Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1901-01-19
TEE WORK OF CONGRESS.
Oesdsnssd Proceedings from Day to Day
OF the Closing session OF the FIFTY.
Sixth National legislative Body.

In the senate on the nth q 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 toa.) began the at.
tack and Senator Plat (Conn.) main
tanned that discretionary power ought Il
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 rs high az
captain In the regular army was adopted
The house reapportionmeht bill was then
called up and passed without debate
The bill now goes to the president for his
signature. The house passed 10 pri-
vate pension bills. the most important
one increasing the pension OF Gen. Ameri-
Gus v. Rice from 500 to 800. Mr.. Loud
(Cai) reported bill to revise and codify
the postal laws.
No legislative business OF Importance
was transacted by the senate on the
18th. The session was devoted to serv-
Ices held In memory OF the late Senator
Cushman X. 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 land harbor APP
preparation bill. The bill providing for
n bridge across the Mississippi river ut
Cape Girardeau. NO.. was passed under
q request for unanimous consent.
In the senate on the 18th. just at the
close of n dreary discussion OF technical
details OF the army reorganization bill.
Senator Teller Coli. 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. rs decoration
and q 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 an ad-
ditlonal expenditure OF $4,000 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. hut all were lost. After
completing 50 OF the 81 pages OF the bill
the committee rose. The District OF
Columbia appropriation bill was reported.
II carries s7.747564
Some progress was made by the SENATE
on the 18th In the consideration OF the
army reorganization bill. Senator Cock
reli tMo.) emphasized his opposition to
the increase In the army proposed by tn ?
bill. The principal speeches against the
bill were made by Senator's Terry ark.
bacon (Ga.) and Teller Coli. Senator
Warren (Wyo.) delivered on extended
argument In support OF the It'll. Senator
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 % TO 20. T,i. hill which
had previously gone through the hous I,
establishing the Southwest Missouri d.
vision OF the United States court was
passed. The house spent the day on
the river and harbOr bill. disposing Of 2s
pages. The western members laborej
unsuccessfully to secure an entering
wedge for their pet scheme for the re.
clamation Of the arid lands. hut received
only very limited support.
At the opening OF the senate's session
on the 10Th Senator Gallinger IN. H. Sc
ported the pension appropriation bill ana
II went TO the calendar. Speeches In op.
by Senators Allen (Neb.). Teller Coli
and Butler IN c.. Senator McCumber
IN. d. made an argument IN support OF
the measure. The feature of the debate
was the denunciation III the practice II
hazing at the West Point military acad-
envy. The river and harbOr appropria-
tion bill was passed by the house prac-
tlcally as II came from the committee.
II carries slightly less than s6o.Ooo.0oo.