Woodville Republican., 1903-01-31
CURRENT TOPICS.
THE NEWS IN BRIEF.
EIETN. 11n1--
FIFTY-sEvENTH CONGRESS.
Second SESSION.


In the senate, on the 2ist Mr.. Buruham
~. ~ spoke IN opposition to the omni-
ous statehood bill. after which Mr.. Cullom
made an effort to get an executives session
on the Cuban reciprocity treaty Mr.,
quay ooleeted and the matter was put TO
a. vote, with the result that the senate.
by vote of 81 20 81, refused TO 40 into
executive session. This is regarded as a
test vote on the statehood bill. In the
course 81 some remarks Mr., Hoar took
occasion TO cri,-cise the president for ex.
pressing his approval or disapproval of
plils before congress had acted on them.
a Dill was passed amending an act ere
atihg tihg new division in the western dis
ulct OF MISSOURI. In the house the day
was spent in debate on the Philippine
coinage bill A substitute was offered
provlqlng for the Introduction of the
american currency system into the ISL
amos, ana II was asserted that this prop
osition had the support of Secretary Shaw
anu other high officials of the treasury
department
In the senate. on the 22d, the statehood
Dill occupied almost the entire day, Some
routine matters were disposed of, and the
legislative, executive and judicial appro-
prlation bill was sent to conference,
Messrs Cullom, Warren and Cockrell be-
ing named as conferees. After an execu-
tive session the senate adjourned .. In
the house The Philippine coinage bill was
the order of business. and the report OF
the committee on insular affairs was re-
lected and the substitute offered by the
minority, for the introduction of Ameri-
can currency and the American coinage
system into the islands, was adopted The
majority reported a bill to establish a gold
standard In the ISLANDS and to authorize
the coinage of silver nesos of 4l6 grains,
to be made legal tender at the rate of two
pesos for one gold dollar. The substitute
provides that the lawful money os the
United States shall be legal tender in the
Philippines and declares the coinage laws
limited in
In the senate, on the 23d, the statehood
bill was again under discussion and oc-
cupied most of the day, senators on both
sides charging the others with obstruct-
ing important legislation. Mr.. Fairbanks
made an Intellectual effort for considera-
ton of the immigration bill. ..... The
house passed 235 private pension bills
among them being one to the widow OF
Gen Franz Sigel of Sl00 month the wild
ow of Gen, James S. Negley, $50 a month,
and the widow of Rear-Admiral Picking,
$40 a month. The Alaska delegate bill was
passed 1t provides for the representa-
tion of the territory of Alaska In con-
gress by delegate. The first delegate
take his seat in the Fifty-ejghth con-
gress.
In the senate, on the 2itb, while the
statehood bill was constructively the sub
| 1ect under debate, 1t was scarcely men
| toned at all, the Indianola post office
matter taking up r?ost of the day. Mr.
| Spooner defended the presidents action
and was replied to by Mr.. McLaurin, who
| said there had been no threats agains
| the postmaster. number of bills wer'
| passed, among them one authorizing thu
| construction of a bridge across the Mis-
| souri, river at st. Charles, by the Iowa &
| Missouri Railway Co.. appropriating $500,
| 900 for headstones for the graves of con
| federate soldiers who died in northern
| prisons; providing for the compulsory at
| tendance of witnesses before re"isters ant
| receivers of the land office, and a mum
| Der of others. The house began con
| sideration of the agricultural appropria
tion bill and passed it, with an amend
saead seeds from $4,000 to 100000 Rhe whoi
| bill carries an appropriation of 5,25S,6b
! In the senate, on the 26th. Mr.. Quay In
| sisted on the consideration of the state
| hood bill to the exclusion of other busl
| ness and objected to an attempt by MI
| PlaIt to call up a committee report pro
| viding for the printing of public docu
| ment. In reply TO charge by Mr.. Hal
| that ne was confiscating the time OF IN
| senate. Mr.. Quay replied that this coul
! be obviated by allowing a vote on tn
| statehood bill. The senate went into eN
| ecutlve session, at the close of which IN
diplomatic and consular appropriatioo
| bill was passed 80. In the house le NIL
| tary academy bill was passed without de
bate. The Indian bill was taken up, bu
| not completed. A resolution was adopte
/ calling on the postmaster-gene for tn
correspondence in the lndianola (Mlss
| post office case