Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1905 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

The Senate held a session of three minutes Monday and adjourned until Wednesday. Mr. Perkins (Cal.) had been designated to preside by President Pro Ttai Frye. There was a short prayer by Chaplain Hale, a message from the President, a message from the House, and adjournment was taken. The House disapproved the proposition to hold the inaugural ball in the capitol building. The committee having the matter in charge had substituted for the pension building, as provided in the Senate resolution, the congressional library, but Mr. Morrell of Pennsylvania, who called the matter up, announced that the opposition to the latter building was so great the committee had concluded to substitute the capitol building. A storm of protests came from both sides of the chamber. The resolution offered by Mr. Morrell was voted down, the result being to delay action until the next District of Columbia day in January. The House also voted down a resolution making a special order on Jan. 5 of the bill to restore to the naval academy three naval cadets who were dismissed for hazing.

As soon as the House met Wednesday Mr. Morrell (Pa.) called up the Senate resolution granting the inaugural committee permission to use certain public buildings and reservations, including the use of the pension building for the inaugural ball. Mr. Morrell explained that the resolution was exactly as it came from that body and said that after consultation with the members of the District of Columbia committee and in view of the very evident desire of the House that the inaugural ball shall be held in the pension building, it had been decided to accept the Senate resolution in its entirety. The House adjourned to Jan. 4 after a brief session. After a session of four minutes’ duration the Senate adjourned at 12:04 p. m. until Jan. 4 next. Me proceedings consisted of a prayer by Chaplain Hale, the reading of the journal of Monday’s brief session and the receipt of a number of nominations from the President. Notes of the National Capital. The Congressmen who visited Panama favor a sea-level canal. Secretary of Commerce, and Labor reported investigations in many States as to methods of corporations. President Roosevelt has nominated George Horton of Chicago for United States consul at Athens, Greece. Congress mapped out a program to prune annual appropriation bills owing to estimated deficit of $30,000,000. Robert J. Thompson of Chicago is an applicant for the position of consul general in Paris, to succeed John K. Gowdy. The government has adopted a standard showing the chtnnical requirements in foods and liquors, and this is to be used in prosecutions. - , Speaker Cannon declares appropriation bills and Philippine measures will consume most of the time of the short session of Congress. President Hoosevelt announces that Secretary Morton lias consented to remain at the head of the Navy Department after March 4.

Representative Tawney introduced a bill in Congress to supervise the manufacture and sale of wood alcohol and prevent its use as an adulterant. Chicago business men are writing to the Illinois Senators in Washington opposing the admission of the territories of Arizona and New Mexico as one State. . Prominent Democrats in the House of Representatives have drawn up a petition to the President asking the appointment of Representative Warner as commissioner of pensions. A big batch of nominations was confirmed by the Senate, among them that of Albert M. Mills to be a brigadier general. There has been considerable opposition to the nomination. The railroads in what is known as the official classification territory have postponed until April 1 next the time when the proposed changes in the uniform bill of lading and rules on that subject are to take effect.

Commissioner of Corporations James R. Garfield in his first annual report outlines a plan for federal franchises for interstate corporations, holding that control by -the several States is inadequate and impracticable. Secretary Metcalf of the Dcpartmeqj of Commerce and Labor revieujgfl quiry arito the in liis annual . -■>. -'’clSsSE JB > .. e fl fl twelve hoursfl fl rest has beerfl Representativfl A fl the presidentfl fl popular niajtfl vote is 453,2 fl Barker runs isl • Walter Wefl fl lent duringfl Cannon is efl fl fl made tfl minlatefl Ameriefl any evtfl bureau fl Secretfl House afl year eudifl fl cause of revel,fl inquiry, and isl fl r. r fl - fl -