Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1901-02-21
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.

For the first time this session, Con-
gresham Gardner got into debate ON
the 18th, and to his credit il must DC
said that he turned the tables on his
opponent, and made him look as cheap
as popcorn. The eX-minister of the
gospel from the 3D. Michigan district rs
usually of the mildest disposition, and
even i'm this hot debate he did not lose
his politeness, but the Texan with
whom he argued was glad to get out
of the chamber. Gardner wears q.
A. L. button, and the row began over
discussion of the rights of eX-soldiers
to have the stain of desertion removed
from their records The bill under
discussion was the army appropriation
bill, and Slayden, of Texas, took oc-
casion 10 get in "A hot speech against
the system of clearing the records of
old soldiers
Owners of naphtha and electric
launches will not have TO come under
the government restrictions during the
coming season They can continue
until 1902, at least, taking chances,
through their ignorance of naphtha
engines and electric batteries, of blow
ing themselves and their launches into
the eoroner'S custody. Gen Grosve-
nor, who has had charge Of the bill to
require pilots and engineers of such
launches 10 submit to examination by
federal officers as to their qualitica-
'tiors to navigate launches, says there
will be no time To have the bill passed
this season.
The one serious task to be accom-
! plished by this congress before it al
iourns is the passage of resolution
/ declaring that il is the sense of the u. ).
that the military occupation of Cuba
/ should not cease until the Cuban peo-
Pile in convention assembled, shall
have framed constitution and organ
lied the foundations OF government
which shall recognize the claims Of the
! L. ;. To certain political and CONNER
/ cial concessions more favorable than
/ granted to other nations of the world.
President Mckinley has defined to
/ appoint Benton IIanchett, of Michigan,
Encouragement of the U. $. during
I the second term of his administration.
i John w. Griggs of New Jersey, the
present Encouragement, declines "A re-
appointment Mr. Hanchett is about
60 years old and that is the reason he
will not be appointed. The President
wants an encouragement not over so
years of age. Atty.-Gen. tiriggs was
Is when appointed.
The ship subsidy bill is getting to
be a target for jokes. Claims that it
will pass are still made by the pro-
moters of it, but they are very mild.
Senator Spooner, of Wisconsin. who
was relied upon 10y the promoters to
support it, stated on the 18th that not
only did he not want to advocate the
measure, but he was against it.
The ceremony OF counting the cleo
toral vote for president and vice-presi
dent, cast in the election last fall, took
place in the hall of the house of repre-
sentatives at I o'clock on the afternoon
Of the 18th 1T joint session Of the
senate and house Crowds thronged
the galleries and many distinguia shed
personage- were present
shortly after the senate convened
on the llth the naval appropriation
bill wa, passed The shipping bill
was then taken up and kept before
the senate during the remainder of the
Legislative dav Mr. Gallery Dem,
La occupied the floor throughout the
session
President Mckinley on the 10th an
nounccd that IL was his intention to
cause congress to convene in extra
session as soon ass the Cuban constitu-
ton was received
1t is almost an assured fact that
Gerrit J Diekcma, of Holland Mich,
will be appointed as the first member
of the Spanish war claims commission.