Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-02-20
DOINGS III CONGRESS.


The statehood bill again came up in the
senate on the 10th and Senator Morgan
(Aia-) spoke on it for some time. In the
course Of his remarks he referred to bills
regarding trusts, which he said have been
Kept back and will be kept back until
1t Is too late for discussion regarding
them. The time of the senate was be-
Ing wasted on account of what he termed
"a peaceful political blockade on the
statehood bill, when more important
measures were awaiting action. The con-
ference report on the general staff bill
was agreed to. A number of other bills
were passed. Senator Burton {Kan.)- in
troduced bill providing that Sl2 shall
be the minimum pension allowed. Sena-
tor Mason CID also introduced one to
pay a bounty of $50 to all soldiers Of
two-year regiments who enlisted prior to
July p 1851. THE house adopted the con-
ference report on the department Of COM
merce bill by a vote of Isl to TO- The re-
mainder of the day was devoted to the
sundry civil appropriation BILL Mr. Can
hon (I1.l, chairman of the appropriations
committee, gave notice that at the proper
time he would have two amendments, one
to provide for the purchase OF site and
the erection of three-story 4Oo-room
office building for members, to be con-
nected with the capitol by a subway and
to cost S, 10000 and the other, an APP
preparation of s.. 5O0.O 900. to carry out the
original plans for identifying and en-
iarging the main wing of the capitol.
Mr.. DeArmond (Mo-) in q brief but
ceedingly sarcastic speech relative to the
bill recently introduced by Senator Hanna
CO., to pension the ex-slaVes, precfpi-
tated quite an interesting debate. At the
end of It MIR. Cannon Qll.) stated with
emphasis that in his Judgment the bill
to pension ex-slaves could not be passed
Senator Hanna 90 on the 18th called up
in the senate the conference report
the department of commerce bill and 1t
was agreed to without debate. Senator
Morgan (Ala-) almost Immediately after
the opening of the session. resumed his
statehood MI
branched off on the subject of the pro-
posed treaty with Colombia. Senator De-
pew IN. W then spoke in opposition to
the statehood bill. The house made fair
progress with the sundry civil appropria-
ton bill, covering Sc of the $50 pages Of
the bill. The amendments of which Mr..
Cannon GILL gave notice on the 10th for
the completion of the east front of the
capitol and the erection of an Office build
ing for members were adopted, points OF
order raised against them being over
come by the adoption of a special rule
making them In order.
With the exception of a few minutes
during which some routine business was
transacted the session of the senate on
Panama canal treaty being considered
most of the time. Senator Frye (Me.)
introduced a bill providing fines Of $1,000
for persons engaged in riots at sea. "A
bill providing for postal checks in place
of ali bills OF less than S. was introduced
by Senator PenroSe (Pa-) The house
made slow progress with the sundry civil
BILL covering only q pages and leaving
40 pages still to be disposed Of. The de-
lays were occasioned by a rather pro-
tracted discussion of the item In the bill
for the maintenance of the white house
and considerable debate upon the item
approprfating $3.O00O 900 for the relief of
distress in the Philippines.
An immense crowd was attracted to the
senate on the 18th to hear the Invocation
Of Gen. William Booth, founder and COM
mander-in-chief of the Salvation army.
ator Depew IN. Y.) resumed his remarks.
He attacked the Mormon church because,
he said, he believed its members still
cling to the practice of po1ygamy. SEN
ator Rawlins (Utah) replied that II the
Morrnons were not interfered with they
would work out their own destiny. I'm
der the operation of a special order which
cut off the opportunity to offer amend
ments the house by a vote of PAL to
passed the Ell.inS bill to prohibit rebates
to shippers. The six members who voted
against the bill were democrats. The
president transmitted to the house copy
of the treaty entered into between the
United States and Great Britain relative
to the Alaskan boundary line.
The senate listened on the 14th to the
reading of the Indian appropriation bill
and spent some time in the consideration
of the measure. It was not. however,
finally disposed of. The greater part Of
the remainder of the day was given over
to eulogies of late members of the house
the house amendments to the Ellkins anti
rebate bill. The bill now goes to the
president. The house passed the sundry
civil bill and then broke all previous rec
ords in the matter of private pension
legislation. a25 bills in all being passed