Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1902 — WITH LAWMAKERS AT WASHINGTON [ARTICLE]

WITH LAWMAKERS AT WASHINGTON

Ooings in Both Houses of Congress Set Forth in Terse Paragraphs, -VENTS OF NATIONAL INTEREST Discussions on Measures Proposed for Enactment Into Law Succinctly Summarized for Our Readers by Capable Correspondents. Tuesday, Dec. 16. In the senate Mr. Dillingham concluded his remarks in opposition to the omnibus statehood bill and by unanimous consent it was agreed there snould be no further discussion of the measure until the senate reconvenes on Jan. 5. The militia bill was up, Mr. Bacon on constitutional grounds opposing the section which provides for a reserve force of trained men. An amendment offered by Mr. Foraker was agreed to striking out as much of section 24 of the bill as relates to drills, inspections and instruction of men enrolled in the reserve force. Mr. Morgan (Ala.) asked that his bill fixing the salaries of the isthmian canal commission at $5,000 a year be referred to the committee on interoceanic canals. He said he had been informed that the present commissioners were paid SI,OOO a month each. A joint resolution offered by Mr. Wetmore (R. I.) was adopted, appropriating $3,000 for the purchase of a bronze bust of President McKinley. A bill was passed providing for an addition al district judge in the district of Minnesota; also a bill relating to ceded lands on the Fort Halles Indian reservation, Idaho; also a resolution directing the secretary of the interior to transmit to the senate the report of Dr. Sheldon Jackson upon the introduction of domestic reindeer in Alaska, and a bill authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Savannah river at Sand Bar ferry, below the city of Augusta Ga. The house passed the bill transferring from the treasury department to the department of agriculture the power to establish regulation for the suppression of contagious diseases among live stock, and devoted the remainder of the day to the legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill After completing 122 pages of the hill the committee rose. Bills were passed to authorize the Southwest Louisiana Rice Growers’ association to construct a lock and dam at the mouth of Bayou Vermillion; to authorize a resurvey of certain townships in Wyoming; to authorize the Rice Irrigation and Improvement company of Louisiana to construct a dam at the mouth of the Mermenteau river and to authorize the construction of a lighthouse at Mukilteo point, Washington. Wednesday, Dec. 17. The senate passed the pension appropriation bill without discussion. It carries $139,847,000. An urgent deficiency bill also was passed. The amount carried by this bill is $1,148,400. It includes an item of $500,000 to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to stamp out the foot and mouth disease, which has become epidemic in the New England states. The senate concurred in the amendments to a bill providing for the survey of certain lands in Wyoming. Mr. Burrows tendered his resignation as a member ©£ the committee on military affairs in order that Mr. Alger might be appointed to the vacancy, which was done. Mr. Kean then called up the resolution respecting the death of Senator Sewell, and delivered a touching tribute to his memory. Other addresses were made by Messrs. Cockrell (Mo.), Allison (Iowa), Morgan (Ala.), Cullom (Ill.), Proctor (Vt.), Daniel (Va.), Warren (Wyo.), Penrose (Pa.). Depew (N. Y.) ( McComas (Md.), Quay (Pa.), Dryden (N. J.). When the house convened a bill was passed to extend the act of June 6, 1900, which authorizes the sale of stone and timber for use In Indian Territory, so as to provide for its sale to railroads parts of whose lines are In the territory. Saturday, Jan. 31, after 3 p. m., was set aside for exercises in connection with the acceptance fFom Maryland of the statues of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress. The house tnen resumed the consideration of the legislative appropriation hill, which was practically without amendment except the insertion of a provision appropriating $500,C00 to enforce the Sherman anti-trust law and directing me Attorney General to proceed to the prosecution of all violators of the law. This was passed without division. The unfinished busiuess was the bill to prohibit military and Laval bands from competing with civilian bands, which was defeated for a third reading, 30 to 43. Thursday, Dec. 18. In the house the McCall resolution

