Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1902 — WITH LAWMAKERS AT WASHINGTON [ARTICLE]

WITH LAWMAKERS AT WASHINGTON

■"- L ',.r. - r • ' -- Many of us might he happy if w« did not suffer from disorders of the Uver. Then we ought to use Dr. August Koenig’s Hamburg Drops, which cure the disorders and bring the whole system to a healthy condition. Since Time is not a person we can overtake when he is gone, let us honor him with mirth and cheerfulness of heart while he is passing.—Goethe. Dealers say that as soon as a customer tries Defiance Starch it is Impossible to sell them any other cold. water starch. It can be used cold or boiled. That is the happiest conversation where there is no competition, no vanity, but only a calm, quiet interchange of sentiment—Johnson. Refrain from covetousness, and thy estate Bhall prosper.—Plato. Mrs. Austin's Pancake flour. A delicious breakfast. Heady in a JitTy. At grocers. - j _ Justice only takes a man’s part, but injustice takes it all.

Doings in Both Houses of Congress Set Forth In Terse Paragraphs. EVENTS OF NATIONAL INTEREST Discussions on Measures Proposed for Enactment Into Law Succinctly Summarized for Our Readers by Capable Correspondents^ Tuesday, Dec. 9. The senate considered the bill to amend the militia laws of the United States. An amendment offered by Mr. Cockrell (Mo.) was adopted, designed to prevent future controversies between the states and the United States as to when a man became a United States soldier. Mr. Lodge called up the immigration bill and explained that an amendment changing the designation of incomers from “passengers” to “alien immigrants” rendered it necessary to strike from the Bill the exemption applying to the payment of the head tax by citizens of the Dominion of Canada, the Republics of Cuba and Mexico, or a bona fide resident of the Dominion or republics, and an amendment to that effect was agreed to. An amendment by Mr. McComber (N. D.) was adopted including professional beggars as among those excluded. On motion of Mr. McComas the section of the bill relating to the exclusion of anarchists was amended so as to make it specifically provide for the exclusion of anarchists who advocate the destruction of “the government of the United States or of all governments by violence.” While the debate was in progress Mr. Hoar remarked that there are some governments whose destruction by violence he would accomplish if he could. An amendment by Mr. Bailey (Texas) was adopted providing that skilled labor may be imported if labor of like kind cannot be found in this country. There was considerable discussion of an amendment offered by Mr. Burton (Kan.) to admit Chinese laborers to Hawaii. It met with considerable opposition and finally was laid on the table. The provision in the bill prohibiting the sale of liquor in the capitol building caused some criticism of the house for putting it in the bill, but a motion to strike out the provision was defeated. After four hours’ debate in the house the London dock charge bill wa3 killed by striking out the enacting clause by a vote of 138 to 129. A bill to provide additional districts in the Indian Territory where legal instruments can be filed was passed. Mr. Payne. (N. Y.) reported back the resolution for the distribution of th* president’s message. He also called up the resolution which provides for a holiday adjournment from Dec. 20, 1902, to Jan. 5, 1903, and it was adopted without division.

Wednesday, Dec. 10. - Almost the entire session of the senate was devoted to discussion of the omnibus statehood bill, but no action was taken. A bill to refund internal revenue taxes paid by owners of private dies was passed, as was the House bill to relieve the conditions growing out of the repeal of the duty on tea. The House Immediately after convening went into committee of the whole and passed a bill designed to relieve the tea importers from the effect of the recent decision of the Circuit court in New York Imposing the 10-cent war duty on tea Imported in bond prior to the time when tea is restored to the free list Jan. 1, 1903. Another bill, to refund the duties collected on merchandise from Porto Rico and the Philippines during the period between the ratification of the treaty of Paris and the congressional revenue acts for those islands, also was passed. The pure food bill was made a continuing order, not to Interfere with appropriation bills, until it is disposed of. . The House then entered upon the consideration of the resolution for the distribution of the President’s message. This course was pursued to permit Mr. Grow (Pa.), the venerable ex-speaker, to make probably his last public speech. He discussed principally the relations of labor and capital In the United States. The resolution was adopted. Several minor bills were passed by unanimous consent. Thursday, Deo. 11. The senate passed, with several amendments, the bill fixing the compensation of the anthracite coal strike commission, and it now goes to conference. The name of the commission was changed to “anthracite coal strike arbitration.” At 2 o'clock the statehood bill came up and there was a brisk exchange between Mr. Quay, who favors the omnibus bill, and senators who oppose it, regarding Its consideration. Mr. Quay and Mr. Bate said they were ready to vote. Mr. Beveridge, Mr. Lodge, Mr. Hale and

