Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1902 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

An extended speech on the pending Philippine tariff bill was delivered In the Senate Friday by Mr. Morgan of Alabama, who devoted particular attention to an amendment he offered to the bill the previous week. He maintained that the enactment of the bill as It stands now would not be a constitutional remedy for the situation the measure is designed to relieve, but said with the adoption of his amendment the bill would stand dos; est scrutiny of the courts. The Alabama Senator did not discuss the political, phases of the Philippine question, devoting his entire speech to a consi/leration of the legal and constitutional questions raised by the presentation of the tariff measure. An hour and a half was de voted to consideration of a bill to increase the salaries of judges of United States courts, but no action was taken. The House prepared to defend Itself against what it considers the threatened invasion of the Senate of its prerogative in the matter of revenue legislation g directing the ways and means committee, to investigate the subject and report to the House its conclusions. The action was the outgrowth of the agitation in the Senate of the claim that reciprocity treaties affecting the customs revenues can be negotiated without the concurrence of the House. The House on Saturday, after the transaction of some minor business, which included the passage of the Senate bill to prohibit the sale of firearms, opium and intoxicating liquors in the New Hebrides, devoted the day to eulogies on the life and public services of the late Representative Brosius of Pennsylvania. Debate commenced Monday upon the bill reported by the majority of the committee on agriculture to impose a tax of 10 cents a pound upon oleomargarine, colored in imitation of butter, and providing other regulations. The opposition to the bill is based broadly upon the grounds that It is intended to injure a legitimate industry, and prohibits manufacturers from presenting goods to the trade in the form which is demanded by the consumers. Another spirited debate, with tho Philippine tariff bill as the text, was precipitated in the Senate as the result of some statements made by Mr. Carmack (Dem., Tenn.) in the course of an extended speech on the general Philippine question. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Beveridge (Ind.) challenged some of his statements. The debate which ensued was very lively for a few minutes, taking on a political phase which proved particularly interesting to the auditors, who crowded the floor ns well as the galleries. Mr. Beveridge and Mr. Tillman (S. C.) became involved in a heated colloquy. in which the exchanges were as hot as both Senators well could make them. Mr. Stewart’s amendment providing for increase of the salaries of Senators and Representatives to $7,500 a year was lost by a vote of 15 to 44. Debate on the oleomargarine bill continued Tuesday in the House. The opponents of the bill are making a strong fight so far as the presentation of argument is concerned. The speakers on Tuesday were Messrs. Tompkins (N. Y.), Robb (Mo.), Knapp (N. Y.), Bates (Pa.), Davidson (Wis.), Driscoll (N. ¥.), and Hepburn (Iowa) in favor and Messrs. Cowherd (Mo.), Lanham (Texas), Grosvenor (Ohio) and Kleberg (Texas) against the bill. After brief discussion the Senate passed the bill providing for a 25 per cent increase in the salaries of United States judges. All amendments were voted down, including one to increase salaries of cabinet officers from SB,OOO to $12,500 a year. During the remainder of the day’s session the urgent deficiency appropriation bill was under consideration, the Philippine tariff measure being laid aside temporarily. Mr. Hansborough (N. D.) made a spirited defense of Judge Arthur H. Noyes of the District Court of Alaska, and Alexander McKenzie, upon whom an attack was made in the Senate on Monday. John F„Dryden was inducted into office as the successor of the late Senator William J. Sewell of New Jersey. It was agreed In the House on Wednesday that the oleomargarine bill should come to a vote after two days more of debate. Representative Boutell of Chicago delivered the speech that attracted most attention in Wednesday's debate. He based his opposition to the bill on alleged discrimination. There is no excuse, in his judgment, for discriminating between different brauds of the same product. It is conceded on all sides that there is no fraud in the manufacture of oleo, Mr. Boutell explained. The only fraud charged is In its retail, when in some instances dishonest dealers sell it for butter. The pending bill, he asserted, would not prevent these frauds. Representative Crowley of Illinois furnished the House considerable amusement in discussing the bill. He announced emphatically that he would not permit himself to be read out of the Democratic party because he supports the bill, and mnd.t an earnest appeal for tho wife of the poor farmer churning butter, whq. he insisted, should be protected against the product of the oleo manufacturers. Other speakers were Messrs. Klutts (N. C.), McCreary (Minn.) and Eddy (Minn.) for, and Messrs. Allen (Ky.), Scott (Kan.) and Moon (Tenn.) against the bill. Throughout the day’s segsiaa the Senate had under qonsidetatioa tho urgent deficiency appropriation bill, and just before adjournment passed it substantially in the shape in vriiich it was reported to the Senate by the committee. During the early part of the session the case of Judge Arthur 11. Noyes of the District Court of Alaska and Alexander McKenzie and others was discussed.