Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 135, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1903 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

Several petitions protesting against Senator Reed Smoot, of Utah, retaining his seat in the Senate on the grounds that he is a Mormon were presented in the Senate on Monda* q4q referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections. A large number of appointments of ministers, secretaries and other legation officers and army promotions was confirmed. In the House consideration of the Cuban reciprocity bill was taken up, Mr. Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, reporting a resolution providing that the bill reported from the Ways nnd Means Committee Should be considered to the exclusion of all other business until 4 o’clock Thursday, when a vote will be taken without intervening motion. On a yea and-nay vote this resolution was adopted by 17G to 155. Those opposing the resolution in speeches were Mr. Williams, of Mississippi, minority leader, and Mr. De Arrnond, of Missouri. Those speaking in support of it were Mr. Dalzell of Pennsylvania, Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio and Mr. Payne of New York. Mr. Williams asked unanimous consent to propose an amendment to the rule for a yea and nay vote on the amendment pro-, posed by the minority, with twenty minutes’ debate on each side, a vote then to be taken on the bill. Objected to by Mr. Payne. The minority voted solidly against the rule, in company with the following Republicans: W. A. Smith, Fordney, McLoud and McMorran of Michigan, Brooks and Hogg of California. The message from thi Preshjaflt was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the House went into committee of the whole, with Mr. Sherman of New York in the chair. Mr. Swenson of Virginia discussed the perils which ho fears threaten our foreign commerce by the tariffs passed in other countries in retaliation for the Dingley act. Mr. Robinson of Indiana made a speech arguing against the Republican financial policy.

The Senate whs in session only twenty minutes, Tuesday, and the greater part of tlffit time was consumed in the introduction of bills and presentation of petitions. Most of the bills were for positions and the bulk of the petitions related to the case of Senator Smoot, of Utah.' The session of the House was devoted to consirleratkmoftlie Cuban bilk Mr. Stevens (Rep., Minn.) spoke iu opposition to the measure. The other speakers were Mr. Knapp (Rep., N. Y.), Mr. Clark (Dem., M.), Mr. McClellan (Dem., N. Y.), Mr. Crumpacker (Rep., ind.), Mr. Douglas (Rep. N. Y.), Mr. Morrell (Rep., Pa.), Mr. Mason (Dem., Ark.), Mr. Thomas (Dem., N. C.), Mr. Hughes (Dem., N. J.), and Mr. McDermott (Dem., N. J.). In the Senate on Wednesday Mr. Gallinger presented a petition from “The Dames of 1840” for the increase to S3O a month of all pensions granted on account of the Mexican war. He said the pension committee would give due consideration to the petition, but called attention to the fact that all survivors of the Mex — ican war now receive pensions of sl2. On motion of Mr. Spooner the Senate ordered printed additional copies of the treaty between the United States and New Grenada, which was made in 1546, and proclaimed in 1848. The debate upon the Cuban bill again occupied the entire session of the House, the speakers being Messrs. Grosvenor (Ohio), Clark (Mo.), Richardson (Ala.),. Fordney (Mich.), Loud (Mich.), McMorran (Mich.), Bell (Cal.), Gardner (Mich.), Burgess (Texas), Gillet (Mass.l, Shaforth (Colo.), and Jones (Wash.).

The Senate transacted no business in open session Thursday beyond the receipt of bills and petitions. The only incident of tirfusual character was the appearance of Carrie Nation. An executive session was ordered at 12:25, and at 1 o’clock the Senate adjourned. The House, by a rising vote of 335 to 21, passed the bill to make effective the Cuban reciprocity treaty. The dissenting Votes were about equally divided between Republicans and Democrats, but there was no record vote. Those oposing the bill in speeches were Mr. Williams of Mississippi* and Mr. Broussard of Louisiana, while those making speeches in its behalf were Mr. Hepburn of lowa, Mr. Watson of Indiana, Mr. DeAiniond of Missouri, Mr. Sulzer of New York, Mr. Lacey of lowa and Mr. McCall of Massachusetts. The motion of Mr. Williams to recommit the bill was defeated by 193 to IGS, a strict party vote. On the passage of the bill a futile attempt was made to secure a yea and nay vote.

The bill passed by the House Friday to carry into effect the Cuban reciprocity treaty was laid before the Senate, and, on motion of Mr. Cullom, was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, after considerable debate, in which those opposing the motion were Mr. Bailey and Mr. Teller and those favoring it were Mr. Lodge, Mrs Spooner, Mr. Aldrich and Mr. Allison. The measure was referred without division nnd the Senate adjourned till Monday. The House was in session but five minutes. After the oath was administered to Claude Ivitchin (North Carolina) the House adjourned until Tuesday.