Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1903 — SOUTINE WORK IN CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

SOUTINE WORK IN CONGRESS

Outline of Business Transacted by the Members of Both Houses. WITH NATIONAL LAWMAKERS Brief Summary of the Doing* of th* People’* Servants in Session at Washington Cleverly Condensed by Special Correspondents. Tuesday, Feb. 24. The Indianola, Miss., postofflce case occupied the major portion of the time of the senate. Mr. Tillman spoke for three hours on the race question and was followed by Mr. Carmack. During the morning hour consideration was given the bill to further provide sos the safe keeping of public money on deposit in national banks. Amendments were agreed to excluding the bonds of street railway companies as security for deposits in national banks; accepting as security the first mortgage bonds of any railroad company which has paid dividends of not less than 4 per cent per annum "regularly and continuously” on its entire capital stock for a period of not less than ten years previous to the deposit of the bonds; that the United States shall have a lien on “current” assets of banks in which public moneys are deposited; that any legally authorized bonds issued for municipal purposes by any city or county may be accepted as security for deposits, and requiring the secretary of the treasury to report at each session of congress the amounts deposited in Individual national banks. A resolution was adopted calling on the postmaster general to furnish information regarding the effect on the revenue of the postofflce department tn the event of the adoption of the amendment to the postofflce appropriation bill giving all periodicals the same rate and terms as those now given weekly periodicals. A bill was passed authorizing the secretary of the treasury to issue .a number of souvenir medallions for the benefit of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial association of the United States.

The house passed the Philippine currency bill, accepting the senate bill so far as it relates to the islands. The committee amendment striking out the International monetary conference was agreed to. The contested election case of Wagoner vs. Butler was under consideration for a time and the Democrats began a filibuster, which they threaten to continue if the case is pressed.

Wednesday, Feb. 25.

The Senate made rapid progress. The statehood riders to the agricultural and postoffice appropriation bills were withdrawn and both bills passed. The House amendments to the Philigpine currency bill were agreed to. The sundry civil bills were also completed. A large number of pension bills were also passed. There was a lengthey discussion of the appropriation of $200,000 for Queen Liliuokaianl for the loss of the crown lands in Hawaii, in the course of the day Civil Service Commissioner Foulke was severely criticised on account of a letter written by him to Mr. Spooner regarding the dismissal of an employe of the surveyor general’s office, Idaho, who had been charged with receiving campaign contributions. The House adopted the conference report on the army appropriation bill. The bill to establish a union station in this city also was finally passed. Twe Fowler currency*'bill was debated) In a desultory way. Mfc, Ctaytoa (Ala.) delivered a mock funeral oration on the bill. Thursday, Feb. 26. The advisability and legality of the appointment by the President as members of commissions formed the subject of considerable discussion in the Senate. The sundry civil bill was under consideration and Mr. Hale, having in mind the amendment which was adopted authorizing the appointment of an international monetary commission, started the debate by calling attention to'the fact that the Senate had reprobated the policy of appointment of Senators on commissions and on one occasion had refused to confirm two Senators nominated by the President for such service. During the discussion it was made clear that no reflection was intended on, Mr. Lodge and Mr. Turner, who have been selected as members of the Alaskan boundary commission. The bill was passed after a number of amendments had been added to It. Mr. Burrows, chairman of the committee on privileges and elections, filed an additional protest against the admission of Reed Smoot as a Senator from Utah. The Senate executive session and devoted the remainder of the day to the Panama canal treaty. ( The House, after filibustering by the Democrats and repeated roil calls and

wait* while a quorum was b*(pg mcured, unseated James J. Bntler of Missouri and seated George C. R Wagoner in hi* place. Friday, Feb. 27. The senate passed the naval and military academy appropriation bills. Mr. Blackburn, secured a vote on his motion to take up the Littlefield antitrust bill, but his motion was lost, 28 to 38. The senate from 1:45 p. m. to 5:15 was in executive session. When the doors were opened a number of bills were passed without objection. The immigration bill was considered and a number of amendments made to meet various senators’ views, but the bill failed of a vote on objection from New England senators, who feared it will exclude French Canadian labor. After a stormy session of the house, during which the Democrats continued their threatened filibustering tactics, all that had been accomplished was to get the agricultural, sundry civil, military academy, and postofflce appropriation bills into conference and to adopt the conference report on the Indian appropriation bill.

Saturday, Feb. 28. The Senate passed the fortifications appropriation bill and the House immigration bill, with amendments. The general deficiency bill, the last of the appropriation measures to be considered, was reported from the committee. The greater part of the' day was given up to the consideration of the Aldrich bond-deposit bill, which was debated at length, but upon which a vote was not reached. While the bill was under discussion Mr. Aldrich said that the Republican party would undertake the reduction of the revenues at the next session of Congress, provided there was a surplus. The Democrats continued filibustering in the House, the little business accomplished being opposed at every point. The net result of the day’s session was the sending to conference of the naval and fortification appropriation bills, the adoption of the conference reports on the railroad safety appliance bill, and the military academy appropriation bills, the postofflce, the omnibus public building bill, and the bill to settle the accounts of officers during the Spanish period, and the adoption of the Senate amendments to two other comparatively unimportant measures. Sunday, March 1. The Senate devoted the day to eulogies of the late Representatives Peter J. Otey (Va.), James Moody (N. C.), John N. W. Rumple (Iowa), and Thomas H. Tongue (Ore.) At the conclusion of the addresses several resolutions of regret were adopted, and as a further mark of respect the Senate adjourned.

The House held a four hours' session and put the District of Columbia bill through its last parliamentary stage in the face of the Democratic filibuster. The previous question on the conference report on the Alaskan homestead bill was ordered and the vote on its adoption will be taken when the House reconvenes at 11 o’clock Monday. The Democrats attempted to block legislation at every and jt required six roll calls to accomplish wbat was done.