Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1905 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

A bill extending the extradition latys to the Philippines was passed by the Senate Monday. It was agreed to vote on the statehood bill Feb. 7, the amendments to be considered on that date under the ten-minute rule. Mr. Teller spoke in opposition to the bill. In the House the conference report on The legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bills was ngreed to, 121 to 112. The conference report on the Philippine government bill was presented. The postnffice appropriation bill was taken up and debated until adjournment. the Senate Tuesday a House bill was passed extending to express companies engaged in interstate commerce the prohibition against carrying obscene literature. A bill largely increasing the fees for incorporating stock companies in the District of Columbia was passed and Mr. Platt of Connecticut introduced a measure intended to correct abuses under the local corporation laws mentioned by the President'in his message Monday. Mr. Nelson of Minesota spoke on the statehood bill.. In the House the Senate amendments to the army appropriation bill were down aud the measure was sent tor conference. A resolution offered by Mr. Fitzgerald of New York calling on the Navy Department for information regarding tlm inequality in the amount of armor plate delivered for the battleships Connecticut and Louisiana was adopted. The conference report on the Philippine government bill was agreed to. The postoffice appropriation bill was considered until adjournment. In the Senate Wednesday Messrs. Clark (Mont.), Dillingham and Teller continued the discussion of the statehood bill, Mr. Dillingham supporting the measure as it stands and the others contending for amendments and the right of the four territories to be admitted as so many States. A number of semi-public bills were passed. The Senate resolved to insist on its amendments to the army appropriation bill, nivd a conference committee was appointed. Mr. Proctor reported the agricultural appropriation bill. The bill carries appropriations aggregating $0,787,170, an increase of $200,740 over the bill as passed by the House. In the House the postoffice appropriation bill occupied attention during the greater part of the day. The bill went over for further consideration. Messrs. Shirley and Sibley discussed railway rate legislation for more than an hour. The conference report on the fortifications bill was adopted, __ A bill authorizing the Keokuk and Hamilton Water Power Company to construct a dam across the Mississippi river from Keokuk, lowa, to Hamilton, 111., was passed by the Senate Thursday. The agricultural appropriation Dill was taken up and the provision for the distribution of seeds_was discussed at length. In the House a motion to strike out the provision for subsidies for special southern mail facilities in the postofflee appropriation bill was lost, 77 to 115. The measure was considered until adjournment.

The Senate Friday sitting as an impeachment body, received the answer of Judge Swayue to the articles of impeachment made by the House, and entered an order fixing Feb. 0 as the time when nil preliminary pleadings shall he presented, and Feb. 10 as the date for beginning the regular trial. The ftrguhrrsession was then taken up and Senators Stone, Berry and Morgan spoke against the joint statehood hill. Senator McCumher presented a memorial from the North Dakota Legislature praying for the removal of the tax on alcohol in order that it may he more freely used for fuel, and Senator Clay a petition from the National Cotton Growers’ Association for the appropriation of a “few million dollars” to extend the market for cotton goods. The House panted the postofflee appropriation bill, carrying an appropriation of $180,787,413, after motions to exclude rural carriers from civil service rules and for the dismissal of postal employes belonging to organizations seeking increases in salaries had been ruled out. Bills were passed allowing homeseebers until May 1. 1900, to establish residence on lauds formerly within the Rosebud and Devil’s Lake reservations; authorizing the extension of the western boundary line of Arkansas and allowing the Minneapolis, Red Lake and Manitoba Railway Company to acquire certain lands in Red Lake Indian reservation, Minnesota. The House Saturday passed the diplomatic and consular appropriation bill, carrying $2,107,047. wi.hch is an increase for this service of $78,710 over the current appropriation. A number of minor hills were disposed of by unanimous consent. The debate while the diplomatic Dili was under consideration was very brief and whs devoted to railroad rate legislation and reciprocity treaties. Mr. Long occupied most of the time given by the Senate to the statehood hill with n speech in support of the bill ns it stands. He gave*especial attention to the portion of tiie lull providing for the union of Oklahoma and Indian Territory as one State, and urged the importance of giving self-government to the people of thnt section. In connection with the agricultural appropriation bill there was considerable debate upon the question of forest reserves. The bill was not disposed of.