Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1903 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

A lively debate occurred in the Senate Monday between Messrs. Aldrich, Vest and Carmack, when the first named endeavored to secure a postponement of the ~VW resolution requiring the Committee on Finance to report a bill removing the duty on coal. Mr. Aldrich announced there were strong hopes of action being taken elsewhere with the view to removing the duty on coal. Tiie proposition was not acceptable to Mr. Vest, who expressed the opinion that to allow the resolution “to go Into the uncertain and nebulous future” would mean its defeat. Mr. Nelson continued his remarks In opposition to the omnibus'statehood bill, and a large number of private pension bills were passed by unanimous consent. ► "T : ' ■JiiiimJ* r- ' Soon after the Senate met on Tuesday Mr. Jones (N’ev.) favorably reported the resolution of Mr. Stewart authorizing the committee on the District of Colombia to send for witnesses in connection with the coal investigation, to administer oaths and to compel the attendance of witnesses if necessary. The resolution was agreed to. Consideration of the Vest resolution directing the Finance Committee to prepare and report a WII removing tlNt duty ou coal then waa resumed. Air. Nelson concluded his remarks in opposition to the statehood bilL For the first time since the opening of this session of Congress the House was regaled with a lively political debate. General Grosveqor, of Ohio, and Mr. Clark, of Missouri, crossed swords during the general debate on the army appropriation bill and for two hours both sides of the House cheered on Their respective spokesmen. The remainder of the day was occupied by Mr. Hull (Rep.. Iowa), who argued against 'the abandonment of the army transport service; Mr. Shattuc (Rep., Ohio), who assailed Edward Atkinson and the anti-imperialists; Mr. Moon (Dem., Tenn.), who denounced the refusal of the House leaders—to allow the consideration of the Indian Territory statehood bill and who announced a policy of obstruction which he intended to pursue unless consideration were given it; Mr. Swanson (Dem.. VaTl, who argued the necessity of tariff revision, and Mr. Gaines''(Rtm., Tenn.), who purged the immediate advisability of placing coal on the free list.

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed the House bill providing for a rebate on coal. It was passed without debate a few minutes nfter it was brought over from the House. The militia bill was also passed, with an amendment striking out the section providing for a reserve force of trained men, ‘bus removing the objection made against it. Mr. Tillman occupied the attention of the Senate for an hour and a half in a characteristic speech in which he denounced trusts and monopolies and severely criticised the Attorney General. The statehood bill was up for a short time, during which Mr. McCumber spoke in favor of admitting Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico. The hill reported from the Ways and Means Committee providing for a rebate on the duties on foreign coal for a period of one year was passed in short order in the House by the practically unanimous vote of 258 to 5. Rapid progress was made with the army appropriation LilLjifler the coal bill had been -passed. The most important amendments adopted were to increase the number of officers in the signal corps by twenty-three, namely, one colonel, two lieutenant colonels, four majors, eight captains, and eight first lieutenants, and another to prevent the discontinuance of the armytransport service without action by Congress.

The Senate on Thursday passed the Hoar resolution calling upon the President to inform the Senate what government is now existing in the Island of Guam and asking why Mabini is detained in that island. Mr. Tillman continued his arraignment of trusts and monopolies and again charged that the Attorney General was responsible primarily for lack of action against trusts. The statehood bill was under discussion for a short time, Mr. Fornker urging the right of Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico to be admitted into the Union. At 4:50 p. m. the Senate went into executive session and soon afterward adjourned until Monday. The House passed the army appropriation bill without further amendment and begnn~consideration of the department of commerce bill, under a special rule making it n continuing order until disposed of. The opposition to the measure came entirely from the Democratic side.

The House devoted Friday to private war claims, passing about twenty. The two features of the day were the defeat by a vote of 70 to 30 of a claim of H. P. Moody & Co., of Keokuk, lowa, for the payment of the amount deducted from their contract for furnishing equipment to the Third lowa Cavalry by tho famous commission which unearthed the army contract fraud in St. Louis in 1803, and the fight of Mr. Payne, the floor lender of the majority, against nn omnibus resolution to refer ninety Southern claims, aggregating $400,000, for stores and supplies tnken by the Union army during the Civil War to tho Court of Claims for finding of fnet nnder the Tucker act. 1 The combination In favor at the omnibus claims resolution was too strong for Mr. Payne, but on the final vote the quorum failed. Saturday in the House was devoted to debate upon the Senate bill to establish n Department of Commerce and Labor, a substitute being finally passed by a vote of 137 to 40.