Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1903 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

In the Senate on Tuesday the Vest Finance to prepare and report a bill removing the duty on anthracite coal was considered. Mr. Vest (Mo.) defended his resolution at length. Mr. Hoar delivered his address in defense of his anti-trust bill. Mr. Nelsorr (Mino.) then resumed his speech on the omnibus statehood bill. Soon after Mr. Nelson began to speak, Mr. Beveridge suggested the absence of a quorum, and only forty Senators responded. It took half an hour to secure a quorum, and Mr. Nelson had not concluded his speech when the Senate went into executive session and soon afterward adjourned. In the House the general staff bill was passed by a vote of 153 to 52, after a great deal of debate. The most important amendment was one by Mr. Warner (Ill.) striking out the words “Secretary of War” wherever they appear in the bill. After the general staff bill had been disposed of six members in succession, Messrs. Cooper (Wis.), Lamb (Va.), Morrell (Pa.t, Burk (Pa.), Cassell (Pa.), and Adams (Pa.), arose and denied published reports to the effect that they had joined with other members to “pool” their clerical work. A number of bills of a minor character were passed, the most important being one to increase the pension of soldiers totally deaf from S3O to S4O per month. The Senate on Wednesday discussed the bill for the reorganization of the militia and also the statehood bill. Mr. Mallory led the Democratic Senators in opposition to the section of the militia bll providing for a reserve force of trained men, the contention being that it not only' infringed the rights of the several States, but also increased the standin;’ army by 100,000 men. A resolution offered by Mr. Stewart was adopted, directing the committee on the District of Columbia to make inquiry regarding the wholesale and retail price of coal in Washington nnd to ascertain whether the scarcity of coal is the result of failure in shipments to Washington or whether there is any lack of prompt and ellicient distribution among the people. The session of the House lasted a little more then two hours. The Senate bill for the redemption of the silver coinage of the Hawaiian Islands and its. recoinage... into United States coin was passed after an hour’s debate. It provides fur the redemption of silver coins by being received either in Hawaii or the United States in the payment of dues. Standard silver coins of the United States tpay be exchanged for coin of Hawaii at their face value. Hawaiian silver coins will be legal tender until Jan. 1, 1904, Ha-

waiian silver certificates shall be redeemed before Jan. 1, 1905* ami thereafter they cannot lawfully circulate as money. Several bills of minor importance were passed. In the Senate on Thursday a House bill was passed amending the internal revenue laws allowing all distilled spirits now in bonded warehouses, or which may hereafter be produced and deposited therein, the same allowance for loss from leakage or evaporation .which now exists in favor of distilled spirits gauged and deposited prior to Jan. 1, 1899. Mr. Al- - dricli (R. I.) then addressed the Senate on the resolution offered by Mr. Vest (Mo.), directing the Finance Committee to report a bill removing the duty en anthracite coal. Mr. Nelson (Minn.) continued his remarks against the omnibus statehood bill. A few minor bills were passed, and the Senate adjourned until Monday. The House passed the Philippine constabulary bill as it was reported from the committee, except for an amendment limiting the number, of assistant chiefs to font. A roll call was demanded on the third reading of the bill, which was ordered, 401 to 83. The bill then was passed. The resignation of Mr. Lanham, of Texas, who has been elected Governor of Texas, was laid before the House. The resignation is to take effect Jan. 15. Friday was private pension day in the House, nnd 144 bills were passed, none of especial importance. Mr. Russell (Texas) the successor of the late Mr. Graffenreid, criticised the House for undue haste in the consideration of private pension legislation, and precipitated quite a debate. He called attention to the fact that since the Civil War 10,000 special bills had been passed by Congress; over 1,000 of these in the first session of the present Congress. In reply Mr. Lacey (Iowa) called attention to the fact that the cases before Congress were cases in which the general pension laws could not give relief. The fact that only 10.000 bills had passed in forty years; be thought, sufficient proof of the care and discrimination which had been exercised by Congress. Mr. Hull (Iowa), chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, reported the military appropriation bill. The Speaker laid before the House the resignation of Mr. Lanham (Texas) from the Judiciary Committee, and announced the appointment of Mr. Henry (Texas) to fill the vacancy.