Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1904 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

The Senate Tuesday passed bills extending the exemption of immigration head tax to immigrants from Newfoundland, authorizing the construction of a railroad bridge across Red Lake river at Thief tliver Falls, Minn., and authorizing erection of a $1,000,000 federal building at Atlanta, Ga. Consideration of tho fortifications appropriation bill was resumed and the Senate agreed to the committee’s amendment for a $250,000 submarine torpedo boat for experimental purposes, at the same time defeating an amendment providing for competition to secure the type of boat desired. After amending the bill so as to Increase the appropriation for sites for coast defenses' in Hawaii, tho Senate passed the fortifications bill. The debate in the House took a wider range while in committee of the whole considering the postoffice appropriation bill. Mr. Burton presented statistics on national expenditures, showing that other nations had increased expenses more rapidly than had the United States, but argued there was no excuse for extravagance in the fact that the nation’s wealth had increased. Mr. Rucker o£ Missouri attacked the Republican party’s protective tariff and Mr. Fitzgerald of New York discussed labor legislation enacted in his State and decisions in behalf of labor by Judge Alton B. Parker. Another entire day was spent in executive session by the Senate Wednesday considering the confirmation of Gen. Wood’s nomination. Senator-Blackburn took two hours to finish his speech, begun the previous day, aud Senator Quarles occupied the remainder of the day. 'The joint resolution authorizing the President to negotiate with Great Britain to secure a revision of the sealing regulations, to abate the Jelling of female seals, was passed, as well as a bill appropriating $40,000 toward erection of a memorial to the landing of the Pilgrims. When the House met it agreed to devote Sunday, March 27, to memorials on the life of the late Representative Foerdercr of Pennsylvania. Resuming consideration of the postoffice appropriation bill, the House listened to a long discussion of the negro problem by Mr. Spight of Mississippi and an arraignment of the poljpy of subsidizing railroads to carry mails, by Mr. RobinSOTr of Indiana, in which Messrs. Sibley of Pennsylvania, Lamb of Virginia. Holliday of Indiana and Gaines of Tennessee took part. Mr. Tearre of Maryland bitterly attacked the so-called "Bristow report and Mr. Crumpacker of Indiana replied, defending Gen. Bristow The Senate Thursday passed the following bills: Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to dispose of timber on public lands, the proceeds to be a part of the irrigation Reclamation fund; reinstating the homestead right of persons who have been compelled through no fault of their own to relinquish their homestead entries; authorizing the Senate committee on commerce to investigate the proposed improvements in tho Mississippi river between lowa and Wisconsin. In executive session Senator Quarles finished his speech, occupying two hours, in defense of Gen. Wood, and a general discussion followed. After Betting aside Sunday, "March 27, for memorial addresses on the life of the late Representative Burke of Pennsylvania, the House resumed consideration of the postoffice appropriation bill, but made little progress. The item of $5,000 for advertising for bids was agreed to. In this connection Mr. Maddox of Georgia asked a question and said since therewere a lot of rascals in the department the House would be more careful in future. An amendment to reduce the Postmaster General’s expense allowance from $2,000 to SI,OOO was lost. After a lively debate the appropriation of $7,500 to defray the expenses of delegates to the universal postal congress nt Rome was reduced to $5,000.. Mr. Williams’ point of order against designating certain employes as “cashiers,” “night superintendents,” etc., which he said was for the purpose of promoting favorites, was sustained. The Senate Friday confirmed Brig. Gen. Wood’s nomination by a vote of 45 to 10. A resolution was adopted directing the Secretary of the Interior to inform the Senate whether an’ order has been issued recently enlarging the pension act of June 27, 1890, nnd amendments, as to disabilities of applicants for pensions, and if so to send the Senate a copy of such order. Also by what amount, if any, will said order probably increase pensions annually. The House continued tho discussion of the postoffice appropriation bill. The principal amendment adopted was the insertion of a new paragraph in the bill providing for an appropriation of $500,000 for "unusual business” in third nnd fourth class postoffices. The Postmaster General Is required to make public the regulations udder which the allotments are made before using any part of this amount. • A similar requirement was imposed in the expenditure of the $1,000.000 for separating mails in third nnd fourth class postoffices. The paragraph appropriating $90,(X)0 per annum for the lease of a postoffice building in New York City, to be erected by the New York Central Railroad, was ngi'eed to after it had been amended so ns not to interfere with the discretion given the Postmaster General in the matter of the selection of n site. Tho" army appropriation bill .was sent to conference, ths Speaker appointing Messrs. Hull (Iowa). Stevens (Minn.) nnd Hay (Va.) conferees. The fortifications bill was sent to the appropriation committee. Both houses adjourned until Monday.