Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-01-18
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
Condensed Proceedings from Day tn Dag
OF tho Closing Session OF the Fifty-
Sixth National Legislative Body

During the session OF the senate on the
9Th the question OF the army canteen
came up in the debate on the army re-
organization bill. the senate committee
having restored the provision for a post
exchange or canteen which the house had
stricken out 1t was discussed pro and
con for. nearly five hours. but was not de-
cided. BY a vote of 165 to 1O2 the house
accepted the reapportionment plan pro-
posed by the Burleigh bill, which in.
creases the membership Of the house
during the next decade fro N 357. the
present membership, and the member
ship proposed by the committee in the
Hopkins bill. to 1856. Under the bill Mis-
souri, gains one representative. Mr..
Overstreet Qnd.) introduced a bill Ito
maintain the parity of the money of the
United States" The committee on war
claims reported an omnibus bill. en-
bodying the. findings of the court of
claims.
Most of the time in the senate on the
9Th was taken up in discussing the sem
ate committees amendment to the army
bill which provided for the continuance
disposed of by the amendment being
laid on the table by vote of "a to Is.
The effect of the vote is to restore to
the bill the house provision abolishfng
the army canteen far 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
the Brosfus bill to extend the charters of
national banks.
Considerable progress was made by the
senate on the 10th with the army reor-
gdniZatiOn 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 (Col) from more than 1000
States government to cease its operations
against the Filipinos. The appeal is
sensational in its statements and SO unu-
sual in form that Senator Hawley Comm
made vigorous objection to its publica-
ton as document and declared that 1t
was reasonable denunciation of the
government and an attack upon our SOL
diers. A resolution expressing sorrow at
the death of Congressman Clarke On. H.)
was afterwards passed and the senate
then adjourned out OF respect. The gen.
eral debate on the river and harbor bill
continued In the house till four o'clock
p. m, when the death of Representative
Clarke On. H.) was announced and the
house adjourned out of respect to his
memory.
In the senate 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 Plat (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 reapportfonment bill was then
called up and passed without debate.
The bill now goes to the president for his
signature. The house passed 40 pri-
vate pension bills, the most important
one increasing the pension of Gen. Ameri-
Gus v. Rice from $36 to 800. Mr.. Loud
(Cal.) 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 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
bridge across the Mississippi river at
Cape Girardeau, Mo-, was passed under
a re0ueSt for unanimous consent.