The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1901-03-08
THE CLOSE OF CONGRESS.

THE CLOSE OF CONGRESS.
Both Houses Net ON Sunday to Hear Con-
ference Reports-Big Fight Over the
sundry Civil Bill
Not since the enactment of the resolu-
don declaring a state OF war to exist be-
tween the United States and Spain has
there been such an avalanche Of pas
s1onate Ioratory as the senate listened to
On the 9th. Throughout the session the
army appropriation bill was under dis
eusston. the controverted questions being
the Spooner Philippine amendment and
the Platt Cuban amendment. Both
amendments were adopted and the bill
was passed. The conference report upon
the fortifcations appropriation bill was
accepted by the senate. :. The house had
busy day of routine, agreeing to the
conference reports on the fertilization.
District OF Columbia and the military
academy bills. the last named containing
the anti-hazing legislation. The naval
appropriation bill was sent back to con-
terence. after the defeat Of motion to
more submarine torpedo boats. The
Louisiana purchase exposition bill was
dnally sent to conference for an adjust.
ment Of differences.
An immense amount of business was
disposed OF in the senate on the 18th
The river and harbor bill, carrying appro-
priatfons OF more than $50Oc9.O00, was
passed without q word of discussion and
the senate adopted the conference report
IN the war revenue reduction measure
without disturbing In the least the mill
pond smoothness of the proceedings.
Final conference reports were made and
agreed to on the diplomatic ana consular
and the agricultural appropriation bills
and another conference on the post office
bill was offered. Conference reports on
several other measures were agreed to
and several bills of a minor character
were passed. The last hour and a half of
the session was devoted to considera-
ton OF the sundry civil appropriation
Dill. The house cleared the decks of a
number of important conference reports
without much difficulty. The conference
report on the war revenue reduction bill
proved generally acceptable to both sides
and was adopted without division. Final
reports on the diplomatic and consular
and agricultural appropriation bills were
adopted. The major part Of tho day was
devoted to the bill to promote the eff
cheney Of the revenue cutter service
During the greater part Of a long. tire
some session OF the senate on the LIST the
sundry civil appropriation bill was under
consideration. 1t was finally passed. The
bills appropriating $500. 900 for the Buffalo
Pan-American exposition. s5,O00.O00 for the
st. Louis Louisiana purchase exposition
and $25O.000 for the Charleston, s. c., in
terState and West Indian exposition were
attached to the bill as riders. The house
removed all possibility Of an extra session
by concurring in the senate amendments
TO the army appropriation bill. The vote
stood 159-134. The Philippine and Cuban
amendments were defended by the repub-
Hcans and assailed by the democrats. Mr.
DeArmond (Mo.) passionately declared
that we were now having the first real
congressional taste Of imperialism. The
final conference report upon the Indian
appropriation bill was adopted and a num-
Der OF minor bills were put through the
final stages. The conference report on
the st. Louis exposition (Which agreed to
Sunday closing) was agreed to and the
bill was sent back to conference. A mo-
ton to concur in the Charleston exposi-
ton amendment was defeated.
The last Of the big supply bills of the
government-the general deficiency meas
ure-was passed by the senate on the I'd.
Senator Clay (Ga.) delivered a prepared
speech In favor of the construction by
this government of the Nicaraguan ca
nal When the senate took a recess at
1880 at night 1t was to meet at three
o'clock the next day. Under suspension
of the rules a number Of important bills
were passed by the house. including those
for a national standardizing bureau, for
comforting bronze medals on the enlisted
men of the navy ana marine corps for
distinguished heroism, to amend the Chi
nese exclusion laws, and what Is known
as the omnibus public building BILL" en-
larging the appropriations for some 40
buildings. The legislative appropriation
bill was also finally disposed Of and many
conferences were advanced.
The first Sunday session of the Fifty
sixth congress was held by the senate on
the Sd. It will not appear in the Con-
gressional Record as a session of Sunday.
as the senate was working under the
legislative day Of Saturday. After a
spirited fight the final conference report
on the naval appropriation bill was
agreed to. A conference report on the
general deficiency bill was agreed to
without comment. During the afternoon
and evening the senate passed large
number Of bills, among them being that
to promote the safety of railway en-
ployes.. There was a big fight In the
house over the senate amendment to the
sundry civil bill which linked together
the fate OF the st. Louis, Buffalo and
Charleston exposition appropriations. The
post office, District Of Columbia and the
naval bills were agreed to.
Senator Carter (Mont.) signalized his
retirement from the senate after six
years Of brilliant service by talking the
river and harbor bill to death in the
senate on the 4th. He occupied the floor.
constructively, for nearly Ii consecutive
hours, although in the aggregate about
three hours Of that time were devoted
to other business. Senator Allison ua.)
submitted a disagreement on the sun
dry civil bill. the item in contention being
the appropriation for the three EXPOSE
lions. From this the senate receded and
then passed the st. Louis exposition bill.
from. the Charleston appropriation and
Az lin A hA ~