Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1905 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

The Senate on Thursday passed the sundry civil appropriation bill, carrying about $68,000,000, and the bill for the incorporation of the American Academy at Rome. The conferees reported a disagreement on- the Panama canal zone government bill, the House insisting on its provision for abolishing the canal commission, and another conference was ordered. A conference on the river and harbor bill was ordered, and the appropriationscommittee reported .the general deficiency bill. Senator Heyburn called up the pure food bill, and Senator Platt offered several amendments to the measure, which, he admitted, would leave little of the original bill. Senator DollivA-'s resolution for a joint- commission to investigate railroad rates was referred to the interstate commerce committee, and at 5:52, after a short executive session, the Senate tok a recess until 8 o'clock. At the evening session tlie general deficiency bill, carrying $29,769,466, witli amendments, and the House bill for the celebration of the anniversary of the first English settlement in America, was passed. Tlie resolution instructing the interstate commerce committee to sit during tlie recess was adopted. The conferees on the Indian appropriation bill made a partial report and a further conference was ordered,. The House agreed to the conference reports on tlie fortifications and agricultural appropriation bills, while the conference report on tlie naval appropriation bill, after being partly agreed to, was sent back for further conference, as also was the Panama canal zone government bill. The Senate on Friday agreed to final conference reports on the Indian, postoffice, naval and sundry civil appropriation bills. A partial report from the conferees on the river and harbor bill was accepted, and a further Conference ordered. The joint resolution continuing in force tlie Spooner law for the temporary government of the Panama canal zone and for continuing the work on the canal was unanimously adopted. A bill was passed permitting two young Chinamen to receive instruction at West Point. At the evening session tlie conference report on the river and harbor bill was agreed to, passing the measure. The conferees on tlie general deficiency bill made a partial report, which was accepted, and the conferees were ordered to insist on the Senate’s position iii opposition to the House mileage amendment. A joint resolution was passed authorizing the acceptance of Yosemite Valley as an addition to Yosemite National Park. The House agreed to conference reports on the naval, Indian, sundry civil and postoffice appropriation bills, which finally passed those measures. A partial report on the river and harbor bill was adopted and a further conference ordered, and the general deficiency bill was sent to conference. Resolutions were adopted authorizing the President to invite the international prison congress to hold its eighth meeting in tlie United States in 1910, and authorizing the Secretary of War to deliver a condemned cannon to the G. A. R. to be manufactured into badges and buttons. Bills were passed authorizing the Secretary of War to sell magazine rifles for the use of rifle chibs, and empowering the President to allot tribal funds to Indiana sufficiently advanced in civilization. The House at the evening session receded from its disagreement over the mileage provision in the general deficiency bill, thus passing the measure, and adopted the conference report on the river and harbor bill. The Senate convened at 10 o’clock Saturday, with practically no business before it. A resolution was adopted to provide for tlie expenses of tlie inauguration. and a resolution of thanks to President Pro Tempore Frye was presented by Senator Gorman and nnanimousjy passed. Senators Allison and Bate, who were appointed members of tlie joint committee to notify the President that Congress was ready to adjourn, reported that the President had no further communication to make. Tlie oath was administered to Vice-President-elect Fairbanks, who, ?{jt tlie conclusion of h ! s speech, declared tho Senate adjourned sine die. Immediately following tlie new Senators and old Senators wiio had been re-elected were sworn in. the now Senators being Bulkley of Connecticut. Burkett of Nebraska, Carter of Montana, Flint of California, Hemenway of Indiana, Nixon of Nevada, Piles of Washington, Sutherland of Utah ami Rayner of Maryland. The Senate then proceeded to the outside platform to “execute the order of the inauguration of the President.” On returning to the chamber an order was adopted fixing the hour of meeting during the extra session at 12 o'clock each day, and at 1:25 the Senate adjourned until Monday. The House met at 10 o’clock, continuing tlie legislative day of Marell 2. The conference report on a bill prohibiting the selection of timber lands in lieu of lands in forest reserves was adopted. The usual committee was appointed to join a committee of tlie Senate to notify tlie President that Congress had completed its business, and then the House, nt 11:10. took a recess of twenty minutes, dnribg wliieh a “joint caucus” was held to presehtjoving cups to Speaker Cannon and Jbhii Sharp Williams, the minority leader. Upon reconvening appointments were announced of visitors to tho military an.) naval academies, temporary committee on accounts, commission to examine inti, public printing and the committee to at tend thek opening of tho Portland, Ore., exposition. A resolution of thanks <>l tlie members, “irrespective of p.rty.” tc the Speaker was unanimously adopted, and at 11:55 the House adjourned sim die.