Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1902 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

A little flurry was created in the Senate Friday over the employment, since the beginning of the session, of a score or ■more of extra clerks and messengers to committees. The charges of extravagance made induced the reference of the wholp subject of clerical employment to a committee for Investigation and report. The hill crentiug a permanent census office was tinder consideration for a time, but was not disposed of finally. The committee amendment increasing the salary of the director of the census from $5,000 to $7,500 was adopted. After the passage of 127 private pension bills, clearing the calendar of this class of measures, the Senate eulogized the life and character of the late Representative Brosius of Pennsylvania. Congressman Wheeler of Kentucky stirred the HousAwith a tirade against Prince Henry and what he styled “flunkeyism” in plans for the entertainment of the royal guest. His bitter words aroused members and called forth sen.iments in opposition from Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio.

The Senate voted on Saturday to piac-e all employes of the census office under civil service rules. The action was taken during the consideration of tho bill establishing a permanent census office, which occupied the entire session, and gave rise to a debate which covered the whole civil service question. The United States will speedily come into possession of the islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix aud St. John, known as the Danish West Indies, lying just east of Porto Rico and forming an important strategic base. In a little more than an hour ou Monday the Senate rook np the treaty with Denmark, ceding these islands to America in consideration of $5,(X)0,000, and ratified it. After an extended debate the Senate passed the bill establishing a permanent census office. The discussion related principally to the collection nod publication by the director of the ceh*as of statistics respecting the production of cotton. Mr. Allison vigorously opposed the provision, maintaining that the cotton statistics gathered by the Department of Agriculture were complete and accurate aud that no necessity existed for their duplication. Despite his opposition the provision was inserted iu the bill. Several other bills of importance on the calendar were passed, among them one extending the charters of national banks. This extends no new privileges to national banks, but simply enables those whose, charters are about to expire to renew them. The House passed the war tax reduction bill two days ahead of schedule, the Democrats forcing an immediate vote when power to amend the measure was denied. The speech of Mr. Wheeler of Kentucky in the House, when he bitterly assailed Secretary Hay and Lord Pauncefote and criticised the official preparations for the reception of Prince Henry, had a sequel in the House Tuesday during the debate on the Indian appropriation bill. Mr. Gillet of Massachusetts declared that the intemperance of Mr. Wheeler's language carried its own condemnation. Nevertheless he (Gillet) grievously deplored such an affront to a foreign country. During the course of the speech two Democrats—Robinson of Indiana and Thayer of Massachusettsdisclaimed any sympathy with Mr. Wheeler’s utterances. These disclaimers drew from Mr. Talbert of South Carolina the statement that he desired to share in the responsibility of the speech, every word of which, he said, he indorsed. Mr. Wheeler himself subsequently replied to Mr. Gillet, reaffirming what be had said and declaring that he would stand by bis words whether they were discreet or not. In the Senate Mr. Wellington of Maryland spoke in opposition to the Philippine tariff bill and Senator Stewart of Nevada in support of the measure. Mr. Wellington set forth his well-known views at length, while Mr. Stewart made a brief legal and constitutional argument in support of the authority of Congress to hold the Philippines and to provide a proper government for their inhabitants.

The Senate continued the consideration of the Philippine tariff bill Wednesday, the main speeches being made by Mr. Burrows for the bill und Mr. Money against it, although Mr. Mitchell. Mr. Foraker, Mr. Mallory and Mr. Tillman took part in the general debate. Mr. Burrows maintained that Congress was dealing with the question as it was today and not with any reference to what took place in the past or might take place in the future. He maintained that the United States’ occupancy of the islands was with due regard to international obligations. Mr. Mallory spoke particularly in favor of his amendment to that portion of the bill relating to the navigation laws, and said that it was necessary in the interest of American shipping. Mr. Money maintained that it was not so much a question of what could In* done with the Filipinos as it was to legislate iu the interests of our own people. There were several rather lively exchanges between Mr. Foraker and the’opposition Senators during the debate. In the House Representative Bontell of Chicago took Congressman Wheeler of Kentucky to task for his speech regarding America’s.relations with the British and Germans. v