Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1904 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

A sharp colloquy took plaoe in the Senate, Tuesday between Senators H«ffikins and Teller. Mr. Hopkins took exception to the reading of a letter written by the late Gen. 11. 11. Thomns of Chicago attacking tlie civil service administration of the Treasury Department and made remarks that Mr. Teller took ns iusults. The postoffice appropriation hill was passed. All amendments offered by the Democrats were rejected, including the one for an investigation of the department offered by Mr. Gorman and a similar, one by Mr. Teller. The conference report on the Indian appropriation hill was ngreed to. Tlie Kittredge hill to provide for the temporary government of tlie Panama canal zone was taken up. The race question again was injected into tlie proceedings of the House. Mr. Scott of Kansas delivered a long address in which he read several letters from Kansas citizens stating that it lmd been the boast of C. 11. J. Taylor, the negro politician, that lie had dined with President Cleveland. Mr. \\ illiams of Mississippi defended the attitude of the South toward the negro. Upon the request of Mr. Fairbanks the Senate Wednesday ordered printed ns a public document the last speech of President McKinley at Buffalo. A hill providing for opening the old Fort.Abrnhnm Lincoln military reservation in North Dakota was passed, after which consideration of the bill for government of tho Panama canal zone was taken up. The greater part of the day was occupied by Mr. Morgan in support of amendments offered by himself, none of which was accepted, aud the „ bill was read half through section by section. L nder special rule the House devoted the day to consideration of the Cooper bill amending the law relating to tlm Philippine Islands. The provision in the hill in reference to the granting of railroad franchises and tlie guaranteeing of 5 per cent on the cash capital actually invested in such railroads was opposed by Mr. Jones of Virginia, who alleged tiiat English and Belgian capitalists were ready to build the roads without such guarantee. The Senate devoted almost the entire day Thursday to the hill for the government of the Panama canal zone. Mr. Morgan’s resolution calling on the Attorney General tor information on the contract for tlie purchase of the canal was referred. In executive session the nomination of W. D. Crum to be collector of customs at Charleston, S. C.. came up, and went over out of consideration for Mr. Tillman, who was unable to speak because of illness. A resolution was adopted authorizing the lowering of government dams in the Ulinoi ?. river. The Senate accepted the invitation" to attend the opening of the wor Ida fair and provided for representation. Tlie House passed the Philippine bill by a vote of 139 to 123, W. A. Smith of Michigan voting with tlie Democrats. In the debate Mr. Williams of Illinois predicted great scandals from the -administration of the measure. A resolution to permit Col. T. W. Symons of the engineer corps of tlie army to serve ns consulting engineer on internal improvement in the State of New York was passed after hitter opposition by several members. Mr. Hamilton (Mich.) discussed capital and labor and Mr. Cochran (Mo.) criticised tlie “usurpation of the legislative power by the executive.” The postoffice appropriation bill, was sent to conference. • The closing hour of the session of theSenate Friday was enlivened by a speech by Mr. Bailey on the subject of civil service. In plain terms he declared himself against the “iridescent dream” of civil service and avowed himself a spoilsman. Mr. Hale spoke in accord with much that Mr. Bailey said, lint added that Congress could not he induced to change the law even though convinced that it should be changed. The Panama canal hill occupied the major portion of the day and was passed without division. It was amended so that all salaries or other compensation fixed by the commission shall he subject to the approval of tlie President. The postoffice appropriation hill was referred to a conference committee. The House passed the Mann hill.ordering the lowering of tlie Chicago river tunnels. Consideration ot the general deficiency hill was resumed and the President's recent pension order was attacked by Mr. Underwood (Ala.). The President also was criticised by Mr. Hay (Va.).

The entire day in the Senate Saturday was given to the consideration of a hill for the modification of tlie agreement with the Indians of tlie Devil's Lake reservation in North Dakota for the sale of their lands. Messrs. Dubois and Teller opposed the hill because it did not provide for the acquisition of the lands in the reservation under tlie homestead law, and it was defended by Messrs. Hans* brough, McCumber and others. No decision was reached. Mr. Morgan called up his resolution for the discharge of the committee on intoroeennic canals from consideration of a resolution of inquiry concerning the Panama canal, introduced recently, hut his resolution was voted down. A partial report from the conference on the naval appropriation bill was received and further conference ordered. The routine work on tlie genral deficiency hill was nearly completed in the House. Preceding this tlie District of Columbia was legislated for in several minor matters. The feature of the session was a speech of criticism on “Theodore Roosevelt, the Republican Presidential Candidate,” by Mr. Patterson (Tenn.l. A hill was passed to validate certain homestead entries and extend the time to make final proofs thereon.