Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1902 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

The time of the House of Representatives was occupied Monday in general debate on the urgent deficiency bill, which carries a total of $1§,7<M,230. An item in the bill carrying $500,000 for a military post at Manila precipitated a long debate, iu which some of the ablest debaters on lioth sides of the House took phrt. When pressed for an explanation os to the reason for the proposed appropriation of $40,000 for the emergency fund for tfie State Department, Mr. Cannon admitted that it was for the entertainment of Prince Henry of Germany. Mr. Clark (Mo.) wanted to know who was going to pay the expenses of Whitelaw Reid, Captain Clark, Gen. Wilson, young Pierpoot Morgan and young Wetmore, who were to bo dispatched to London to see King Edward VII. crowned. “We were to pav the expenses of Prince Henry’s visit,” said Mr. Clark, “and it was a poor rule that did not work both ways. If it was right and proper for ua to pay for the entertainment of Prince Henry, why should not England pay the expenses of Reid, Clark and the others?” Mr. Cannon in his reply drew the fire of Mr. De Armond of Missouri. Others who participated Were Mr. Richardson. Tennessee; Mr. Grosvenor. Ohio; Mr. Alexander, New York; Mr. Grow. Pennsylvania; Mr. Williams. Illinois, and Mr. Underwood. Alabama. Discussion of the Philippine tariff bill occupied attention in the Senate Tuesday. the debate continuing three hours, and resolving itself along political lines. Senators Lodge, for the Republicans, anil Rawlins, for the Democrats, were the principal speakers, and were given close attention. The bill was made the unfinished business and will probably hold' that preference until the final vote. • In the absence of other pressing business the House managers are allowing the widest latitude in the debate on the urgent deficienLCj. bjlljnow before the House. The irrigation of arid 1 ands uTthe” West and the advisability of retaining control of the Philippines were the main topics under discussion Tuesday. The speakers were Mr. Sibley (Pa.), Mr. Dinsinore (Ark.), Mr. N'ewlands (Nev.), Mr. iMondell (Wyo.), Mr. Robinson (Ind.), Mr. Kern (Ill'.), Mr. Gaines (Tenn.), Mr. Vandiver (Mo.) and Mr. Greene (Iowa).

The House went into committee of the whole soon after opening on Wednesday and resumed the debate upon the general deficieney bill. Mr. Padgett of Tennessee, the first Bpeakwv advoented the adoption of a declaration in favor of pledging the United States to give independence to the. Philippines. After some further remarks by Mr. Chandler of Mississippi and Mr. Zenor oL Indiana Mr. Watson of Indiana closed Ibe general debate with an hour’s speech in defense of the administration’s Philippine policy. Stirring partisan debate, lightened by one shaft of pure oratory, marked the proceedings, when the item in the urgent deficiency bill appropriating $500,000 for a military post in Manila came up for consideration. Congressman Cannon offered an amendment to appropriate the same sum for “shelter and protection” of the enlisted men-in the Philippines, and the Demo-' crats took this occasion to state their objections to tho Philippine policy of the administration. The amendment was adopted—by— a—vote of 127 ayes to 103 nays. At The conclusion of routine business in the Senate Mr. Nelson called up the bill establishing a department of commerce. Mr. Quarles of Wisconsin offered an amendment providing that the Secretary of Commerce should have complete control of the work of gathering aud distributing statistical information naturally relating to tho subjects confided to his department, and to this end the Secretary of Commerce should have authority to call upon all other departments of tho government for statistical data to be published ns he may deem wise.

Senator Hanna was the central figure in Senate debate Thursday when consideration of the Department of Commerce bill was resumed. The pending question was the amendment offered by Mr. Pettus o.' \labama providing that the Depnrtmeui of Labor bo not transferred to the proposed new department. Mr. Pettus made a brief argument in support of his amendment, nnd he was supported by Mr. Bacon. In reply Mr. Nelson, in charge of the pending measure, said he had heard no protest against the transfer until recently an official.of a labor organization had objected to it. lie maintained that it was a mistake to leave the labor department without the jurisdiction of an executive department. Mr. Hanna said the establishment of the new department was in the interest of both capital nnd labor. In the House the consideration of the urgent deficiency bill, which has been under debate since Monday, was completed, but owing to the lateness of the hour passage of the bill was postponed until Friday. A successful effort was made to increase the pay of rural free delivery Carriers from SSOO to SOOO per annum. Mr. Hill of Connecticut made the motion to increase the appropriation for this purpose. It was Insisted by Mr. Cannon, Mr. Loud, chairman of the postoftlco committee, and Mr. Payne, the Republican floor leader, on the ground thnt the method was irregular, but the members with rural constituencies supported it aud it was adopted by a vote of 100 to 78. On Friday a vote was reached on th« urgency deficiency bill. The item that had aroused Democratic opposition was ingeniously amended so as to appropriate $500,000 for ‘‘the protection and shelter” of American troops serving in the Philippines, instead of specifically for bn*e_ racks. In its original form the item had received the aupport of only one Democrat. Mr. Cummings of Now York'. When the rote was taken upon it in amended form it received the aupport of sixteen Democrat* in addition to the full Republican strength, the vote being 178 to 105.