Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1901 — PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.

Summary of Legislation in National Body, MEASURES IN BOTH HOUSES. Senator Chauncey Depew of New York Makes * Speech in Favor of the Shipping Subsidy Bi.l —Hons* on Army Reorganization. Tuesday, January 22. The first steps were taken toward the carrying out of the scheme to cut down the representation in Congress of certain Southern states, on account of alleged restriction of the negro vote. The house committee on the census agreed to call upon director of the census for all available information relating to ihe proportion of the total voters in the various states to the whole number of male citizens over 21 years of age. Wednesday, January 23 The senate resumed consideration of shipping bill. It was made the unfinished business of senate, thus restoring It to its privileged position. Mr.

Vest attacked it in a speech lasting nearly three hours. Mr. Rawlins precipitated lively colloquy by charging deal had been entered into betweeen Republican members of Utah legislature and certain railroad interests and officials of the Mormon church to secure election of Thomas L. Kearns to the senate from that state. He aroused Mr. Hale and Mr. Chandler, who contended statements of Mr. Rawlins ought not to be made in senate at this stage of proceedings in Utah, aa senate could not consider the quesUon in any phase in advance of action. The house passed District of Columbia appropriation bill and entered upon consideration of naval appropriation bill. Thursday. January 34. Senate measure repealing parts of war tax far different from plan approved by house. Entirely new act to raise revenue believed to be only solution of present tangle. Bill has peculiar features. Under new army bill President may appoint four Major Generals and fourteen Brigadier Generals. Senator Pettigrew declared Indian land appraisers are spending fund extravagantly. St. Louis expects to get appropriation of $5,000,000 from Congress for its exposition, but bill may die in committee. House Committee on Coinage ordered favorable report on Hill bill to maintain silver at parity with gold. ■- Friday, January 35. The senate made little progress with the Indian appropriation bill: Listened to a speech by Senator Depew in favor of the shipping subsidy bill. Passed a number of private pension bills. The house adopted the conference report on the army reorganization bill by a vote of 133 to 100. Passed the naval appropriation bill and 77 private pension bills. Saturday, January 36. National irrigation was discussed in the senate for three hours, the text being an amendment to the Indian appropriation bill providing for surveys looking to the construction of an irrigation dam and ditches for the water-

ing of the reservation of the Phna and Maricopa Indians at San Carlos, on the Gila river, Arizona. Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts Introduced and the senate passed a resolution asking for all information at the command of the president or any executive officer of the government as to the extent of .lands in the Philippine islands held for eoclesiastical purposes, the character and value of such lands, and whether any official had, on behalf of the government, entered into any obligation as to the titles of such lands. The house made good progress with the bill to revise and codify the postal laws.