114, O00, 600, was
then taken up. "A debate on trusts was
precipitated by an amendment offered by
Senator Berry (Ark) providing that the
Quartermaster's department should not
purchase supplies from any recognized
trust. The amendment was defeated
Senator Harris (Kan) had passed res
olution calling upon the secretary of the
interior for information to the flow
of the Arkansas river and as to con-
serving the waters of that stream for
the benefit of Colorado and Kansas. The
house debated the Nicaraguan canal bill,
holding also a night session on the same
measure.
When the senate convened on the I'd
Senator Gallinger On. H.) presented a me-
mortal from the Union Veterans union
complaining about the governments pen
sion policy and made the memorial the
text for speech in which he maintained
that the criticisms were unjust Sena-
tor Sewell On. j. secured the passage of
a bill to establish the Fredericksburg
and adjacent national battlefields me-
mortal park in Virginia. The army ap-
preparation bill was then considered.
The house at the conclusion of stormy
OSUdle pdsSSO the 1NicdTdSud cdudI Dill
by 225 TO IS. All attempts to retain in
the measure the language of the orig
inal bill for the fortifcation of the canal
were baked.
The army appropriation bill was passed
by the senate on the Sd, after a rather
spirited debate, without division. A res
olution requesting the civil service COM
mission to supply information confirm
ing violations of the civil service law in
1898 was adopted. The day closed with
the massage of 137 private DenSion hills
THE house passed the free homes
bill which has been pending before con-
gress for a number of years. The bill
provides that the government shall issue
patents to actual bona fide settlers on ag-
ricultura1 lands of Indian reservations
opened to settlement.