Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1902 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

A sharp attack on the oleomargarine bill was made t>y Mr. Money in the Senate on Tuesday. He denounced the mens ure as “unconstitutional, immoral, dis honest and unjust.” He said it was a proposition to tax out of, existence one industry for the benefit of another. Mr. Hansbrough, a majority member £f the committee on agriculture, denied there was any attempt in the measure to destroy the oleomargarine industry. Fortyfour private pension measures were passed, as was the bill to amend the act establishing a code of laws for the District of Columbia. In the House, by a vote of 137 to 127 it was decided to unseat Mr. Rhea of Kentucky, a Democrat, and seat in his place J. McKenzie Moss, who was formerly a Democrat, but who, according to his brief, is in accord with the Republican party on the dominant issues. Consideration of the army appropriation bill was then begun, with the understanding that general debate should continue for ten hours. Mr. Scarborough of South Carolina discussed the Southern election laws nud Mr. Gaines of Tennessee the Philippine situation. —Mr. Hull of lowa, who was in charge of the bill, explained its provisions briefly. . It carried $90,880.934. being $11,025,005 less than the estimates. ~~ - •. .'■ __ Continuation of the debate on the oleomargarine bill occupied Wednesday’s session of the Senate. Messrs. Dolliver. Hansbrough, Iloar and Lodge spoke in support of the measure and Mr. Stewart against it. A brief executive session preceded adjournment. In the House general debate on the military appropriation bill was concluded during tlie day and consideration of the bill under the five-minute rule began. During the debate Mr. Burleson (Texas) renewed his attaek on Secretary Hay on account of the allegations regarding the Boer relief funds subscribed in Illinois. Sir. Hitt (Ill.), chairman, of the foreign affairs committee,, replied briefly, tiie beginning_of the session the Burleson resolution calling on the President for iuformit-tnm-~Tehrttre--te—the--application—of. eral Sides to go to the Philippines was adopted without debate. In the Senate on Thursday Mr.-Harris and Sir. Quarles spoke at length on the oleomargarine bill. Sir. Harris supported the measure, but urged the adoption of an amendment placing a tax of 10 cents a pound on adulterated butter and regulating the jnanufacture and sale of renovated butter. Mr. Quarles vigorously denounced tlie oleomargarine industry, as at present conducted, as a fraud, and insisted that in the interest not only of the 5.000,000 of dairymen, but also in the interest of the whole American people, the pending bill ought to be enacted into law. A message from the President recommending that provisiou he made for _ d iulomatie and con solar representstTves in Cuba and~nnnoiiiiciug“ formally that the island would be turned over to the Cuban government on the 20th of Slay next was read and referred to the committee ou foreign relations* Taking advantage of the latitude of debate afforded by the Senate rules. Sir. Patterson sharply criticised the methods by which General Funstqn captured Aguinaldo and sought to show that General Funston's statement that lie had not violated the articles of civilized warfare was not- accurate. Adjournment unti 1 Monday followed an executive session. In the House most of the day was devoted to discussion of charges of bribery in connection with the treaty for the pt£f=“ chase .of the Danish West I udies. After j the appointment of~a^committee of inI vestigntion the army appropriation bill was taken up and passed without material amendment. A rule was adopted to make the bill to retire officers of the revenue cutter service-a-eoiitinuing order until disposed of, tlie order not to interfere with appropriation of revenue bills or conference reports. The President’s message' oil the relinquishment of the control of Cuba was laid before the i House just before adjournment. Most of the day was occupied by the House Friday in discussion of the President’s policy of vetoing bills to remove the charge of desertion from the records of soldiers. The subject came up with private pension bills, 210 of which were passed. By unanimous consent a bill was passed to confer jurisdiction upon the court of claims to adjudicate the claims for duties collected on goods going into Porto Rico between April 11, 1899, and May 1, 1900. The bill provides that the claims found due shall bear interest at G per cent. The refund of these duties Is made necessary by the decision of the Supreme Court. Mr. Cannon, from the ! committee ou appropriations, reported the sundry civil appropriation bill, and gave notice that he would call it up ou Monday. Most of Saturday in the House was de< voted to the bill increasing the efficiency of the revenue cutter service, but considerai tion of it was completed. The opening I argument was made by Mr. Sherman <N, Y.). Speeches wore made iu its favor by Messrs. Minor (Wis.) and 11. C. Smith (Mich.), and against it by Messrs. Richardson (Ala.), Little (Ark.), Cochran (Mo.) and Mann (111.). The general debate was limited to eight hours. The Ohinese exclusion act was made a speI clal order after the disposal of the rev- ' enue cutter bill. The Miles correspondence called by llie Burleson resolution was laid before the House ut the opening of the session.