Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-01-17
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
Condensed Proceedings from Day to Day
of the Closing Session of the FREY
Sixth National legislative Body.

Most of the time in the senate on the
9Th was taken up in discussing the SEN
ate committees amendment to the army
bill which provided for the continuance
of the canteen. Finally the question was
disposed of by the amendment being
laid on the table by vote of 81 to is.
The effect of the vote is to restore to
the bill the house provision abolishing
the army canteen so far as the sale of
any kind of intoxicants are concerned.
The house considered the river and har-
Dor bill, but little progress was made on
the measure. The house committee on
banking and currency reported favorably
the Brosius bill to extend the charters of
national banks.
Considerable progress was made by the
senate on the 10th with the army reor-
ganiZation bill, but the proceedings were
characterized by several sharp colloquies,
some of which were of a decided person
al nature. An appeal was presented by
Senator Teller (Co1.) from more than 1000
persons in Manila urging the United
States government to cease its operations
against the Filipinos. The appeal is
sensational in its statements and so unu-
sual in form that Senator HawIey Comm
made vigorous objection to its publica-
ton document and declared that it
was reasonable denunciation of the
government and an attack upon our SOL
diers. A resolution expressing sorrow at
the death of Congressman Clarke On. HI
was afterwards passed and the senate
then adjourned out of respect. The gem
continued in the house till four clock
p. m, when the death of Representative
Clarke IN. HI was announced and the
house adjourned out of respect to his
memory.
In the senate on the 18th a vigorous
attack was made upon that portion of
the army reorganization bill which con-
fers upon the president discretionary
power to increase the strength of the
army to the maximum limit fixed by the
bill. Senator Bacon (Ga.) began the at
tack and Senator Platt (Conn.) main
tanned that discretionary power ought to
be conferred upon the president and ex-
pressed establishment that anybody
should entertain a fear that the power
ever would be abused. An amendment
opening the way to the appointment of
volunteer officers to grades as high as
captain in the regular army was adopted.
The house reapportionment bill was then
called up and passed without debate.
The bill now goes to the president for his
signature. The house passed ITO pri-
vate pension bills, the most important
one increasing the pension of Gen. Aneri-
Gus V. Rice from $50 to 800. Mr.. Loud
(Ca1.) reported bill to revise and codify
the postal laws.
No legislative business of Importance
was transacted by the senate the
18th. The session was devoted to serv-
ices held in memory of the late Senator
Cushman K. Davis, of Minnesota.
After an hour spent in miscellaneous
routine business during the course of
which several bills of minor Importance
were passed, the house continued the
debate upon the river and harbor ap-
preparation bill. The bill providing for
a bridge across the Mississippi river at
Cape Girardeau, Mo-, was passed under
a request for unanimous consent.
In the senate the 18th, just at the
close of a dreary discussion of technical
details of the army reorganization BILL
Senator Teller (COl), speaking to an
amendment he had offered, delivered a
sensational denunciation of Gen. Eagan,
former commissary general OF the United
States army. His statement included also
the administration, because Gen. Eagan
had been retired, according to the Colo
RADIO senator's charge, as a DECORATION
and a reward for his attack upon the
commanding general of the army. In
an appeal for the early passage of the
pending bill Senator Carter (Mont) de-
clared that delay now would mean adj
ditional expenditure of 100000 a day
Little progress was made with the bill
during the day....The house discussed
the river and harbor bill. A host of
small amendments were offered by vari-
Gus members, but all were lost. After
completing SO of the 81 pages of the bill
the committee rose. The District of
Columbia appropriation bill was reported
1t carries 81, 747, 564.