Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1904 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

The Senate Wednesday adapted a resolution by Mr. Hoar directing the committee on postofilces to investigate and report whether further legislation i-s needed to secure the rights of .person: who complain that their corresponded ?e is interfered with unjustly. Consider ition of the army appropriation bill wts resumed, aiul Mr. Bacon protest-el against the’acceptance of the statue o ' Frederick the Great, tendered by Km peror William, on the ground that Frederick (he Great was liot in sympathy with American institutions. Mr. Stewart replied that Mr. Bacon grossly misrepresented the character of Frederick. The discussion was dropped and the army appropriation bill was passed, as was the Philippine shipping bill. When the House met Bourke Oockrnn was sworn in. Ur. Overstreet sugge-l.d postponement of consideration of the Hay resolution bearing upon the Bristow report. Mr. Hay objected. Mr. Hepburn of lowa said-an investigation would -bring otit TmUaetS—BOt by- the-committee report, to which William Aldan Smith retorted that facts had h4en suppressed and could he discovered. Mr. Hepburn said no member of the House of Representatives desired to screen anyone. Mr. Williams, the minority leader, said he wanted the corruption in the Postoftice Department investigated, not by the friends of the men whoso guilt was suspected, but by a committee appointed by the Speaker. _ Mr. Overstreet spoke for an hour on the Hay resolution.

The Senate Thursday passed a number of bills relating to Alaska, but failed to act on ti.e measure authorizing the election of a delegate in Congress from that territory. Mr. Platt (Conn.) oppos-* ed the bill, and because of his desire for time for discussion it was not pressed. The Alaskan hills passed included those for improvement of roads, the maintenance of schools, the appointment of an additional judge and the extension of coal laws to the territory. A bill Wifs passed increasing to SIOO the pension of ex-soldiers and sailors who have become totally blind on account of service. In the House the Speaker announced the appointment of W. Bourke Cock ran of New York as a member of the committee on ways arid mpans. Mr. Overstreet secured unanimous consent for a continuation of the qi’der limiting debate on the report of the Postoffioe Department involving Representatives and Senators until 4 o'clock. Mr. Finley (S. C.) announced the death of his colleague, George William Croft. Resolutions of sympathy and regret were adopted.

The Senate Friday passed a resolution directing the interstate commerce commission to furnish the Serrate with a report of changes in the railway tariff rates for each yefir since ISOf), comparing the revenues received from them with the gross and net revenues that would have been received under the rates of 1599, A hill for. the enlargement-of th.o federal building at Nashville, N. C., and appropriating SOO,OOO for the purpose, was —passed. • The nomination—ofGen. Wood was taken up, and Messrs. Scott and Blackburn made spreche:; in opposition. After nearly seven li'ours of explanation, accusation and vituperative denunciation, the House ordered an investigation of postal affairs, only so tains members of the House are •ctgicernod. by a select committee of seven members to be appointed by the Speaker, who likewise, are to examine into the origin of the Bristow report so far as it con,cerns members of the House. There Were only two negative votes to* the order. The demand of the minority for a sweeping investigation of every branch of the Postoffice Department was not granted. The test on this question came on a vote over a point of order, wliifli resulted #T44 to 125, a strict party vote. During the debate William Alden Smith condemned the executive department for “its arrogant treatment of the only branch of the government in direct touch with the people of the country,” and shouted out the name of Speaker Cannon for President of the United States, which was received witli great applause. The recommendation of the committee that the Hay resolution lie on the table was voted down unceremoniously.

In the Senate Saturday the fortifications bill was taken up and nil of the amendments except those for the purchase of a submarine torpedo boat for experimental purposes and sites for defense in the Hawaiian Islands were accepted. Mr.- McLaurin (Miss.) took the floor to deny that the authorities of Indiunoia are engaged in arresting people for selling photographs of the President and Booker T. Washington. In tho House Speaker Cannon announced the special committee to investigate the "indictment” report from the Pqstofllce Department ns follows: McCall (Rep., (Ohio), chairman; Hitt (Rep., Ill.), Burton (Rep., Ohio), Motculf (Rep., Cal.), McDermott (Dam., N. J.I, Bartlett (Dem., Ga.) and Richardson (Dent., Ala.), Among the bills passed tvere the following: Directing the Secretary of War to expend $125,000 heretofore appropriated for a deep-water channel through Sabine Pass, Texas; the conference report on the legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bills; resolution calling on the civil service commission for information ns to how many times the civil service and regulations have been suspended since its operation was agreed to; making Salt Luke City a port of delivery, nnd 21>4 pension bills.