Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1902 — CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS.

In the Senate on Tuesday the. Philippine question again occupied nearly the entire day. A House joint resolution making an additional appropriation of §16,000 for the dedication ot the statue of Marshal de Rochainbeau in Washington wSs i>asF*d, as was a bill to apportion the term of office of Senators elected at the first general election in the territory of Hawaii. Ninety private pension bills were also approved. The House adjourned slioftTy""affer cohvening’ouTot respect to the memory of Congressman Salmon of New Jersey. The Philippine government bill again had a practical monopoly of the time in the Senate on Wednesday. The bill making appropriations for the diplomatic and consular service of the United States in the republic of Cuba, fixing the salary of the minister at §12,000, was passed. In the House consideration was begun of the bill to enable the people of Oklahoma. Arizona and New Mexico to form constitutions and State governments nnd be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States. Representative Knox (Mass.), chairman of the committee on territories, and Mr. Rodey, the delegate from New Mexico, made extended speeches in support of the bill. Mr. Mcßae (Ark.), while favoring the admission of the three territories, gave notice of an amendment to consolidate Oklahoma and Indian territory and admit them as a single State. The conference report on the* Indian appropriation bill was adopted, after a vigorous but unsuccessful fight, led by Mr. I.ittle (Ark.), was made on the Senate amendment to open up the Uintah Indian reservation in Utah. The Senate devoted the entire day Thursday to continuation of the debate on the Philippines. A resolution was adopted declaring that the Senate had heard with profound grief of the death of Admiral Sampson, and Messrs. I’er'ki'ns, Gallinger, Quarles, Martin and Mallory were named as a committee to attend the funeral In tbe House the bHI to place three new stars in tbe American flag again had the right of way. General debate, tbe feature ofr which was an extended speech by Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio in opposition to the measure, was closed at 3 o'clock, and the bill was then read for amendment under the five-min-ute An amendment offered by Mr. Mcßae to consolidate the territories of Oklahoma and Indian territory was defeated 57 to 103. One offered by Mr. Overstreet (Ind.) to consolidate Arizona and New Mexico and admit them as the State of Montezuma was pending when the "House adjourned. The only amendment adopted was one providing that nothing in the act should be construed to legalize polygamy. Again the debate on the PlHlippines had the right of way in the Senate on Friday. A joint resolution was passed to permit steam railroads in the District of Columbia to occupy temporarily parts of streets for the benefit of the traveling public during the national encampment of the G. A. R. in October. The resolution offered by Mr. Culberson calling upon the Secretary of War for certain information as to Gen. Smith’s order in the Philippines was at the suggestion of Mr. Culberson himself indefinitely postponed. In the House the statehood bill for Arizona. New Mexico nnd Oklahoma was passed. The rest of the session was devoted to prn-ate pension - bills, eighty-seven of which were passed, twenty-eight original, fifty-four for increase and five to complete military records. »• The army appropriation bill was passed by the Senate on Saturday and also an urgency measure appropriating_§loo,oo3 for the relief o’s the volcano sufferers in the French West Indies. Mr. Perkins reported the fortifications appropriation bill. Mr. Proctor reportedAhe bill making appropriations., for the Department of Agriculture. A bill for the sale of sites for industrial plants in Indian Territory was passed. A resolution offered by Mr. Ha rris calling upon the Secretary of the Interior for information as to the sale of Indian lands in Kansas was adopted. Mr. Proctor offered a resolution, which was adopted, calling upon the Secretary of War for information as to how many Barbette carriages have been manufactured since July 1, 1893, and other information as to the disappearing gun carriages. A resolution by Mr. Patterson calling upon the Interstate' Commerce Commission for information as to safety appliances in use op various named railroads was also adopted. The House transacted only minor business, including the passage of a resolution to print 5.000 copies of “Jefferson’s Bible,” and then laid aside public business to pay tribute to the memories of Representative Rufus K. Polk, of Pennsylvania, nnd Senator J. H. Kyle, of South Dakota.

In the Senate on Monday ther'l’bllippine bill again held the right of way. The House emergency bill appropriating §200.000 for the relief of volcano snflerers was passed. On motion of Mr. Proctor the vote by which the nrmy appropriation bill was passed was reconsidered ami the bill amended so us to restrict the provision for the sale of nrmy posts to those of Indianapolis, Columbus and Buffalo, nnd authorizing the President to Use the money derived therefrom In purchasing other lands in tbe vicinity and constructing otb<T posts; also ;o authorize tbe subdivision of this property. As amended the bill wns passed. The House passed emergency bill appropriating §200,000 for the relief ot volcano sufferers in the West Indies and killed the bill consolidating the gas companies of Washington. D. C., by striking out the enacting clause.