Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1902 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

By n strictly partisan vote a favorable report on Senator Frye’s ship subsidy bill was authorized by the Senate committee on commerce on Friday. The committee made several important amendments to the bill. Onp allows mail carrying vessels to be either iron or stepl. instead of steel only, as originally provided. Another reduces to 1.000 gross registered tons the vessels receiving n bounty. The Democrats voted solidly for striking out the general subsidy provision. The House of Representatives was in session less than an hour Saturday. Only routine business was transacted, the most important feature of which was the reporting by Mr. Cannon, chairman of the -committee on appropriations, of an urgent deficiency bill. The bill carries $lO,701,415, distributed among the different departments. Among the more important items included in the bill are the following: Rebates to tobacco manufacturers as provided in the war revenue reduction act, $5,150,000; completion of public building at St. Paul, Minn., SIOO,000; completion of statue of Rochambeau, $15,000; establishment of permanent military post at Manila, $500,000: military ordnance. $250,000; naval ordnance, $300,000; expenses of congressional party to funeral of President McKinley. $0,200; rural free delivery, $518,000. The time of the House of Representatives was occupied Monday in general debate on the urgent deficiency bill, Which carries a total of $16,704,230. An item in the bill carrying $500,000 for a military post at Manila precipitated a long debate, in which some of the ablest debaters on Lotli sides of the House took part. When pressed for nn explanation as to the reason for the proposed appropriation of $40,000 for the emergency fund for the State Department. Mr. Cannon admitted that it was for the entertainment of Prince Henry of Germany. Mr. Clark (Mo.) wanted to know who was going to pay the expenses of Whitelaw Reid, Captain Clark, Gen. Wilson, young Pierpont Morgan and young Wetmore, who wore to be dispatched to London to see King Edward VII. crowned. “We were to pay tlie expenses of Prince Henry's visit.” said Mr. Clark, “and it was a poor rule that did not work both ways. If it was right and proper for us to pay for the entertainment of Prince Henry, why should not England pay the expenses of Reid. Clark and the others?” Mr. Ca nnon in his reply drew the tire of Mr. De Armond of .Missouri. Others who participated were Mr. Richardson, Tennessee; Mr. Grosvenor, Ohio; Mr. Alexander, Nfw York; Mr. Grow, Pennsylvania; Mr. Williams. Illinois, and Mr. Underwood. Alabama. Chairman Lodge reported the Philippine tariff bill and gave notice that he would cal) it up at 2 o’clock Tuesday. During the greater part of the day's session the measure providing for the establishment of a department of commerce was under consideration. An effort was made by Mr. Nelson of Minnesota to secure a vote, but the opposition to many of its provisiems became so strong that the effort had to be abandoned. Discussion of the Philippine tariff bill occupied attention in the Senate Tuesday, the debate continuing three hours, and resolving itself along political lines. Senators Lodge, for the Republicans, and Rawlins, for the Democrats, were the principal speakers, and were given close attention. The bill was made the unfinished business and will probably hold that preference until the final vote. In the absence of other pressing business the House managers are allowing the widest latitude ii the debate on the urgent deficiency bill now before the House. The irrigation of arid lands in the West and the advisability of retaining control of the Philippines were the main topics under discussion Tuesday. The speakers were Mr. Sibley (Pa.), Mr. Dinsmore (Ark.). Mr. Newlands (Nev.). Mr. Mondell (Wyo.), Mr. Robinson (Ind.), Mr. Kern (Ill.), Mr. Gaines (Tenn.), Mr. Vandiver (Mo.) and Mr. Greene (Iowa). The House went into committee of the whole soon after opening on Wednesday and resumed the debate upon the general deficiency bill. Mr. Padgett of Tennessee, the first speaker, d'l'’ocated the adoption of a declaration in favor of pledging the United States to give independence to the Philippines. After some further remarks by Mr. Chandler of Mississippi and Mr. Zenor of Indiana .Mr. Watson of Indiana closed the general debate with an hour's speech in defense of the administration's Philippine policy. t Stirring partisan debate, lightened by one shaft of pure oratory, marked the proceedings, when the item in the urgent deficiency bill appropriating $500,000 for a military post in Manila came up for consideration. Congressman Cannon offered an amendment to appropriate the same sum for "shelter and protection” of the enlisted men in the Philippines, and the Democrats took this occasion to state their objections to the Philippine policy of the administration. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 127 ayes to 100 nays. At the conclusion of routine business in the Senate Mr. Nelson called up the bill establishing a department of commen*. Mr. Qunrlcs of Wisconsin offered an amendment providing that the Secretary of Commerce should have complete control of the work of gathering and distributing statistical information naturally relating to the subjects confided to his department, and to this end the Secretary of Commerce should have authority to call upon all other departments of the government for statistical data to be published as he mny deem wise.