others protested against pressing the' bill so soon after it was reported, and it went over. A bill was passed' allowing consuls, general, consuls and commercial agents,, who are not .allowed to trade, actual expenses of office rent,. not exceeding 31,800 per annum. The house devoted practically the whole day to discussion of a resolution to limit to forty days the period of taking testimony in the WagonerButler contested election case from the Twelfth Missouri district and finally adopted a resolution to that effect by a party vote—lss to 118. The house agreed to hold a session Sunday, Jan. 25, for the purpose of paying tribute to the memories of the late Representatives Russell of Connecticut and Sheppard and De Graffenreid of Texas. Mr. Wadsworth (N. Y.) reported from the committee on agriculture a bill to appropriate $1,000,000 to eradicate the foot and mouth disease among the live stock in New England. Friday, Dec. 12. The house devoted the day to consideration of private pension bills. The calendar was cleared, 173 bills being passed. None of them was of especial interest. One bill, for the benefit of a soldier who died after the bill was placed on the calendar, was laid on the table. The bill to give the secretary of agriculture power to make regulations relative to the diseases of cattle and other animals was made a special order for next Tuesday, with the understanding that the sections carrying the appropriation of $1,000,000 be stricken out. Mr. Cannon said that the appropriation was now being considered by the appropriations committee. Tne legislative, executive and judicial bill was reported. An order was entered for a session Sunday, Feb. 1, 1903, to pay tribute to the memory of Senator McMillan of Michigan. The senate was not in session. <s Saturday, Dec. 13. At the opening of the session of the House a resolution was adopted providing for a session on Sunday, Feb. 8, for paying tribute to the* memory of Senator Sewell of New Jersey. Without preliminary business the House went into committee of the whole and entered upon the consideration of the legislative, executive and Judicial appropriation bill. General debate was limited to ten minutes. This was largely consumed by Mr. Bingham (Pa.), in charge of the measure, in a general explanation of its provisions. The number of additional salaries created by the bill, he said, was 266. The bill was then read under the fiveminute rule for amendment. Mr. Maddox (Ga.) and Mr. Clark (Mo.) called attention to the increases in (.he bill, and made a general protest against what they alleged was the practice of the appropriations committee of reporting an appropriation bill one day and calling it up the next day before members had an opportunity to study and examine it. Mr. Bingham in reply said that the report on the bill showed In detail every change in the appropriation for stationery and postage for (Ind.) moved to increase the appropriation for stationery andpostage for each member of the House from $125 tc SSOO per annum.' He said he thought SSOO was only a reasonable allowance for stationery and postage and printing and dissemination of speeches, etc., among the constituents of a member. The amendment was ruled out on a point 6f order raised by Mr. Clark (Mo.). Without material amendment, after completing fifty pages of the 142 pages of tne bill, the committee rose. An urgent deficiency bill was reported, and at 4:05 p. m. the House adjourned. The Senate was not in session.

RECIPROCITY IN COAL.

Mr. McCall’s Bill to Exchange With Canada Has No Chance. Washington dispatch: Representative McCall of Massachusetts introduced in the house a bill to authorize the president to negotiate with Great Britain an agreement providing for a reciprocity treaty with Canada in the matter of coal. Such an agreement calls for the free entry of Canadian coal, both hard and soft, into the United States, and the free entry Into the Dominion of Canada of hard and soft coal from the United States. Mr. McCall’s bill, it was founa on investigation, runs at once into a stone wall in the leadership of the ways and means committee. Inquiries made of Chairman Payne and Representative Dclzell as to the possibility of such legislation brought out the reply that nothing of the kind was likely to he done at the present session.

Appropriation Bill. Washington dispatch: The leglslative, executive and judicial appropriation bill, carrying $26,980,453, was reported to the House by the appropriation committee. This Is an increase of $500,301 over the appropriation for the current fiscal year. Indian Association Adjourns. Washington special: The National Indian association closed Its twentythird annual convention after adopting resolutions urging-legislation for the relief of the Navajos In Arizona and in the interest of other Indians.