calling upon the Secretary of State for the facts in relation to the Venezuelan affair and generally for a rtatement of the situation In reference to the Monroe Doctrine was passed. The house then, after a great deal of discussion, passed the bill to reduce the duties on articles the growth and product of the Philippine archipelago, from 75 per cent to 25 per cent ot the Dingley rates. Several amendments to the measure were voted down in committee of the whole. The purefcod bill was then considered. Mr. Tompkins (Ohio) spoke in favor of the measure and Mr. Adamson (Ga.) against it. Mr. Gardner (Mass.) opposed the bill, t&king the ground that it would interfere materially with many legitimate industries. After further discussion, and without taking any action on the bill, the house adjourned. There was no session of the senate. Friday, Dec. 19. The House passed the pure food bill by a vote of 72 to 21, the point of no quorum not being raised by the opponents of the measure. Bills were also passed to make Portal, N. D., a subport of entry for the immediate transportation of dutiable goods; for the relief of the Miami Indians of Indiana; to donate a piece of ground to Challam, Washington, and to amend the act relating to the location of a public building at Muskegon, Mich. The senate was not in session. Saturday, Dec. 20. There were twenty-seven senators present when the senate was called to order for the last sitting before the Christmas holidays. Mr. Allison of the senate conferees on the coal strike arbitration bill presented the report of the conference committee. He explained that the senate amendment fixing a definite sum for the expenses and compensation of the commissioners and employes and taking the question of fixing these out of the hands of the President had been retained, but that the senate conferees had yielded to the house to the extent of allowing sls a day to the commissioners for expenses instead of $lO, as fixed by the senate. The report was agreed to. Mr. Lodge, from the committee on reported the Philippine currency bill, and gave notice that as the measure Is important he would call it up during the morning hour of the senate at the earliest momenc. He expressed the opinion that the bill would not lead to prolonged debates. Bills were passed authorizing the Southwestern Louisiana Rice Growers’ Association to construct locks and dams in Vermillion Bayou and Mermenteau River, both in Louisiana. A bill authorizing the payment of Judgments amounting to $1,000,000, to be paid on account of destruction of property In Hawaii in connection with fight on the bubonic plague in those islands in 1899, was also passed. The resolution offered by Mr. Patterson (Colo.) requiring railroad companies to supply to the interstate commerce commission data as to brakes was adopted. Mr. Morgan then addressed the senate on the question of the isthmian canal. At 2:40 p. m. the senate adjourned until Jan. 6, 1903. There were not over seventy-five members of the House present at the last session before the holiday recess. Immediately after convening Mr. Cannon explained that it was important that the coal strike commission bill and the urgent deficiency bills be finally disposed of before the holiday recess. The conference report upon the former, he said,, was in the senate, and he asked that a recess be taken until it was returned from that body. A recess was accordingly taken for twenty minutes. When the house reconvened Mr. Cannon presented the report and it was adopted without discussion. The house remained in session until the bill was enrolled and signed by the speaker, and then, at 12:35, adjourned until Jan. 5, 1903.

Transportation for Troops. Washington dispatch: Secretary Root anixcurced that he had decided to accept the bid of the Boston Steamship company so far as it affects the transportation of troops and military supplies between the United States and the Philippines which are sent or received by way of either Seattle or Tacoma. He explained that the ex- , isting service at San Francisco would b« continued for the present, and added that if satisfactory airangements could be made for the disposal of army transports, either by sale or by charter, the transportation companies at that port would be given a share of the government business. * To Expedite Treaty. Washington dispatch: The friends of the reciprocity treaty recently negotiated between the United States and Cuba have been assured by members of the senate committee on foreign relations that the treaty will be taken up by that committee as soon as practicable after the Christmas holidays. The terms of the treaty require that it shall be ratified before the 31st day of January, and its supporters appreciate the necessity for expedition in getting it out of the committee in order to avoid the necessity of an extension of time.