Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1901 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

On Monday, by a vote of 72 to 6, the Senate ratified the Hay-Pauncefote isthmian canal treaty. Only Senators Bacon, Blackburn, Culberson, Mallory, Teller and Tillman voted against the convention. Bailey paired with Depew and Elkins. Rawlins paired with Hanna and Sewell. Daniel, Jones of Nevada, Patterson and Quay did not vote. The vote was reached after almost five hours of discussion in executive session. The debate was confined to discussion of the merits of the agreement and the policy of its provisions. The principal speech was made by Senator Teller in opposition to the treaty. Among the other speakers were Senators Clay, Fairbanks, McCumber, McLaurin of Mississippi, Culberson, Mallory, Tillman, Bacon and Bate. A resolution heretofore offered by Mr. Vest of Missouri instructing the committee on the judiciary to inquire into the subject of anarchy and to report a constitutional method by which Congress may legislate for the suppression of anarchism and for the control of anarchists was adopted by the Senate. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Attorney General Knox, the judiciary committee reporting that the charges made were not upheld upon investigation. On Tuesday the House decided to vote upon the bill to provide temporary revenues for the Philippine Islands Wednesday at 4 o’clock. The measure was discussed in committee of the whole Tuesday and was the subject of the first debate of the session. There were several lively exchanges, but no display of temper. Mr. Payne of New York, the floor leader of the majority, opened for his side, and owing to the indisposition of Mr. Richardson of Tennessee, the floor leader of the minority, who is suffering from an attack of the grip, the jflsk of opening for the Democratic side .devolved upon Mr. Swanson of Virginia. Other speeches were made by Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio and Mr. Robertson of Louisiana, in favor of the bill, and Messrs. Thayer of Massachusetts, Shafroth of Colorado, De Armand of Missouri and Patterson of Tennessee, in opposition. The new assignment of committees was made in the Senate. While the Senate was in executive session Senator Morgan made an effort to have the Senate make his bill authorizing the acquisition of a right of way for the proposed isthmian canal across Costa Rica and Nicaragua the special order for 2 o’clock Wednesday, but the Senate declined to make the order. Some Senators expressed the opinion that all general legislation should be postponed until after the holidays owing to the absence of a number of Senators. In the regular session no business of importance was done. On Wednesday the Philippine tariff bill was passed by the House by a vote of 163 to 128, two Republicans, Littlefield of Maine and McCall of Massachusetts, aligning with the opposition, and three Democrats, Davey, Broussard and Robertson of Louisiana, voting with the Republican majority. The bill imposes the Dingley rates on goods entering the United States from the Philippines and the rates established by the Philippine commission on goods entering the Philippines from the United States. It also provides for the collection of tonnage taxes on vessels plying between the United States and the Philippines, and that foreign vessels may ply between these ports until Jan. 1, 1905. President Roosevelt has sent to the Senate the appointments of William Penn Nixon, William P. Williams and Jonathan Merriam to bo collector of customs, assistant treasurer and pension agent, respectively, at Chicago.

On Thursday Congress adjourned until after the holidays. Both houses will meet Jan. 6 with the avowed purpose of working industriously to close the session by June 1. The isthmian canal bill will be pushed when Congress returns to work. Chairman Hepburn of the House committee on rivers, canals and commerce, Thursday reported favorably the measure authorizing the construction of the canal. A long report was appended to the bill stating why it should be passed by Congress. Both the Democratic and Republican platforms are quoted to show that the political parties are to an interoceanic canal, and extracts from President McKinley’s speeches and President Roosevelt's message are presented to emphasize the undesirability of further delay. Senator Cullom presented a petition from the Chicago Federation of Labor urging the pasage of legislation to limit the powers of federal judges to issue exparte injunctions in labor troubles. Senator Hoar has introduced a bill to the effect which is pending before the committee oq judiciary.