Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1903 — ROUTINE WORK IN CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

ROUTINE WORK IN CONGRESS

Outline of Business Transacted by the Members of Both Houses. WITH NATIONAL LAWMAKERS Brief Summary of the Doings of the People’s Servants in Session at Washington Cleverly Condensed by Special Correspondents. Tuesday, Jan. 27. Senator Quay made an effort to hold the senate in continuous session to consider the statehood bill, but failed to hold a quorum, and was compelled on that account to allow the senate to adjourn at 6:20 p. m. He secured another ballot, however, to test the sentiment of the senate, the vote standing 17 to 29 in his favor. The day was spent in consideration of the statehood bill with the exception of an hour devoted to a speech by Mr. Scott of West Virginia, on the pension laws. He urged the passage of his resolution providing a pension of sl2 a month to any Union veteran who served ninety days and had passed the age of 62. Bills were passed authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Missouri river at Yankton, S. D., and providing for the allotment of lands in severalty to the Indians of Lac Courte Oreille and Lac de Flambeau reservations In Wisconsin. /

The house devoted the day to bills reported from the judiciary commitr tee, passing about twenty. One was to meet the original package decision of the Supreme court by making intoxicating liquors imported into the states subject to the jurisdiction of such states. The other bill is the senate bill to increase the salaries of federal judges. The bill raises the salaries of the chief justice of the Supreme courtto $13,000, the associate justices to $12,500, the circuit judges to $7,000, district Judges to $6,000, the chief justief of the Court of Claims to $6,500, associate justices to $6,000 and Justices of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia to $6,000. ‘ Wednesday, Jan. 28. Mr. Rawlins called up his resolution directing the secretary of war to furnish the senate the proceedings of courts-martial in the Philippines. A sharp debate ensued, in which Mesa/s. Lodge, Beveridge, Carmack, Proctor and Tillman participated, alleged abuses in the army being the subject. Mr. Quay stopped the debate by demanding the regular order. Discussion of the statehood bill thereupon was resumed, and Mr. Lodge addressed the senate in opposition to the omnibus measure, speaking for two hours and a half. An attempt by Mr. Aldrich to devide the time of the senate between the statehood bill and other business failed, Mr. Quay objecting.

Tjie house made slow progress with the Indian appropriation bill, covering only about eight pages in over four hours. Mr. Burton of Ohio hung on the flank of Mr. Sherman of New York, had charge of the bill, and Insisted upon an explanation of every item. He succeeded in having several appropriations cut down. Amendments were agreed to appropriating $21,300 for a survey of the Pine Ridge reservation, South Dakota, and striking out the appropriation of SIO,OOO for a warehouse at St. Louis. The senate amendments to the bill to amend the bankruptcy act were agreed to. The speaker appointed Messrs. Hildebrandt (Rep., Ohio), Hughes (Rep., Va.) and Bartlett (fi»»-. Ga.) membefs of the temporary committee on accounts of the next congress. Mr. Smith of Arizona replied to charges made in the senate during the debate on the statehood bill, denying that Arizona had ever repudiated a single dollar of her debt

Thursday, Jan. 29. in the senate Mr. McLaurin of Mississippi urged adoption of the Rewllns resolution, calling on the secretary of war for the evidence in certain court martiol cases in she Philippines, on the ground that the officers of the army, in a number of Instances, had brutally treated Filipino men and women, and he wanted them weeded out of the army. Mr. Lodge concluded his remarks in opposition to the omnibus statehood bill, and Mr. Bard of California also spoke In opposition to it. Just before the senate adjourned Mr. Foraker of Ohio took accosion to say that the proposition of Senator Quay to tack the statehod bill on an apporpriation bill was not extraordinary. Legislation had been placed on appropriation bills before by the will of the senate. Mr. Clay of Georgia expressed the same view in a few remarks. A message from the president was read, in which he asked for the necessary power to co-operate with Mexlcp and China regarding the rcs-

toratlon of the parity of silver and gold. It was referred to the committee on finance. Mr. Hanna moved to disagree to the amendments of the house to the department of commerce bill and agree to a conference. The house passed the Indian appropriation bill and began consideration of the postofflee appropriation bill. Mr. Burton (Rep., Ohio) continued his criticism of the extravagance of the items of the Indian bill to the end, but his three days’ attack on the bill was not productive of many reductions. Mr. Patterson (Dem., Tenn.) took advantage of the latitude allowed in general debate on the postoffice bill to make a set speech for an hour and a half on the trust question. Mr. Reid (Dem., Ark.) spoke on good roads. Friday, Jan. 30. The day in the senate was set apart to pay tribute to the memory of Mr. McMillan. At the conclusion of the routine business Mr. Burrows (Mich.) called up the resolutions relative to his late colleague and paid an earnest tribute to his memory. Then the following senators spoke: Allison (Iowa), Cockrell Morgan (Ala.), Platt, (Conn.), Hale (Maine), Foster (La.), Aldrich (R. I.), Warren (Wyo.) Gallinger (N. H.), Lodge (Mass.), Perkins (Cal.), Tillman (S C.), Bacon (Ga.), Fairbanks (Ind.), Depew (N. Y.) and Alger (Mich.). It was the first speech in the senate by Mr. Alger. At 4 o’clock, as a further mark of respect, the senate adjourned. In the absence of Speaker Henderson Mr. Dalzell (Pa.) presided In the house. The report of the memorial of the National Red Cross society was ordered printed as an executive document. The house then proceeded to the consideration of private claims bills. A large number were passed in committee of the whole. When the committee rose Mr. Payne (N. Y.) objected to the ordering of the previous question on the bills and moved an adjournment. His motion was defeated, 24 to 61, whereupon Mr. Graff, chairman of the claims committee, moved a recess until 10:30 Saturday morning in order to continue the legis lative day. The vote on his motion stood 74 to 5. Mr. Payne made the point of no quorum. The roll was called. Only 118 members appeared on the call, and the sergeant-at-arms was instructed to bring in absentees. After waiting more than two hours, a quorum was secured. The motion to take a recess was declared carried, 150 to 97, with twenty-nine present and not voting. Saturday, Jan. 31. The greater part of the time of the senate was devoted to exercises in connection with the acceptance from the state of Maryland of statues of Charles Carroll and John Hanson, which will henceforth stand in Statuary hall at the national capitol. A number of bills were passed, including the house bill providing for the creation of a general staff of the army. The statehood bill was not considered, but it holds its place on the calendar. A house bill was passed appropriating $3,850 for the improvement and care of "Confederate mound,” in Oakwoods cemetery, Chicago. After three hours of general debate upon the postoffice appropriation bill, ■which was made notable by a speech in favor of tariff reform by Mr. Williams of Mississippi, who is a candidate for the Democratic leadership of the next house, the house suspended public business and listened to three addresses by Mr. Pearre of Maryland, Mr. ■ Dalzell of Pennsylvania and Mr. Schirm of Maryland, on the life and public services of Charles Carroll ol Carrollton and John Hanson, two signers of the Declaration of Inde pendence, whose statues have been erected by the state of Maryland in Statuary hall. The death of the late Representative Rumple of lowa was announced, the usual resolutions were adopted, and a committee was appointed to attend the funeral.