Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1905 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

Upon the convening of the House Wednesday Speaker Cannon announced as the committee on inaugural ceremonies Messrs. Dalzell (Pa.), Crumpacker (Ind.), and Williams( Miss.*. The army appropriation bill was taken up in committee of the whole, Mr. Boutell (III.) in the chair. It was agreed that there should be three hours’ general debate, Mr. Hull (Iowa), having tlie bill in charge, explained the several changes which the committee had made in existing legislation, the principal items of which already have been published. He offered an amendment reducing the pay of retired officers above the rank of major who had accepted commissions in the State militia. This Representative Cockran held was directed against General Miles, who lately accepted command of the Massachusetts militia, and a lively debate followed. The amendment was adopted. Consideration of the army bill \tas not concluded when the House adjourned. The attention of the Senate was divided between the statehood question and governmental regulation of railroads. Mr. Newlunds made a formal speech on the railroad subject, and at its close engaged in a spirited controversy over the points involved with Senators Spooner, Foraker and others. All amendments to the statehood hill except that relating to liquor traffic in Indian Territory were agreed to. The bill making the restriction on the transportation of lottery tickets between the States applicable to transportation between the States and Territories was taken up and passed. ' The House of Representatives Thursday devoted its entire session to discussion of the impeachment charges against Judge Charles Swayne of the Northern district of Florida. A dramatic incident occurred when Mr. Littlefield of Maine called on Mr. Lamar of Florida, who filed the charges against the judge, to admit or repudiate an alleged interview which tlie former claimed tended to incite the people to commit an act of violence against Jiidgejpwayne. Mr. Lamar admitted giving an interview, but emphatically denied any suggestion from him that could he construed into advising assassination or murder. He said that although Judge Swayne was known to be the most lawless man in Florida, he had remained secure from bodily harm. The Shackelford resolution authorizing the committee on interstate commerce to investigate the Panama Railway Company was passed, after which the House adjourned. The legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill was read at length in tlie Senate, and there was considerable discussion of the civil service question and the provision for an investigation of foreign trade conditions by the Department of Commerce. The bill for the encouragement of the merchant marine was reported to the Senate, and Mr. Bailey made the point that the commission had been pledged to report in favor* of discriminating duties and not in favor of ship subsidies. The suggestion was combated by Senators Galliuger and Lodge, who were members of the commission.

In the House Frill ay tlie Senate amendments to the Philippine government bill were non-coneurred in and the measure was sent to conference. Mr, Sheppard of Texas introduced a bill prohibiting tlie payment of mileage to members and Senators who ride on free passes. Discussion of tlie charges against Judge Swayne occupied the time until adjournment. The legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill was passed by the Senate after the chair had sustained a point of order against the amendment increasing the salaries of civil service commissioners from $3,500 to $4,000. Mr. Beveridge sought to have a day fixed for a vote on the statehood bill, but Mr. Gorman Objected and the calendar was taken up. Bills were passed amending tbe law governing the distribution of public documents, granting pensions to the families of Indian policemen killed in the capture of Sitting Bull in 1890, extending the law relative to the intimidation of witnesses in Federal courts to witnesses before United States commissioners and appropriating $3,000 for Charles S. Hooper, n blacksmith, who lost an eye while in l.lu* employ of the government. The question of policy involved in the last named measure was debated at length. Several private pension bills were passed. In the Senate Saturday another unavailing effort was made by Mr. Beveridge to secure unanimous consent to fix a day for taking a vote on t|je statehood bill. Mr. Bate spoke fur the opponents of the bill, saying there were still it number of speeches to be made. There was much discussion of a bill permitting American women who have married foreigners to regain citizenship in the United States, but it was deferred for a day. A bill was passed which makes it n felony to counterfeit the great seal of tin* United Slates. Pension legislation at the rate <>f 459 hills in 108. piinutes was the feature of the House session, all previous records for speed in legislation being smashed. Then unanimous consent legislation held sway for an hpur nnd not a measure presented under this head came under the ban of objection. Among the measures adopted was one revising the copyright law with reference io trademarks nnd another authorizing the use of stone, earth mid timber from forest reserves and public lands for the construction of irrigation works.