Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1902 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

Most of the day was occupied by the House Friday in discussion of the President’s policy of vetoing bills to remove the charge of desertion from the records of soldiers. The subject came up with private pension bills, 215 of which were passed. By unanimous consent a bill was passed to confer jurisdiction upon the court of claims to adjudicate the claims for duties collected on goods going into Porto Rico between April 11, 1899, and May 1, 1900. The bill provides that the claims found due shall bear interest at 6 per cent. The refund of these duties is made necessary by the decision of the Supreme Court. Mr. Cannon, from the committee on appropriations, reported the sundry civil appropriation bill, and gave notice that he would call it up on Monday. Most of Saturday in the House was devoted to the bill increasing the efficiency of the revenue cutter service, but consideration of it was completed. The opening argument was made by Mr. Sherman (N. Y.). Speeches were made in its favor by Messrs. Minor (Wis.) and H. C. Smith (Mich.), and against it by Messrs. Richardson (Ala.), Little (Ark.), Cochran (Mo.) and Mann (III.). The general debate was limited to eight hours. The Chinese exclusion act was made a special order after the disposal of the revenue cutter bill. The Miles correspondence called by the Burleson resolution was laid before the House at the opening of the session. During the entire session of the Senate on Monday the oleomargarine bill was under consideration. Mr. Ixidge. chairman of the committee on Philippines, reported the bill temporarily to provide for the administration of thd affairs of-the civil government of the Philippine islands. In the House consideration of the sundry civil appropriation bill was begun and general debate was ended before the close of the session. Little of the speechmaking was pertinent to the bill. Mr. Cannon, chairman of the appropriations committee, who was in chrage of the measure, in a brief preliminary* statement, explained that the bill carried $49,323,895, being $12,455,542 less than the estimates and $12,572,012 less than the current law. He called attention to the fact that the taxes collected are being reduced. Last year $41,000,000 of - war taxes were removed and this year $70,000,000 will go, making a total reduction of revenue in two years of $111,000,000. Mr. Payne, chairman of the ways and means committee, reported the Cuban reciprocity bill and gave notice that he would call it up the following Tuesday.

In the Senate on Tuesday an agreement was reached to vote on the oleomargarine bill before adjournment Wednesday. Debate on the measure was continued throughout the session. Mr. Stewart reported the Indian appropriation bill and gave notice that he would call it up at an early date. In the House rapid progress was made with the sundry civil appropriation bill, ninety-three of the 139 pages of the measure being completed. Efforts to amend the bill were successfully resisted ns a rule by Mr. Cannon, the chairman of the appropriations committee, who was personally in charge of the measure. Mr. Sulzer (N. Y.) offered an amendment to appropriate $50,000 for lighting the torch of Bartholdi's statue of liberty in New York harbor. It was rejected by a vote of G 1 to 67. During the day Mr. Robinson (Ind.) discussed the ‘‘passing of the House” as a deliberative body to which Mr. Bell (Colo.) had addressed himself Monday. The Senate which uow perfected legislation, he complained, was dominated by thirty Senators representing fifteen States with less population than either New York or Pennsylvania. The present condition of affairs in the House, he said, was due to the concentration of all the power of the House in the hands of the speaker and the committee on rules. Mr. Grow il’a.) discussed the question of electing Senators by popular vote. He favored a constitutional amendment for that purpose.

Discussion of the oleomargarine Dill again occupied most of Wednesday in the Senate. Bills were passed authorizing the appointment of John Russell Bartlett as a rear admiral on the retired list of the navy; transferring a lot in Woodland Cemetery to the City of Quincy. 111., and extending the time for presentation of claims to reimburse the Governors of States and Territories for expenses incurred by them in aiding the United States to raise and organize an army in the war with Spain to Jan. 1. 1003. Sev-enty-one private pension bills were also passed. In the House the sundry civil appropriation bill was passed, making the eighth of the regular annual supply bills which has passed nt this session. Duly a few unimportant amendments were attached to it. After it was disposed of debate on the revenue cutter bill was resumed. Messrs. Sulzer (New York!. Bellamy (North Carolina), Ryan (New York). Lessler (New York) ami Goldfogle (New York) apokm for the measure, and Messrs. Loud (California) and Crumpacker (Indiana) against it. Mr. Loud said he was opposed on principle to retirement with pay of employes of the government. Had he been a member of Congress when the law was enacted for the retirement of naval or army otiieers he would have antagonized it.