Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1902 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

The Senate on Monday adopted all the committee amendments to the immigration bill, with the exception of one prescribing an educational test and also the action of the committee in striking out section 36, prohibiting the sale of intoxicants within t#e capitol building, and then laid aside the bill until Tuesday, and passed three unobjected pension bills. The amendment fixing a $3 head tax on each immigrant coming into the United States furnished the principal topic for debate. In the House resolutions in memory of former Speaker Reed were read and the House adjourned as an additional mark of respect. ■ The Senate on Tuesday considered the bill to amend the militia laws of the United States. An amendment offered by Mr. Cockrell (Mo.) was adopted signed to prevent future controversies i«ctween the States and the United States as to when a man became a United States soldier. The bill then went over until Thursday. Mr. Lodge then called up the immigration bill. An amendment by Mr. McCumber (N. D.) was adopted including professional beggars as among those excluded from admission to the United States. On motion of Mr. McComas the section of the bill relating to the exclusion of anarchists was amended so as to make it specifically provide for the exclusion of anarchists who advocate the destruction of “the government of the UnitecLStates or of all governments by vio'lefice.” An amendment offered by Mr. Bailey (Texas) was adopted providing that skilled labor may bo imported if labor of like kind cannot be found in this country. There was considerable discussion of an amendment offered by Mr. Burton (Kan.) to admit Chinese laborers to Hawaii. It met with considerable opposition and finally was laid on the table. In the House after four hours’ debate the London dock charge bill was killed by striking out the enacting clause by a vote of 138 to 129. The Senate bill to regulate the duties and fix the compensation of customs inspectors at the port of New York was passed, as was a bill to provide additional districts in the Indian Territory where legal instruments can be filed. Mr. Payne (N. Y.), chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, called *up the resolution which provides for a holiday adjournment from Dec. 20, 1902, to Jan. 5, 1903, and it was adopted. Almost the entire session of the Senate Wednesday was devoted to discussion of the omnibus statehood bill, but no action wps taken. A bill to refund internal revenue taxes paid by owners of private dies was passed, as was the House bill to relieve the conditions growing out of the repeal of the duty on tea. The House immediately after convening went into committee of the whole and passed a bill designed to relieve the tea importers from the effect, of the recent decision of the Circuit Court iu New York imposing the 10-cent war duty on tea imported in bond prior to the time when tea is restored to the free list, Jan. 1, 1903. Another bill, to refund the duties collected on merchandise from Porto Rico and the Philippines during the period between the ratification of the treaty of Paris ami the congressional revenue acts for those islands, also, was passed. The pure food bill was made a continuing order, not to interfere with appropriation bills, until It is disposed of. The House then entered upon the consideration of the resolution for the distribution of the President’s message. This course was pursued to permit Mr. Grow (Pa.), the venerable ex-Speaker, to make probably his last public speech. He discussed principally the relations of labor and capital in the United States. The resolution was adopted.

The Senate late Thursday afternoon passed, with several amendments, the bill fixing the compensation of the anthracite coal strike commission, and it now goes to conference. The name of the commission was changed to “anthracite coal strike arbitration.’’ A bill wns passed allowing consuls general, consuls and commercial agents, who are not allowed to trade, actual expenses of office rent, not exceeding SI,BOO per annum. At 5 o’clock the Senate held a brief executive session, after which it adjourned until Monday. The House devoted practically the whole day to discussion of a resolution to limit to forly days the period of taking testimony in the Wagon?--Butler contested election case from the Twelfth Missouri district nrd finally adopted a resolution to that by a party vote — 1,” to 118. The Iloiirv agreed hold a session Sunday. Jrn. 25, for the purpose of paying tribute to the memories of the late Representatives Russell of Connecticut and Sheppard and De Graffenreid of Texas. The Senate was not in session Friday. In the House the bill to appropriate sl,000,000 for the eradication of foot and mouth disease in New England was made a special order for the next Tuesday, with the understanding that only the legislative feature of the bill would be considered and that the appropriation would be reported from the appropriations committee. The House devoted most of the day to consideration of private pension bills. The calendar was cleared. 173 bills being passed. An order was entered for a session Sunday, Feb. 1, 1903, to pay tribute to the memory of the late /Senator McMillan of Michigan. The Senate held no session Saturday, In the House a resolution was adopted which provided for a session on Sunday, Feb. 3, for paying tribute to the memory of the late Senator Sewell, of New Jersey. The House then entered on the consideration of the legislative, executive, and judicial appropriation bill, and completed fifty of the 142 pages before adjournment. No material amendment* were offered. In the National Capital. Secretary Wilson denies that there has been any leak in the government crop report. William E. Curtis says the awarding of the contract for transporting troops and supplies to the Philippines Is Cvrtaik to stir np a big controversy. Boston company in the lend. Representative Mann of Chicago han introduced a resolution in Congress calling upon the Secretary of the Treasury; to furnish all the details of contracts la relation to the new federal building to' Chicago. __ . -