Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1903 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

The Senate met at 11 o’clock Thursday, but spent only an hour aud twenty minutes in open session. This time was devoted to routine business and passing bills of no great general importance. The Senate spent the entire day Friday in executive session considering the Panama canal treaty, and at 5:25 p. m. took a recess until Saturday at 11 o’clock. No vote was taken on any of the amendments which have beeh .prepared by Senator Morgan. The House passed the fortifications appropriations bill, adopted the conference report on the bill for the protection of the President, and on the legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill, and then spent three hours wrangling over the Fowler currency bill. ■The latter bill had been given privilege by the terms of a special rule adopted Monday, but when the decks had been cleared for it the Democrats began a filibuster, Mr. Bartlett (Ga.) declaring that it was useless to waste time on a measure which it was not intended should become a law. After a half-dozen roll calls the House finally got into committee of the whole to consider the bill, but, it then being 5 o’clock, on motion of Mr. Fowler the Honse adjourned. The Senate spent nearly the entire day Saturday in executive session. It was the legislative day of Thursday, as tho Senate had taken recesses, instead of adjourning. The Senate met at 11 o’clock, opened the doors at 12, and for more than nn hour disposed of routine business, consisting of the presentation of petitions and reports, the introduction of bills, and the passing of unobjected bills on the calendar. Upon resuming the executive session, the Colombian canal treaty was taken up. Senator Quay had a report read, and Senator Pettus spoke at some length. The day in the House was devoted to debate upon the Fowler currency bill. Mr. Fowler, the author of the measure, spoke for over two hours. The other speakers were Messrs. Thayer (Mass.), Lovering (Mass.), Lewis (Ga.) and Prince (Ill.). A communication from the President, transmitting a request of the anthracite coal strike commission, asking for authority to publish 5,000 copies of its report when completed, was laid before the House. A large crowd was attracted to the Senate Monday, most of them visiting Daughters of the American Revolution. Washington’s Farewell Address was read by Mr. Dubois of Idaho. The omnibus public building bill was passed, and the postofflee appropriation bill was considered, without final action. Mr. Tfllman spoke for nearly two hours, principally in reply to Mr. Spooner, on the Indianola postoffice car-e. He said that if the pol-, icy of the administration in regard to the equality of the negro was carried on and Booker Washington should be appointed to the cabinet, he would vote for his confirmation. He did not conclude his remarks. The House passed the general deficiency appropriation bill, the last of tlie regular supply bills. It carried $13,698,781. The only amendment of importance was one appropriating $1,100,000 to replace the stores and storehouse at the Rock Island arsenal, recently destroyed by fire. The bill to amend the railroad safety-appliance act was sent to conference, and the conferees were instructed not to insist on that portion of the House amendment giving the Interstate commerce commission power to reduce below 50 per cent the number of cars equipped with patent air brakes. The Indianola, Miss., postofflee case occupied the major portion of the time of tlie Senate Tuesday. Mr. Tillman spoke for three hours in continuation of his remarks on the race question and was followed by Mr. Carmack. During the moruing hour consideration was given the bill to further provide for the safe keeping of public money on deposit In national banks. A resolution was adopted calling on the Postmaster General to furnish information regarding the effect on the revenue of the Postofflee Department in the event of the adoption of the amendment to the postofflee appropriation bill giving all periodicals the same rate and terms ns those now given weekly periodicals. The agricultural appropriation bill was considered, and the committee amendments agreed to, except the statehood rider, which was passed over. The House, by n vote of 136 to 100, passed the Philippine currency bill, accepting the Senate bill so far as It relates to the islands. The committee amendment striking out the international monetary conference was agreed to. The contested election case of Wagoner vs. Butler was under consideration for a time. The Senate Wednesday made rapid progress. The statehood riders to the agricultural and postofflee appropriation bills were withdrawn and both bills passed. The House amendments to the Plrilippine currency bill were agreed to with but slight discussioa, thus sending the bill to the President, The sundry civil bill was nearly completed. A large number of pension bills were also passed. There was a lengthy discussion of the appropriation of $200,000 for Queen Lilluokalani for the loss of the crown lands In Hawaii. The House adopted the conference report on the army appropriation bill and sent the bill to the President. The bill to establish a union station in this city nlso was finally passed, the House abandoning its amendments to reduce the amount to be given to the Pennsylvania and Baltimore nud Ohio Railroads from $1,500,000 each, os fixed In the Senate bill, to $1,000,000 each, ns fixed by the House. The Fowler currency bill was debated in a desultory way.