Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-01-25
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.


Some progress was made by the senate
on the 18th in the consideration Of the
army reorganization bill. Senator Cock
rell (Mo.) emphasized his opposition to
the increase in the army proposed by the
bill. The principal speeches against the
bill were made by senators berry ark
Bacon (Ga.) and Teller (Col). Senator
Warren (Wyo.} delivered an extended
Bacon's amendment striking out of the
bill the discretionary authority conferred
upon the president to increase the size
of the army was laid on the table by the
decisive vote of 80 to 20. Tia bill which
had previously gone through the house
establishing the Southwest Missouri d.
vision of the United States court was
passed. THE house spent the day on
the river and harbor bill, disposfng Of Is
pages. The western members laborej
unsuccessfully to secure an entering
wedge for their pet scheme for the re-
clamation of the arid lands, but received
only very limited support.
At the opening of the senate's session
on TIE 18th Senator GalIinger On. H.) re-
ported the pension appropriation bill and
1t went to the calendar. Speeches in OPP
position to the army bill were delivered
by Senators Allen (Neb.), Teller (Col)
and Butler On c.. Senator McCumber
On. ID made an argument in support OF
the measure. The feature Of the debate
was the denuneiation of the practice Of
hazing at the West Point military acad-
envy. The river and harbor appropria-
praC.
tically as it came from the committee.
1t carries slightly less than $60000.OO0.
When Senator Quay Pa.) entered the
senate chamber on the 18th to be sworn
in he received ovation and his desk
was covered with flowers. The army bill
was then discussed, In the course of which
hazing at the West Point military acad-
envy was bitterly denounced by Senator
Money (Miss.). Senator Morgan (Ala.)
gave notice Of an amendment he will pro-
pose to the ship subsidy bill providing
for an income tax, Senator Lodge (Mass.)
introduced a bill providing for the amend
exclude insane. idiotic and epileptic per-
sons. The entire day in the house was
spent upon the bill to revise and codify
the postal laws. Mr.. William A. Smith
(A1ich.) offered an amendment to increase
the pay Of letter carriers Of the first,
second, third and fourth classes respec-
lively to $1,000, $1,000, $500 and $500. The
amendment went over. Thfrty-three
pages out Of the 221 of the bill were COM
pleted before adjournment.
The senate disposed Of the army bill on
the 18th. The final question was not upon
its passage, but upon agreeing to the SEN
ate amendments. They were agreed to by
vote of 43 to %. While party lines were
drawn on the measure. four democrats
voted for 1t. Senators Lindsay (ky.).
McLaurin IS. c.. Morgan (Ala.) and
Sullivan (Miss.). A determined effort
was made to amend the bill so as to pro-
vide against the sale Of liquor in the
Philippines and to prohibit the importa-
ton of any kind Of intoxicants into the
islands. but it was defeated. Every eff
fort to prevent the increase in the
strength Of the army was defeated by a
decisive majority. The house spent the
entire day. on the bill to refer to the court
of claims the claims of the William
Cramp & Sons Shipbui1ding company. Of
Philadelphia, for alleged damages due
to the delay of the government in fur
nishing armor plate for certain battle
ships. The claims aggregate s., 1851. PA.
A filibuster was finally begun, but it's
advocates at length succeeded in having
the previous question ordered on the bill.
Under a special order the senate de-
voted the greater part of it's session on
the 18th to eulogies upon the late Senator
John H. Gear. Of Iowa, who died last
July. The session of the the house was
devoted chiefly to the postal codifcation
bill, which was about half completed.
The discussion turned mainly on the
proposition to compel star route con-
tracts to be let to persons living contig-
uous to the route, but the proposition
was defeated after an extended debate
The navy appropriation bill was reported.
1t carries $77,016. 635.