Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1903 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

Friday was private pension day in the House, and 144 bills were passed, none of especial importance, Mr. Russell (Texas) the successor of the late Mr. Graffenreid, criticised the House for undue haste iu the consideration of private pension legislation, and precipitated quite a debate. He called attention to the fact that since the Civil War 10,000 special bills had been passed by Congress: over 1,000 of these in the first session of the present Congress. In reply Mr. Lacey (Iowa) called attention to the fact that the cases before Congress were cases in which the .general pension laws could not give reliefj. The fact that only 10,000 bills had passed in forty years, he thought, sufficient proof of the care and discrimination which had been exercised by Congress. Mr. Hull (Iowa), chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, reported the military appropriation bill. The Speaker laid before the House the resignation of Mr. Lanham (Texas) from the Judiciary Committee, and announced the appointment of Mr. Henry (Texas) to fill the vacancy.

A lively debate occurred in the Senate Monday between Messrs. Aldrich, Vest and Carmack, when the first named endeavored to secure a postponement of the Vest resolution requiring the Committee on Finance to report a bill removing the duty on coal. Mr. Aldrich announced there were strong hopes of action being taken elsewhere with the view to removing the duty on coak The proposition was not acceptable to Mr. Vest, who expressed the opinion that to allow the resolution "to go into the uncertain and nebulous future” would mean its defeat. Mr. Nelson continued his remarks in opposition to the omnibus statehood bill, and a large number of private pension bills were passed by unanimous, consent. Resolutions were adopted by the House for a session Sunday. Feb. 8. for paying tribute to the memory of the late Representative Salmon, of New Jersey. The diplomatic corps and consular appropriation bill was then reported. Mr. Grosvenor (Ohio), from the Committee on Rules. called up the resolution of the Committee on Merchant. Marine and Fisheries providing for an investigation by that committee into the coal situation. It was adopted without debate. Mr. Moody (Ore.) then announced the death ot his colleague. Representative Tongue, and offered the customary resolutions of regret, which were adopted. Soon after' the Senate met on Tuesday Mr. Jones (Nev.) favorably reported the resolution of Mr. Stewart authorizing the committee on the District of Columbia to send for witnesses‘in connection with the coal investigation, to administer oaths and to compel the attendance of witnesses if necessary. The resolution was agreed to. Consideration of the Vest resolution directing the Finance Committee to prepare ami report a bill removing the duty on coal then was resumed. Mr. Nelson concluded his remarks in opposition to the statehood bill. For the first time since the opening of this session of Congress the House Was regaled with a lively political debate. General Grosvenor, of Ohio, and Mr. Clark, of Missouri, crossed swords during the general debate on the army appropriation bill and for two hours both sides of the House cheered on their respective spokesmen. The remainder of the day was occupied by Mr. Hull (Rep., Iowa), who argued against the abandonment of the army transport service; Mr. Shattuc (Rep., Ohio), who assailed Edward Atkinson and the anti-imperialists; Mr. Moon (Dem.. Tenn.), who denounced the refusal of the House leaders to allow the consideration <>f the Indian Territory statehood bill and who announced a policy of obstruction which lie intended to pursue unless consideration were given it; Mr. Swanson (Dem., Va.). who argued the necessity of tariff revision, ami Mr. Gaines (Deni.. Ten'll.), who urged the immediate advisability of placing coal on the free list.

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed the House bill providing for a rebate on coal. It was passed without debate a .few minutes after it was brought over from the House. The militia bill was also passed, with an amendment striking out the section providing for i( reserve force of trained men, thus removing the objection made against it. Mr. Tillman occupied the attention of the Senate for an hour and a half in u characteristic speech in which he denounced trusts and monopolies nud severely criticised the Attorney General. The statehood bill was up for a short time, during which Mr. Mel'umber Spoke in favor of admitting Oklahoma. Arizona nnd New Mexico. The bill reported from the Ways and Means Committee providing for a rebate on the duties on foreign coal for a period of one year was passed in short order in the House by the practically unanimous vote of 258 to 5. Rapid progress was made with the army appropriation bill after the coal bill had been passed. The most important amendments adopted were to increase the number of officers in the signal corps by twenty-three, namely, one colonel, two Heutenant colonels, four majors, eight captains, and eight first lieutenants, and another to prevent the discontinuance of the army transport service without action by Congress.