The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-29
THE HOUSE ROUTINE.
The Dill to Revise ands Cotiify the
Postal Laws Passeda

! Postal Laws Passedo
Directly after the House met yesterda,
Speaker Henderson announced the selec.
ton of Messrs. Dalzell, Grcsvenor. and
Richardson as members on the part of III
House of the committee OF Congress hav-
ing in charge the Marshall ceremonies tc
be held on Monday. February Al
Several bills authorizing the construction
of bridges were called up by unanimous
consent and passed.
Mr. Richardson objected to the con
sideration of a bill to extend the char
ters of national banks, which was called
up by Mr.. Brosius. The bill provides TO-
| the extension for a period of twenty
years of the charters OF those national
banks which will expire this year Mr.
| Brosius explained that the passage of the
| bill was necessary, but Mr.. Richardson
said there had been time during the pres
ent session to consider it in the regular
| way instead of by unanimous consent He
persisted in his objection.
Mr.. King asked unanimous consent for
the consideration of a bill to confirm the
location OF Chippewa half-breed scrip in
| Utah.
| Mr.. Grosvenor-I object.
Mr.. King-I hope the gentleman from
Ohio does not object in spirit OF retail
| iation?
Mr.. Grosvenor-I do.
| At this point the disorder In the House
was SO great that the Chair was compelled
TO order the suspension OF business and
said: with only about four weeks of
this session remaining and with the
amount of work yet to be transacted it Is
absolutely essential that members shall
, contribute their share TO maintaining or
der that the House may be enabled to in
! telligently transact the vast amount of
business. The Chair hopes to have the
cooperation of every member in this par
ticular.'
bill was passed TO authorize deputy
clerks OF United States courts to admin
lister oaths
The Senate bill to confer upon the Court
OF Claims jurisdiction to adiudicate the
claims of citizens Of the United States,
which the United States agreed to settle
by the terms of Article VII of the Treaty
OF Paris was taken up and caused a long
discussion The original Senate bill for
the appointment of a commission to in
vestigate these claims. WHICH already ag-
gresate $2S, 100000, was recommitted TO
the Committee on War Claims, with in
structions to report back bill to refer
the claims to the Court of Claims. Mr.
Haugen, after having secured considera-
ton for the amended bill, argued against
the amended bill on the ground that the
Court Of Claims was already overloaded
with work. and to refer the claims to that
court practically would amount to repu-
diation. He asked the House to vote down
the amended bill and pass the original
bill for the appointment of a commission.
protest against this course was made by
Messrs. Underwood and Hopkins, who said
that unanimous consent for consideration
OF the bill had been obtained under a mis-
apprehension.
Mr.. Underwood said that he would make
the point of no quorum unless. under the
new form which the bill had assumed
proper time should be allowed for debate
1t was agreed that there should be fifteen
minutes debate on a side.
Mr.. Underwood, who was recognized In
opposition to the bill. declared that while
the committee was obeying the letter Of
the Instructions, 1t was breaking it in
spirit. He charged that the bill had been
unfairly brought before the House. and
that members had been taken completely
by surprise by the way in which 1t was
now proposed to procure a vote on the
original bill Mr.. Hopkins asked and 90
tanned unanimous consent that the bill 60
over.
Bills reported by the Committee on the
District of Columbia were then given the
right of way and when these had been
disposed of the House, in Committee Of
the Whole, resumed consideration of the
bill to eodify the postal laws. The read
ing OF this BILL comprising 221 printed
pa ges, was concluded, the bill reported 10
he 1-,.ov
recommended by the committee. 1t was
passed.
Before consideration of the bill was con-
cIuded, Mr. Flynn of Oklahoma took OPP
portunity to criticise Mr.. Stephens of
Texas, for holding him up earlier in the
day, when an effort was making to Sc
cure consideration of bill for the relief
of settlers in Oklahoma. He charged that
when another land bill was in conference,
Mr.. Stephens secured insertion of provi-
sion that would never have been accepted
had the members of the House known of
it. That was a provision opening for set
Element mineral lands upon the passage of
the bill, whereupon, Mr.. Flynn said, Mir. |
Stephens telegraphed the blacksmith on an
agency nearby. informing him OF the fact
and advising him to resign his position |
and locate a claim in which the gentle |
man from Texas had an interest.
Mr.. Stephens rose, whereupon Mr.. Flynn /
turned upon him fercely asking. do you |
deny it?''
Mr.. Stephens replied with great delib- |
GRAFTON. You or any other man who says |
that, tells a. hating as if for a word
''willful falsehood.''
'All right" responded Mr.. Flynn. MY au-
thority was the agent TO whom the black |
smith resigned, but of course, l will ac
cept your statement against his
This ended the incident, which had an !
ominous look for a moment.
Bills to place Brevet Col. Thomas p
o Reilly, who was discharged from the
army in 1867 on charges preferred ty
Major. now Maj. Gen. Elwel S. Otis, en-
the retired list as a second lieutenant,
his rank in the Regular Army, and to give
Major Robert w. Caldwell, of the First
Ohio Heavy Artillery, an honorable dis
charge were passed
At $50 o'clock the House ADJOURNED
until today.
NEW OFFICERS INSTALLED.