Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1904 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

Chaplain Hale, in his opening prayer Monday referred to the Baltimore fire. Senators Hopkins and Chty spoke in support of the Panama Canal treaty. The bill granting assistance to the proposed Lewis and Clark exposition at Portland. -Oregon,-wns passed. The bill was amended iso as to close the exposition on Sundays. In the House the proposed loan of $4,600,000 to the Louisiana Funl nse 'Exposition at St. Louis, as provided for in the Senate amendment to the urgent deficiency bill, was pending when the House adjourned. The House nonconenrred in all other amendments except that providing for coal tests at the St, Louis fair. Resolutions were adopted calling on the Attorney General for information in addition to that liirinsheil under the recent request for inlornmlton as to anti-trust suits instituted; also for a report made by any examiners sent by the Department of Justice to investigate ■ charges made by S. M. Brosius of the Indiana Rights Association. A bill declaring a portion of the Minnesota River in -Minnesota navigable was passed.

The diplomatic ami consular nppropriatiqu bill was passed by the Senate Tuesday without debate. Mr. Fulton, of Oregon, ‘spoke in support of the administration’s .course. in Panama and Mr. Carmaek. of Tennessee, and Mr. Overman, of North Carolina, spoke in opposition thereto. The entire session of the House was devoted to consideration of the resolution reported from Elections Committee No. 3 unseating Mr. Howell (Dem.) ami seating Mr. Connell (Rep.) from the Tenth Pennsylvania district, and it was agreed to take a vote at 3 o'clock Wednesday. Chaplain Hale referred :o :h’e oriental war in his prayer at the opening of the Senate Wednesdsty. Mr. MeCtimber in a speech supported the Panama canal treaty. A number of private pension bills were passed. Mr. MeCtimber .presented the credentials of his successor, Isidor Rayner, as Senator from Maryland. Mr. Gamble reported favorably from the committee on public lands the 5 per cent bill for the regulation of accounts between the United States and the several States disposition of public lands. The House disposed of the Cbnnell-1 Iow“ ell election contest from the tenth Pennsylvania district by voting to seat Mr. (.'onnel 1, who Was sworn iu at once. Cot>• sideration of the Senate amendment proposing a loan of $4,600,000 to .the. Louisiana Purchase Exposition was resumed and. developed further opposition. ■ , r; — The Senate on Thursday mmptt'd tt joint resolution authorizing a survey to determine whether a tidewater ship canal across Florida is feasible. Ti. ■ Impart rtf the day was spent in :t consideration of the Panama canal treaty in executive session. The House by a vote of 172 to 103 concurred in the Senate amendment to the urgent deficiency npproprintion bill authorizing a loan of $4,600,000 by the government to lite Louisiana Purchase Exposition. It was amended with' respect to the manner in which the money shall be paid. The proposition was strongly opposed in the debate. The House also concurred in the Senate amendment to the bill authorizing tests Of coals ahd lignites at the St. Louis fair and non-cohctirred in all the other amendments proposed by the Seiiat’e? The report of the naval a.',i-.'u-s committee on the imval npprcpr'mrt ntv carrying a total of $96,338,038, v : ; received.

The Senate Friday listened to the reading by Mr. Carmack of a spear’ll prepared by Mr. Morgan in opposition to the President’s policy with referen-e :<> the isthmian canal. It came up on Mr. Morgan’s resolution asking for information from the Attorney General as to what steps are being taken to acquire the property of the new Panama Canal Company. The bill ratifying the treaty with the Indians of the Red Lake reservation in Minnesota for the cession of 250,900 acres of their hind was passed. The bill providing for the payment of $200,000 to Queen Liliuokalani, formerly of Hawaii, in satisfaction of all claims, was fallen up, It was amended so as not to recognize any claim, and the amount of 000 was voted down.- Mr. Spooner moved to recommit the measure, but the vote on the motion failed to develop a quorum. Iff the House SpeakerCiumon ■ took the bit, in his teeth,and r.jn c'om- ( pletely away with legislative precedent. Incidentally he broke all previous records in the dispatt'h of private jiensjon bills. Under his guidance 320 of these measures were passed 1n 155 nrfnuLos. “en bloc,” under unanimous cousejit,, which the speaker himself asked' for.