Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1903 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

The Senate o>t Monday closed the extraordinary session at noon and immediately entered on the duties of the regular session. The unusual features were the close of tlie cnlled session by announcement from tlie chair and the offering of two prayers in the Senate within a half hour of each other. Tlie business transacted consisted of tlie reading of tlie President’s message and the beginning of tlie discussion of the Cuban reciprocity bill. The Panama Canal treaty was sent to the Senate, but as there was no executive session after its receipt. It was not referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. The House convened in regular session and listened to the reading of the President’s annual message. More than au hour and a half was consumed in the reading of the message. A considerable amount of routine matters necessary to facilitate the work of committees was transacted. Representative Prince, of Illinois, introduced a bill providing that $100,000,000 of the public moneys now deposited with national bank depositories shall be invested by the Secretary of-the Treasury at the rate of $5,000,000 a month in State, county and municipal bonds which pay interest at not less than 2 per cent. Representative Dwight, of New York, introduced a bill establishing a postal currency providing for notes in tlie denomination of 5, 10, 25 nnd 50 cents, to be issued by the Postmaster General and kept on sale by all postmasters. Representative W. A. Smith, of Michigan, introduced a bill making McKinley’s birthday. Jan. 29, n national holiday, to be known as “McKinley Day.” Letter carriers will, during their first year of service, receive S6OO, during the second SBOO and during the third and subsequent years SI,OOO. provided a hill which Representative William Alden Smith, of Michigan,- introduced becomes law. The House adjourned at 3:30 out of respect to the memory of Henry Burk (Pa.), a member who died Saturday.

The recent investigation into the frauds in the I’ostofflce Department was the basis of a sharp debate in the Senate Tuesday by Mr. Gorman and Mr. Lodge. The resolution went over without action. Mr. Teller made a speech in opposition to the Cuban bill. He criticised General Wood and declared the bill was in the interest of the sugar trust. Mr. Clapp spoke briefly, holding that the Senate has absolute power in making treaties. A resolution presented by Mr. Hoar calling upon the Secretary of State for the correspondence relative to claims against the republic of Colombia on account of damages sustained nt Colon, and calling for information as to the responsibility of that government, was adopted. Senator Frye introduced a bill to regulate commerce between the United States and the Philippine archipelago providing on and nfter July 1. 1904, under the penalty of forfeiture, no merchandise shall be transported by sen or any passengers carried between i>ort.s of the United States and ports nnd places in the Philippine archipelago in any other than vessels sailiug under the flag of the United States. The House authorized the Committee on I’ostotlices and Post Roads to request the Postir. ter General to supply tlie committee with papers iu connection with the recent investigation of the Postoflice Department. It also instructed the Judiciary Committee to make inquiry and report whether the Isle of Pines can be ceded to Cuba without the concurrent action of the House and Senate. Representative Hopbum reintroduced the pure food bill. Representative Tirrell. of Massachusetts, introduced n lull to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors iu buildings and upon premises owned or controlled by the government.

In the Senate Senator Teller concluded his speech in opposition to the Cuban reciprocity bill Wednesday, nnd Senator Morgan also was heard in opposition to that measure. Mr. Payne, chairman of the Committee on Ways nnd Means, reported when the House convened a resolution providing for the reference of the President's message to committee, and the House went into committee of the whole for its consideration. The resolution, amended so as to give the Committee on Foreign Affairs jurisdiction over matters relating to Cuba (Mr. Payne explaining that his committee recommended this because Cuba now is a republic), was favorably reported to the whole House and adopted without debate. A bill for the upbuilding of the navy, credited as the plan suggested by Captain Hobson, of Merrimnc fame, was introduced iu the House, and carries an appropriation of $2,500,000,000, to be spread over twenty years, the allowance for the last ten years to be at the fate of $150,000,000 a year. Representative Gardner, of Massachusetts, introduced a bill creating a commission to consider legislation for the development of the American merchant marine. The commission la to be composed of the Secretary of the Navy, Postmaster General, the Secretary of Commerce and Lnbor and three members each of the Senate and House.