Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1902 — CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS.

The Senate late Thursday afternoon passed, with several amendments, the Hill fixing the compensation of the anthracite coal strike commission, and it now goes to conference. The name of the commission was changed to “anthracite coal strike arbitration.’ - A bill was passed allowing consuls general, consuls and commercial agents, who are not allowed to trade, actual expenses of otllcj rent, not exceeding SI,BOO per annum. At 5 o’clock the Senate held a brief executive session, after which it adjournetj until Monday. The House devoted practically the whole day to discussion of a resolution to limit to foriy days the period of taking testimony in the Wageae'-H ut'er contested election ease from the Twelfth Missouri district and finally adopted e resolution to that effect by a party vote — 155 to 118. Tho IJour.e agreed t> hold n session Sunday, Jan. 25, for the puri>ose of paying tribute to the memories of the late Representatives Russell of Connecticut and Sheppard and Do tiraffenreid of Texas. The Senate was not in session Friday. In the House the bill to appropriate SL--000,000 for the eradication of foot and mouth disease in New England was made a special order for the- next Tuesday, with the understanding that only the legislative feature of the bill would be considered and that the appropriation would be reported from the appropriations committee. The House devoted most of the day to consideration of private pension bills. The calendar was cleared. 173 bills being passed. An order was entered for a session Sunday. Feb. 1. 11)03, to pay tribute to the memory of the late Senator McMillan of Michigan. The Senate on Monday discussed the bill to promote the efficiency of the militia and also the omnibus statehood bill. It has also agreed to the concurrent resolution of the House for an adjournment from Dec. 20 to Jan. 5. A message from the President was laid before the Senate, recommending the payment of indemnity to heirs of Italians killed in the Southern States. The House passed the Senate bill for a union railroad .station in Washington city to cost $4,000,000. The House also passed an urgency deficiency bill, which carried among other items an appropriation of $500,000 for eradicating the foot and mouth disease in New England. A bill was passed to provide for the allotment in severalty of the lands of the New York Indians. The bill provided that prior to the allotment the claim of the Ogden Land Company should be decided in the courts and if found good it should be purchased for the benefit of the Indians for a sum not exceeding $200,000. A joint resolution introduced in the Senate by Mr. Wetmore was adopted appropriating $3,000 for the purchase of a bronze bust of the late President McKinley. The militia bill was discussed for half an hour, Mr. Bacon (Ga.i opposing on constitutional grounds the section which provides for a reserved force of trained men. When consideration of the statehood bill was resumed at 2 o'clock it was agreed to discontinue the debate on the bill at the conclusion of Mr. Dillingham's remarks, until the Senate reconvenes on Jan. 5. Mr. DMlinghum concluded his argument in opposition to the omnibus bill, fn the House bills were passed to authorise the Southwest Louisiana Rice Growers’ Association to construct a lock and dam at the mouth of Bayou Vermilion: to authorize a resurvey of certain townships in Wyoming; to authorize the Rice Irrigation nnd Improvement Company of Louisiana to construct a dam at the mouth of the Mermenteau River, and to authorize the construction of a light house at Mukilteo Point. Wash. The bill to transfer from the Treasury Department to the Secretary of Agriculture the power to make regulations to suppress and extirpate dangerous contagious diseases among live stock was passed without division. The House then went into committee of whole nnd resumed the consideration cf the legislative, executive nnd judicial appropriation gill. After completing 122 pages of the bill the committee rose. The Senate passed the pension appropriation bill on Wednesday without discussion. It carries $139,847,000. An urgent deficiency bill also was passed. The amount carried by this bill is sl,148,400, and includes an item of $500,000 to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to stamp out the foot and mouth disease, which has become epidemic in the New England States. The militia bill was up for a short time. At 2 o'clock Mr. Kean (?f. J.) called up the resolutions expressing the regret of the Senate at the death of tho late Senator Sewell. He s[M>ke feelingly of the life nnd character of the deceased. He was followed by several other Senators, and as a further mark of respect an adjournment was taken until Saturday. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Governor of Maryland notifying the House of the presentation by the State of Maryland of the statues of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, nnd John Hunsen, president of the Continental Congress. These statues are now in Statuary Hall. A resolution was adopted setting aside Saturday, Jan. 31, after 3 p. in., for the exercises in connection with the acceptance of these statues. The House then resumed the consideration of the legislative appropriation bill. Mr. Bartlett (Gn.l offered an amendment appropriating $250,000 to enable the Attorney General to prosecute the violators of the antitrust laws. Mr. Hepburn (Iowa) offered a substitute increasing the amount to $500,000. Mr. Cannon (111.) indorsed the latter amendment. Mr. Hepburn’s amendment was adopted with division. A Bill was passed to transfer the census records from 1820 to 1900 to the census bureau.