Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1902 — CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS.

In the Senate on Saturday Mr. Teller presented a petition from Estes G. Rathbone, praying for a full investigation into his performance of duties as director of posts of Cuba duriug the occupation of Cuba. The petition was referred to the committee on relations with Cuba. Mr. Aldrich called up a bill relating to tobacco passed by the Senate and moved to agree to an amendment of the House providing that no packages of manufactured tobacco, snuff, cigars and rigarettes shall have attached to them any representation or promise of a ticket of chance in any lottery or any immoral picture. The amendment was agreed to, thus passing the bill. A resolution offered recently by Mr. Mitchell instructing the committee on Pacific islands and Porto Rico to investigate, during the recess, the condition of things in Hawaii and the administration of affairs there, with authority to visit the islands, was adopted. In the House resolutions were adopted declaring the seat occupied by Mr. Butler of Missouri vacant on the ground that there had been no valid election. Mr. Babcock (Wis.) asked unanimous consent for consideration of a resolution to empower the commissioners of the District of Columbia to make special regulations for the G. A. R. encampment in Washington next September. The resolution was passed.

In the Senate on Monday hot words passed between Mr. Bailey (Texas) and Mr. Beveridge (Indiana) on the floor of the Senate, and after adjournment was followed up by a physical assault by the Texas Senator on the Senator from Jndiana. Mr. Bailey criticised the State Department for its haiftiling of the case of an American citizen, Dr. Scott, and reflected on the competency of Judge Penfield, solicitor of the department. Mr. Beveridge characterized the words of the Texas Senator as "unwarranted attack." This characterization Mr. Bailey regarded as an insult. Early in the session, Mr. Elkins (West Virginia) delivered a speech in favor of the annexation of Cuba, maintaining that it would be in the best interests of both countries. Mr. Elkins’ remarks drew a sharp tire from Mr. Platt (Connecticut) and Mr. Hanna (Ohio), who deprecated any annexation proposition at this time. Among the many bills passed was cue giving “Rear Admiral Schley the pay and allowance of a rear admiral on the active list of the navy. Mr. Gallinger (New Hampshire), chairman of the committee on pensions, made a brief statement of the work done by the pension committee during the present session. It showed that the bills relating to pensions introduced in the House aggregated 7,518, while thq aggregate number introduced in the Senate was 2.552. The total number passed by .both House and Senate was 1.151. In the House the conference report on the general deficiency appropriation bill was taken up. Among important items passed, on separate votes, was $500,000 for the Buffalo exposition and $160,009 for the Charleston exposition: Claim of sl,000,000 for Hawaiian fire plague sufferers not concurred in. Plrilippine conference report adopted—l 49 to 92. Bill provides for a Legislature of two houses. Legislature to elect two commissioners <o represent islands in Washington, Friar lands to be purchased by issuing bonds nnd' to become part of public domain. Public lands to be open to homesteaders. Corporations are regulated. Money’ standard and banking system postponed. At 5:30 recess taken until 8 o’clock. The election contest case of Wilson vs. Lassiter. from the Fourth Virginia district, which confirms Lassiter's title to the seat, presented. The Dick bill to reorganize the militia was taken up and passed.

The final report of the conferees on the general deficiency bill was presented in the Senate on Tuesday and agreed to without debate. The conference reports on the naval appropriation bill and the bill to provide a temporary civil government in the Philippines were' agreed to, as was that on the Porto Rico public lands and buildings bill. A bill appropriating $75,000 for the* erection of a quartermaster's warehouse in Omaha was passed. A resolution offered on behalf of the minority of the committee on the Philippines authorizing that committee to sit during the recess to prosecute its inquiry into the Philippines was referred to committee. The House concurrent resolution providing for adjournment was adopted. Before adjournment the usual resolutions were adopted,’ including one thanking President Pro Tempore Frye for ’’the dignified, impartial and courteous manner in which he had presided over the deliberations of the Senate.” In the House the Senate bill to promote the efficiency of the marine hospital service and change its name to the public health and marine hospital service was passed under Suspension of the rules. Other bills were passed as foliowk: House bill to authorize the creation of a quartermaster’k warehouse at Omaha at a cost of not to exceed S7S.<KK); Senate bill to reduce the number of appraisers nt Philadelphia and Boston. A joint resolution was adopted appropriating $5,000 each for monuments to the memories of Gen. Francis Noah and Gen. William Lee Davidson of North Carolina, as authorized by resolutions of the continental congress. The conference agreement on the naval appropriation bill was adopted. Senate bill for the suppression of train robberies; a bill to make Confederate soldiers who enlisted in the Union army previous to Jan. 1, 1865, pensionable, was passed, 97 to 19. The report of the special committee to investigate the facts in connection with the purchase of the Danish West Indies was presented, ordered printed and referred to the calendar.