Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1904 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

Chaplain Edward Everett Hale, Tii the opening prayer in the Senate Tuesday, referred to the death of Senator Hanna. Mr. Foraker formally announce! the death of his colleague, and offered resolutions providing for the appointment of a committee of twenty-five Senators to superintend arrangements for the state funeral in the Senate chamber; for invitations to the President, the cabinet members, the justices of the Supreme Court, the diplomatic corps, the Secretary t>f State, the admiral of the inivy and the general of the prmy, for invitations to the memhers of the House, with a request that a House committee be appointed to act with the Senate Committee. The resolutions were adopted and the committee was named by tlie munr. As a further mark of respect the Senuie, on motion of Mr. Foraker, adjourned!" Rev. Dr. Couden, chaplain of the House, referred in his opening prayer to the death of Senator Hanna. Mr. Hquynjpi of .Colorado was sworn in in- jwr.ee of Mr. Shafroth. . The conference report on the urgency deficiency Will was adopted without debate. The fortification appropriation hill, carrying an nppropriathfii of $7,131,192, was reported. A Senate clerk announced the action of the Senate on Senator Hanna’s death, and Mr. Grosvenor presented resolutions accepting the invitation of the Senate. The House committee asked by the Senate was named. As a further mark of respect the House adjourned. The remains of Senator Marcus A. Hanna were conveyed to the Senate chamber at 11:15 a. m. Wednesday, Senator Frye, as president pro tempore, stood in front of his chair ns the body was borne to its resting place. The people who crowded the galleries arose, anil as the pall-bearers retired the Senate was called to order. Immediately afterward the House of Representatives, with Speaker Cannon at its bend, filed in and took seats assigned to them. Speaker Cannon took a place at the left of Senator Frye. Ambassadors and ministers of foreign countries next took their places, followed by representatives of the army and navy and of the Supreme Court. President Roosevelt and members of the cabinet then filed in. Shortly after 12 o’clock Senator Frye began the funeral ceremonies by announcing the suspension of business. Chnplniu Coudeu offered an invocation. Dr. Edward Everett linle then delivered the funeral address

When the Senate met Thursday Mr. Hoar secured an extension until the next Monday of the time for motions to reconsider votes which were east last Monday, it avms in the interest of thp bill to pay $150,000 to ex-Queen Liliuokalani. Mr. Tillman, who voted against the hill, made a motion to reconsider because friends of -the measure considered that “simp judgment” had been taken. The motion was not considered. A resolution by Mr. Morgan calling upon the President to supply such information as he may have relative to the present state of organization of the government of Panama was adopted. Mr. Spooner spbke on tiie isthmian canal question. He defended the course of the ndministrntion, and was interrupted frequently by Mr. Morgan. He suspended his remarks Avithout con* eluding late in the afternoon. The House pnssed the fortification appropriation hill. An item in the bill provided for fortifications in the insular possessions and Mr. Smith (Ky.) proposed an amendment to preclude the use of any part of the appropriation, in the Philippines, holding that the expenditure of the sum noeessury to properly fortify the islands was not Avarrauted until the future of the archipelago shall have been determined. A party followed and by a vote of 80 to 82 the amendment was lost. The general debate on the bill developed into a political discussion. The bill was passed without division.

There Avas no session of the Senate Friday, adjournment having been taken until Saturday on account of the funeral of Sendtor Hnnna. The House- began consideration of the naval appropriation bill, in committee of the whole, ten hours being allowed for general debate. Mr. Fitzgerald (Dem., N. Y.) declared that the naval program 6f the United States aims at a force greater than that of Germany. Mr. Foss made an urgent appeal for the upbuilding of the navy. He was strongly seconded by Mr. Meyer (1.a.1. the ranking Democrat on the committee. Panama was the subject of three speeches in the Senate Saturday and was the only topic of general importance that received any attention. Mr. Spooner completed the speech begun by him on Thursday and Mr. Morgan and Mr. Money both made brief addresses. Mr. Morgan announced that he Avould not he heard ngnin on the treaty. Mr. Money announced that he would votg for the canal trenty., The Senate Went into executive session at 5 20 p. m. and ordered Mr. Bacon’s amendment to the canal trenty, providing for the award to Colombia of financial satisfaction for the secession of Panama, vwas ordered raado public. The naval appropriation bill was under discussion in the House. The debate at times entered the field of polities. Mr. Ilitchcodk (Dem., Neb.), asserted that the larger items In the naval supply bill went to the trusts. He gnvo notiee that on Mondny he would attempt to amend the bill to provide n government armor, plate factory. Messrs. Cooper. Dayton and Bates championed the naval bill. Mr. Gooch (Ky.) introduced n bill, for aiding the Baltimore fire sufferers by providing that imported as gratuitous contributions for the fire sufferers shall be admitted free of duty, and tluit~~ the taxes for internal revenue be sus* pended on the burned district.