Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1902 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

In the Senate on Saturday the conference asked for by the House on the Chinese exclusion bill was agreed to and Messrs Platt (Conn.), Dillingham (Vt.J and Clay were named as the Senate conferees. Bills were passed granting permission for the erection of a monument or statue in Washington in honor of the late Benjamin F. Stephenson, founder of the G. A. R.; to construe the dependent pension act of 1890 so as to include all persons who served ninety days during the Civil War and who were honorably discharged, hut excluding those of the First. Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth United States volunteer infantry who had prior service in the Confederate army or nacy; to increase the pensions of soldiers and sailors who have lost limbs in the service, and fiftyeight private pension bills. Mr. Gamble then called up the resolution expressive of the sorrow of the Senate at the death of Senator Kyle of South Dakota, and he and Messrs. Cockrell, Cullom, Morgan, Foraker, Nelson and Kittredge paid fitting tribute to his memory. In the House the fortification appropriation bill, which carries $6,562,455, was passed ami the conference report on the legislative appropriation bill agreed to. The former was amended so as to allow the purchase of the exclusive rights to use the high explosive thorite. A bill providing for two additional associate justices in Oklahoma was also passed. Without a word of discussion of the merits of the measure, the river and harbor bill, carrying in appropriations about $70,000,000, was passed by the Senate on Monday. So thoroughly had the bill been considered by the commerce committee that every Senator was content that it should pass as reported. As no Senator was prepared to begin debate on the Philippine government bill the measure, after a few minutes of Informal discussion, went over until Tuesday. In the House consideration of the military academy appropriation bill was begun. In addition to the regular items it contains provision for extensive improvement of the grounds and buildings at West Point. These improvements are to eost $6,500,000, of which a little over $3,000,000 is appropriated in the bill, Mr. Cannon, chairman of the committee on appropriations. characterized the proposed expenditures as “the rankest kind of rank extravagance." Twenty-four of the thirty pages of the bill were completed. During the general debate Mr. Gilbert (Ky.) precipitated a discussion on the race question, which was participated in by Mr. Gillett (Mass.). Blackburn (N. C.l, W. W. Kitchin (N. C.), Mr. Patterson (Tenn.) and Mr. Gaines (Tenn.). Mr, Cochran (Mo.) and Mr. Gillett discussed the question of the alleged violation of the neutrality laws in connection with the shipment of mules and horses to South Africa. ,

Most of Tuesday in the Senate was occupied -with discussion of the Philippine civil government bill. A bill was passed providing for the entry into the country free of duty of a replies of a bronze statue of Rochembeau, to be erected in Washington. In the House, by a vote of 75 to 72, it was decided to reject claims attached to the omnibus claims bill by the Senate aggregating $2,800,000. On the heels of that action nonconcurrence was voted in the whole Senate amendment (the various items having been ruled to constitute a single amendment) and the bill was sent to conference. Of the rejected claims SBOO,OOO belongs to the French spoliation class, while the rest are miscellaneous. The military academy appropriation bill was passed after the limit of cost of the improvements at West Point had been reduced from $6,500,000 to $5,500,000, and the amount of the appropriation in the bill from $3,000,000 to $2,000,000. The London dock charge bill was called up, but was not disposed of. Speaking to a pro forma amendment to the military academy bill, Mr. Feely (Ill.) discussed briefly the question of the violation of the neutrality law in connection with the shipment of mules and horses to South Africa. The Senate amendments to the river and harbor bill were disagreed to, and the bill was sent to conference, with Messrs. Burton (Ohio), Reeves (Ill.) and Lester (Ga.) as conferees.

In the Senate on Wednesday Mr. Rawlins continued his speech opposing the Philippine temporary government bill. He discussed nt length tlie testimony presented to the committee on the Philippines and the reports made by officials to the War Department. He presented many cases of torture of Filipinos, of the burning of towns and of the incarceration of Filipinos, saying it was a war without mercy, uncivilized and without excuse. Messrs. McMillan, Elkins and Berry were appointed conferees on the river and harbor bill and Messrs. Warren. Mason and Teller conferees on the omnibus claims bill. In the House consideration of the Senate amendments to the oleomargarine bill was begun, a special rule for this purpose being adopted by a vote of 152 to 79. By the ruling of the chair the question of further amendment of the Senate propositions was confined within very narrow limits. Slow progress was made. Tlie opponents of the measure, who sought to modify the Senate amendments in various particulars. were outvoted on every proposition submitted.