Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1904 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

The Senate required less than a minute Tuesday to dispose of the motion to refer to the Committee on Postoffices the resolutions looking to an investigation of the Postofflce Department. After the passage of several bills the Senate returned to consideration of the Panama question. Mr. Quarles spoke for almost two hours in support of the administration, and was followed ’by Mr. Patterson, who criticised the President's course in Panama. The Honse considered the Hepburn pure food bill, but did not complete it. A recess was taken until 11.55 Wednesday. A bill transferring certain records relating to the Indian wars from the Interior Department to the records and pensions division of' the War Department was passed. A request for an immediate appropriation to defray the expert.se of the diplomatic service of the United States in the republic of Panama was-transmitted from the State Department. The draft of an net fixes the salary of the minister at SIO,OOO annually and that of secretary of legation at $2,500. An urgent deficiency appropriation of $300,000 was requested of tlio House by Postmaster General Payne to enable the establishment of rural free delivery routes after -March 1, when the present funds will be exhausted. In the Senate Wednesday Mr. Patterson completed his speech on the Panama Canal question. He declared the President largely responsible for the revolt in Panama, and announced his decided preference for the Nicaraguan route. He was followed by Mr. Platt (Conn.), who took this pronouncement for Nicaragua as a text, saying it explained the mystery of the opposition of Democratic Senators to the Panama treaty. Mr. Platt had

not completed bis Spbfecli bn 'the’Panaiha matter when the Senate adjourned. The House passed the Hepburn pure food bill on a rising vote of 201 to 68. It was amended to - go into effeifF”Feb. 1, 1904. Mr. Hull (Iowa), chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, reported the army appropriation bill and gave notice that he would call it up Thursday. A substitute by Mr. Payne for the Hitchcock resolution, calling on the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish the House information regarding the number of carriages furnished his department at government expense, was agreed to. Mr 1 . Zenor (Ind.) was granted forty-five minutes for a speech on good roads.

Mr. Platt (Conn.) concluded his speech on Panama in the Senate Thursday; defending the course of the administration. Mr. spoke in explanation of his bill for the annexation of I'anaran to the United States, basing liis argument on the ground that the pending canal treaty practically coiftemplatcs 1 that result Mr. Tillman read the Ostend manifesto and the comment made on it by the Republican platform of 1856. Mr. Teller spoke against the treaty. The army appropriation bill was under consideration in committee of the whole of the House for'five hours, most of which time was devoted to a general discussion of the tariff. Mr. Williams made a general a-rraignment of Republican policies and declared the party had become one of negation. The only opposition to the army bill was by Mr. Baker (N. Y.). Mr. Thayer (Mass.) introduced by request an amendment to the constitution providing that the lands of the United States shall be so divide^ns to give each citizen eight acres in as nearly a square piece as possible. ‘ ~ «.

The Senate Friday adopted the resolution of inquiry concerning affairs in Panama introduced Jan. 5 by Mr. Gorman. Mr. Dolliver of lowa mad'e the principal speech. Mr. Tillman spoke on his resolution relating to Senate recesses. No action was taken.' Senator Platt of New York reported favorably the bill giving employes of the government printing office who receive annual salaries annual leaves of thirty days each, exclusive of Sundays. Senator Foraker presented the credentials of Senator Hanna for six years, beginning March 4, 1905. , The House passed 209 pension bills amj also resolutions calling on the Secretary of War and the Attorney General for Information as to the number of horses and carriages maintained nt government expense for officers of these respective departments. A bill permitting the withdrawal duty free from the St. Louis exposition of articles donated to religious, scientific, educational or literary institutions also was passed.

The House devoted the entire day Saturday to of the army appropriation bill in committee of the whole. Mr. Robinson (Dem., Ind.) criticised the War Department for the expenditures in connection with the Langley airship, declaring that such expenditures were without the sanction of Congress, and that the airship was without utility. Only twelve of the forty-one pages of the bill had been rend for amendment when the House adjourned. The provision in the bill for the const ruction of n submarine cable from Sitka to Fort Liscum, Alaska, went out on a point of order. Mr. Hemenway, chairman of the appropriations committee, proposed n limitation on the purchase of books and periodicals for the army. A bill permitting the construction of a dam across the Mississippi river between Wright and Sherburne counties, in Minnesota, was passed. -’ l ■-■- - - ■ - - ■