Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1904 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

The bill authorizing the c rection of an additional executive department building In Washington was the subject of a spirited debate in the Setrate Tuesday, but no action was taken on it. There was renewed effort to pass the bill prohibiting the misbranding of salmon, but owing to the opposition of Senators who held that the measure is calculated to interfere with the rights of individual States under the guise of an effort to control interstate commerce n vote was not reached. The bill authorizing nn investigation into payment of the claim of the Indiana State board of agriculture against the United States on account of the occupancy of its buildings by troops during the war with Spain was passed.

Mr. McCumher .addressed the Senate nt the opening of the session Wednesday in support of his bill providing for a uniform federal standard of classificaand grading of grains. The postmlice appropriation bill was taken up. Senator Gorman spoke for two hours, renewing the demand of the D-.-inocrats for an investigation of the im.-t office Department. Mr. Penrose, chairman in the Senate committee on postoffices, replied that he had concluded none was needed, Mr. Lodge also replied to Mr. Gorman, and Mr. Clay spoke in favor b£ an investigation. Substantial progress was made by the House in consideration of the sundry civil bill, and only twenty-one pages remain to be read. An amendment by Mr. HuILOf lowa to strike out the appropriation of $5221,990-for a new army post at Indianapolis was defeated. Mr. Bnrtiett of Georgia replied briefly to statements on the negro question by Mr. Gillett of Massachusetts, and Mr. Crumpacker of; Indiana declared that 3,000 persons have been mobbed, and put to death in the United States ip the last twenty-live years.

The bill for the repeal of the desert land, the timber and stone and the homestead commutation laws was taken up for discussion in the Senate Thursday. Mr. Clark (Wyo.) contested the position taken by Mr. Gibson that there have been great frauds in the administration of the land laws in the West. He declared that there is a lobby in Washington in the interest of the repeal bill, and engaged in a colloquy with Mr. Batterson, during which each characterized the statements of the other ns untrue. The general debate on the postoflice bill ■was confined largely to a speech by Mr. McCreary and interruptions by the Rcpublican/Segators. Consideration of the sundry civil appropriation bill was concluded in the -H.ouse and the bill was about to be passed when a roll call on a motion to commit the bill with instructions to strike out the paragraph appropriating $136,000 for rental of the New York custom house showed a quorum was not present. The right of boards of directors of State homes for disabled- volunteer soldiers to retain certain portions of pension money received by the inmates was discussed at length. Mr. Bell of California assailed his own State for permitting a canteen to be established in_ the California State Home and charged a scandal in the management. His amendment correcting the evils complained of was adopted. A violent attack on the coast and geodetic survey was made by Mr. Robinson of Indiana, '.'ho charged that scandal attached to that office in connection with allowances for commutation of subsistence.

The session of the Senate Friday was devoted to an almost continuous discussion of political questions. The time until 2 given to a consideration of the Carrack resolution proposing an inquiry into the legality of the recent executive old age pension order. The latter half of the day was devoted to the postoffice appropriation bill. Mr. Culberson proposed an amendment providing for an investigation of the department by a joint committee of three Senators and five members of the House. The committee is authorized to sit during the recess of Congress and report on ' or before Dec. 5. Bart of the investigation proposed is to pass upon the postal laws, with a view to recommending Mr. Foraker introduced a bill to amend the act for the government of Hawaii, prescribing the manner of appointing public officials and for their removal for cause by the Governor. The House passed the sundry civil appropriation bill after voting down a proposition to recommit it, with instructions to strike out the appropriation of $136,000 for rent of the New York custom hotyip. The remainder of the day was devoted to discussion of the conference report on tho army appropriation bill. With the exception of one amendment providing certain increases in the signafcorps the House disagreed to all othey important amendments and the bill was sent back td conference.

In the Senate Saturday Mr. Mallory continued his speech on the Carmack resolution looking to an inquiry into the old-age pension order by Secretary Hitchcock. He declared the order was n usurpation of legislative authority. Mr. Warren spoke on the land law repeal bill, opposing wholesale repeal ns against rapid settlement of unoccupied areas. In I lie House 310 pension bills were passed. A bill was passed conferring jurisdiction upon United States commissioners over offenses committed in a portion of the Hot Springs reservation, Arkansas. Tile State of Texas was authorized to place in Statuary Hall, in the national capitol, statues of Sam Houston nnd Stephen F. Austin. A resolution wns adopted calling for n convention between the United States and Great Britain for the protection of the fur seals of Alaska.