Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1902 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

In the Senate on Thursday the Chinese exclusion bill was under discussion during the entire session, except for about an hour, in which time the postoffice appropriation bill was considered and passed. Three speeches were made against the Chinese bill in its present form, Mr. Dillingham concluding bis remarks and Mr. Stewart and-Mr. Hoar stating their objections to the bill. Mr. Stewart said he would vote for the measure if it was the best that could be obtained, as he favored the exclusion of Chinese laborers, but he was opposed to many of its provisions. Mr. Hoar, with considerable feeling, announced his vigorous opposition to the bill, declaring he never would vote for it. An amendment was agreed to eliminating section 56, of the bill .and substituting a provision that nothing in the act should be construed to prevent any foreign exhibitor from any,country from bringing to the United States such assistants as might be necessary to enable him to make an exhibition at any fair or exposition authorized by the government. Mr. Depew spoke briefly against the adoption of the resolution providing for the election of Senators by popular vote. In the House, aside from the debate on the Cuban reciprocity bill little was done.

Some remarks which Mr. Depew made Thursday concerning the proposed amendment to the constitution providing for the election of Senators by popular vote, in the course of which he adverted to Southern election methods, precipitated a lively three hours’ debate in the Senate on Friday. When the Chinese exclusion bill was taken up an agreement was reached that voting upon it should begin the next Wednesday. Mr. Teller of Colorado supported the measure in a brief speech, maintaining that it was necessary and that it was not in contravention of treaty obligations with China. In the House the Speaker announced the appointment of the following committee to attend the funeral at Arlington cemetery, Washington, of Gen. Rosecrans: Mr. Hepburn (Iowa), Mr. Grosvenor (Ohio), Mr. Loud (Cal.). Mr. Steele (Ind.), Mr. Lessler (N. Y.), Mr. Elliott (S. C.),. Mr. Clark (Mo.), Mr. Cummings (N. Y.) and Mr. Clayton (Ala.). The postoflice appropriation bill was sent to conference. Messrs. Loud. Smith (Ill.) and Swanson (Y’a.) were appointed conferees. Continuation of the debate on the Chinese exclusion bill occupied most of Saturday in the Senate. The conference report on the postoflice appropriation bill was agreed to, and a bill authorizing the Quincy Railroad Bridge Company to rebuild the draw span of its bridge across the Mississippi river at Quincy, 111., was passed. In the House the calendar was entirely cleared of private pension bills, all of those reported being passed, 177 in all, and including that giving $5,000 a year to Mrs. McKinley. Bills were also passed providing for an additional circuit judge in the Second judicial circuit of New York, and for the creation of the petrified forest national park in Arizona.

The Chinese exclusion bill occupied Monday in the Senate, Senators Foraker and McLaurin (S. C.) making extended speeches in opposition to it. Mr. Foraker contended that the measure was violative of the treaty with Chhia and was calculated to prevent America’s commercial expansion in the far East. While strongly supporting the policy of the government to exclude Chinese laborers, he maintained this could best be attained by an extension of the present law. Mr. McLaurin held that the drastic provisions of the pending bill would cut off America’s cotton trade with China and wreck the cotton industry cf the South. Mr. Teller briefly responded to Mr. Foraker, urging that the right to abrogate treaties was fully recognized. Interest in the Cuban reciprocity debate seemed to be waning, judged by the attendance on the floor of the House, but the earnestness of the speeches on both sides of the question increased rather than decreased in intensity. That the Republican opponents of the bill are determined to prolong the struggle as much as possible was made manifest by their refusal to allow speeches to be printed in the record. The speakers were Messrs. McCall (Mass.) and Brantley (Ga.) for the measure and Messrs. Robertson (La.) and Stevens (Minn.) against it. Mr. Robinton (Ind.) opposed Cuban annexni mi on the ground that it would threaten the ■welfare of the American wr .> earner. The conference report on the postoffice appropriation bill was adopted after aome criticism of the pneumatic tube provision.

In the Senate on Tuesday the Chinese exclusion bill occupied most of the time. The House bill legalizing the manual of surveying instructions of the general land office was passed. The additional urgent deficiency appropriation bill was passed with a minor amendment. In the House an unsuccessful effort was made again by Mr. Payne to secure an agreement to limit the general debate on the Cuban reciprocity bill. When the House adjourned there remained thirty-five members who desire to speak. The debate during the day wps without particular interest. The speakers were Messrs. Swanson (Va.) and White (Ky.) for the bill, and Messrs. S. W. Smith (Mich.), Dayton (W. Va.), Bmgess (Texas), Meyer (La.) nnd Sutherland (Utuh) against it.

The Senate devoted Wednesday to consideration and final passage of the Chinese exclusion bill, with several amendments. Mr. Lodge secured an agreement making the Philippine civil government bill the unfinished business. In the House the day was again occupied with discussion of the Cuban reciprocity bill.