The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-02-28
CURRENT TOPICS.
THE NEWS IN BRIEP.
e,rry-sevENTH CONGRESS-
Second SESSION.

n me senate. en- the 18th. there was no
sseafe on the statehood bill. The Indian
sonroprlation bill and the Philippine cur
rsncy bill we're both passed. AR vest
alstisa attention to point of order which
h. made against one OF the provisions OF
me Indian appropriation bill, ON the
ground that y was new lesis,atioB;; 1;.,,il's ne
nIne government bill as a rider TO the
army appropriation bill, and yet ruled
other appropriations out All rules were
violated he said. when majority was IN
favor of any measure. Mr.. Morgan
smoke on & question OF personal privi-
lege and complained that there was 2
betrayal Of the senate In the matter OF
The house disposed OF a number OF
bills. the most important measure passed
being the senate bill to amend the rail-
way safety appliance law. A special or
der was adopted which practically VIII
make the Fowler currency bill a continu-
ing order for the remainder of the ses-
sion
In the senate, on the 17th, the confer
ence report on the army appropriation
bin was agreed to. Discussion OF the
statehood bill was resumed, Mr.. DepeW
continuing his remarks In opposition &c
ii. Toward the end of the session Nr-
Teller declared that himself and the conu-
try had been insulted by some OF Mr.
Depew's references to the unequal repre-
senate adjourned. 1.-THE house begar
consideration of the naval appropriation
bin under the operation of rule which
made the new legislation relative to the
Increase Of The personnel OF the navy and
for the increase of the naval academy IN
order. The general debate on the bill was,
without special feature. The paragraph
IN the bill providing for S25o,0e0 for
naval station on the great lakes was
stricken out on point of order Mr..
Litileiield and Mr.. Sulzer bad quite
clash before the naval bill was taken up,
the former charging the latter with hav-
ing perverted the record.
In the senate, on the 18th, there was
lively debate over Senator Quay : reso-
tuition declaring IL to be the sense of the
senate that there should be vote on the
statehood bill before the adjournment OF
congress. To :. this proposition senatoS
Mccomas reoffered Mr.. Platts cloture
which was pending when the senate went
into executive session. The debate was
very general, and brought out the fact
that the senate was strongly opposed to
majority of TO !, rejected the confer
ence report on the army appropriation
bill because of its provisions for the re-
tirement of civil war officers at an ad-
vanced grade and permitting officers 10
deposit money with the government az
three per cent interest and sent the bill
back to conference. The remainder of the
day was devoted to the naval bill, on
which but little progress was made.
In the senate, on the 18th, only an hour
and 20 minutes was spent in open session,
and this time was devoted to routine
business and passing bills of no general
Importance. Senator Bailey secured con-
sideration of the Sabine Pass port bill,
which has been the subject of considera--
BILE controversy, but vote was not
reached 49,. The house. after a protracted
session, passed the naval appropriation
bill. A great many amendments were Of
fered to the provisions relating to the IN
crease of the personnel and the authori-
cation of new ships to be built, the most
important amendment adopted being one
TO authorize the secretary of the navy IN
his discretion TO purchase or contract for
submarine torpedo boats after investt-
cation of their merits, and appropriat1ng
$500, 600 for that purpose. AS passed the
and an armored cruiser. two steel train
ing ships and one wooden brig for tram
ing purposes. in addition to the sub
marine boats discretionary authorized.
In the senate. on the 10th, the entire
day was spent in executive session con-
the Panama canal treaty, and at
D. m a recess was taken until the
sist ~ u o'clock. No vote was taken
on any of the amendments Mhisii '.si.e
been prepared by Senator Morgan.
The house passed the fortifications ap-
bill adopted the conference
reports ON the bill for the protection OF
the president and on the legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial appropriation bill,
and then spent about three hours
wrangiing over the Fowler currency bill.
When the house was ready for action on
the bill the democrats began to filibuster,
Mr.. Bartlett (Ga) declaring 1t was use
less to waste time on measure Which IL
was not intended should become a law:
The house finally got into committee or
jour7ed on account OF the lateness OF the
hour