Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1905 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

Mr. Beveridge made another ineffectual effort in the Senate Monday to have a time fixed for voting on the statehood bill. The opposing Senators were unwilling to vote on the bill until the amendments are disposed of, and Mr. Beveridge wonid not consent to a vote on them without an agreement extending to the bill itself. The fortifications appropriation bill was passed. afteV* rejecting l .the amendment tostrike out the provision for insular fortifications. Winthrop'Murray Crane of Massachusetts was sworn in. Preliminary steps for the impeachment trial of Judge Swayne were taken bv the Senate Tuesday. ‘The conference report on the Philippine railroad bill was agreed to. The army appropriation bill was reported. Resolutions were adopted calling upon the commissioners of the District of Columbia for a statement of the number of convictions for wife beating in the last five years and calling upon the interstate commerce commission for a list of the stockholders in railroad corporations. Mr. Bacou's resolution making inquiry of the President as to the agreement between the United States and Santo Domingo was referred to the committee on foreign relations. Mr. MeCumber spoke in support of his amendment to the statehood bill providing for the admission of each of the four territories as a State. In the House bills were passed authorizing the Kensington and Eastern Railroad Company to build a bridge across the Calumet river in Cook county, Illinois, and extending the time for the completion of a bridge across the Missouri river at Oacoma, S. D. In the Senate Wednesday the consideration of the army appropriation bill brought on a vigorous debate over the amendment to reduce the pay of retired army officers above the rank of major while on service with militia. Several amendments were suggested, but action on them and on the provision went over for the day. Some 200 pension bills were passed. A resolution calling on the Postoffice Department for information covering the dealings of that department with the railroads since 1873 was adopted. The House passed the District of Columbia and the military academy appropriation bills. The Senate amendments to the fortifications appropriation bill were not eopgurred in and the bill was sent to conference. The bill extending the presidential succession act so as to include the Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce anil Labor in the order named was passed. The agricultural appropriation bill was reported. Mr. Baker of New York made a speech bitterly assailing the protective tariff policy of the Republican party. The agricultural appropriation bill was considered in the House Thursday, but the debate turned principally on the topic of restricting railroads in the matter of freight rates, the Hepburn bill forming the basis of the discussion. Mr. Williams of Mississippi said that, the Democratic party was committed to views such as were expressed by the President in his message to Congress. Consideration of the agricultural bill had not boon concluded when the House adjourned. The Senate passed the army appropriation bill, after modifying the provision concerning the assignment of retired army officers to active service with militia organizations. The effect of the change is to relieve Gen. Miles from its application. Mr. Gallinger and others criticised the amendment regulating the sale of army transports, claiming that the use of government vessels forced unfair competition upon the owners of private vessels. Mr. Hale condemned the operation of the general staff system in the army, and said he would oppose any effort to establish a similar system in the navy. The House Friday passed the agricultural appropriation bill without material amendment. The usual discussion of the provision for free seed distribution was indulged in. Mr. Lilly of Connecticut characterizing it as petty larceny. The relative value of the cotton statistics as supplied by the census bureau and Agricultural Department also furnished the theme for a lively debate. The army appropriation bill was sent back to committee after Mr. Williams of Mississippi had objected to unanimous consent, to concur in the Senate amendments and send the bill to conference, and after Mr. Hull had refused to make a motion to accept the Senate amendment regarding retired army officers assigned to active duty. Through his counsel, consisting of former United States Senators Anthony Higgins and John M. Thurston, Judge Swayne appeared in the Senate to make answer to the summons in connection with the impeachment proceedings against him as judge of the United States for the Northern district of Florida. They obtained a week's time to make complete response, nnd the time for the beginning of the trial was fixed at Feb. 10. The discussion of the statehood bill then was resumed, and Messrs. Gallinger, Bailey and Stewart spoke on the Gallinger prohibition amendment concerning the sale of liquor in the Indian territory. In a session of less than two hours Saturday the House passed 373 pension bills nnd received for the calendar the nnval nnd diplomatic appropriation bills. The session was dev6ted to legislation entirely devoid of discussion. Eulogies upon the character <>f the Into Senator George F. Honr of Massachusetts practically engrossed the time of the Semite. There were sixteen speeches by as many Senators. including Senator Hoar's colleague. Mr. Lodge, and his successor, Mr. (Tane. After the conclusion of the memorial services the Senate adjourned out of respect to the dead Senator's memory. In the National Capital. Representative Fuller has introduced a bill providing for a dam across the Illinois river nt Ottawa. Ten Republican members of Massachusetts delegation in Congress adopted resolution favoring tariff revision. Seven members of the House from Rocky Mountain and Pacific coast States issued statement opposing tariff revision. Secretary Taft will visit the Philippines in July to study conditions in the island preparatory to convening the Filipino Assembly.