Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1904 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

Alleged pout office frauds were onder discussion in the Senate Friday, the subject being opened by Mr. Simmons {S. C.), who insisted there should be an; investigation by the Sedate. Mr. Piatt (Conn.) denied that the Republicans were trying to cover up any wrougdoing. The discussion was participated in by Messrs. Burrows, Dolliver and Quarles on the Republican side, and Messrs. Carmack, Tillman and Teller on the Democratic aide. A House bill permitting the issuance of bonds for the construction of a wagon road to the government dam on Balt river in Arizona was passed. The House made $250,000 available to be used to meet the emergency caused by the ravages of the cotton boll weevil and other insects diseases affecting cotton. The sum is to be diverted from the $500,000 appropriated last year to eradicate the foot-dnd-mouth disease among cattle. Pension bills to the number of 115 were passed. Representative Daicell of Pennsylvania introduced a bill providing for the consolidation of third and fourth class mail matter, to be admitted at'The rate of 1 cent for each two ounces. Representative Slayden of Texas introduced a requesting the President to tender the good offices of the United States to Russia and Japan. Both houses adjourned until Monday. 0 After n short time devoted to routine business the Senate at 12:4(i p. in,, Monday, went into executive session. In the morning hour Senator Culloiu, by request of Voluey W. Foster, of Chicago, assistant treasurer of the Republican National Committee, introduced a bill to create a national arbitration tribunal. The-bill was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor with a request for early consideration. Senator Morgan introduced a concurrent resolution calling upon tiie President to proceed, under the terms of the Spooner act. to construct an isthmian canal on the Costa Ric* and Nicaragua route. The resolution went over under the rule. The Senate was officially notitied of the death of Representative Skiles, of Ohio, whereupon a committee. consisting of Senators Foraker. Hanna, Fairbanks, McCreary and Culloni, was appointed to attend the funeral. Then, at 2:55 p. in., the Senate adjourned as a further mark of respect to Mr. Skiles’ memory. In the House a bill ■ authorizing tlie construction of a bridge across the St. Francis River at Marked Tree, Ark., was passed. Mr. Jenkins called up the resolution requesting the Attorney General to furnish information as to what money had been expended aider tiie act providing for the enforcement of the Sherman anti-trust law, which was adopted. Representative Foss, of Illinois, introduced the Volney W. booster \ bill for a national arbitration tribunal. The bill making appropriations for the legislative, executive and judicial departments of tlio government was completed by the House Committee on Appropriations and reported to the House. The bill carries a total of $28,258,84)5, which is an increase of '$1)4,080 over the appropriation for the present tiscal year. * * *” V Senators debated the Panama question for five hours Tuesday, and it was still under discussion at the hour of adjournment. A resolution authorizing the erection of a statue to the late President Benjamin Harrison, soutli of the new postofflee building in Indianapolis, was adopted. Senator Bacon introduced a resolution authorizing the President to negotiate a treaty with Colombia looking to an amicable adjustment of the Panama trouble. It went over until Wednesday. Senator Dillingham introduced a bill to amend the act to prevent the extermination of fur-hearing animals in Alaska. Senator Nelson introduced bills providing legislation for Alaska in conformity with recommendations by a special committee from the committee on territories which visited Alaska last summer. The House considered the legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill, but reached no conclusion. A hill introduced by Representative Esch of Wisconsin provides for the establishment of permanent camps for the instruction and maneuvering of United States troops at or near Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Camp Douglas, Win.; Coneway Valley, pa., and Xiciemcnto Ranch, Colorado.

Panama again Wednesday was the principal subject of consideration in the Senate. Mr. Carmack opened with pointed criticism of the President’s course. He was followed by Mr. Spooner, the only other speaker of the day, who defended the administration. At adjournment the Panama question was still before the Senate, and it was announced that the discussion would be resumed Thursday after the disposition of the posiofllce inquiry resolutions. Before the Panama subject was taken up there was a brief discussion between Messrs. Patterson and Scott on the labor troubles in Colorado. After a debate lasting three hours the House in cbmmittee of the whole, by a vote of .78 to (55, struck out of the legislative, executive aud judicial appropriation bill the paragraph providing for the salaries and expenses of the civil service commission and the clerks employed under the commission. The actaken on motion of Mr. Hepbum of lowa. He was supported by both Republicans and Democrats. Mr. Grosvenor (Ohio) spoke against civil service as it now exists. At 5 p. m. the committee rose without having concluded consideration of the bill.