Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1906 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

The Senate was treated ’to a sensation Monday When Mr. Patterson (Colo.) introduced a resolution in effect declaring the action of the Democratic caucus against the Santo Domingo treaty Saturday to haye-been contrary to the federal constitution. Consideration of tho resolution went over. It was decided that a vote should be taken on the shipping bill Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 5 P- m. Mr. Teller made a speech against the measure. SeveraL-brils were passeir and the Senate adopted a resolution calling pn the Postmaster for information as to the number of postal clerjks killed in , railroad accidents during ‘ the last five years. Considerable fault was, found with the railroad rate bill in the House. Mr. Littlefield (Me.) opened the session with an attack on the measure. Mr. Grosvenor (Ohio) ridiculed the alleged popular demand for the legislation. Ten other speeches were made, all favorable to the bill. The fortifications appropriation bill was reported. The Senate Tuesdaj’ gave up the entire session to a revival of its prerogatives in the framing of treaties. The question was raised by Mr. Bacon in a speech on his resolution requesting information concerning the Algeciras; conference. He was followed by Mr. Spooner, and lUere - Were severaT sharp clashes between them. The discussion of the Patterson resolution concerning the Democratic caucus action went over. A resolution directing the committee on immigration to make an investigation of the Chinese boycott .was adopted. The House fixed the end of the genera! debate on the rate bill at 4:30 p. m. Wednesday, and then seventeen speeches were made, all of them for the measure.- Mr. Gillespie. (Texas) expressed dissatisfaction with the reply of the interstate commercecommission to his resolution concerning the Pennsylvania railroad combination, and announced that he Would address a request to the President to have the commission ’muke’ a thorough —-investigation™ along indicated lines.

The Senate chamber Wednesday wait' made the scene of an effort.to administer party discipline to a member of thatbody and the proceedings were filled with dramatic interest. Mr. Patterson was the subject" of the effort- and Mr. Bailey the instrument of the Democratic party. The proceedings arose in connection with Mr. Patterson’s resolution of remonstrance against the Democratic; caucus action opposing the Santo Domingo t rea ty. and ui thongh the subject was thrashed over thoroughly no vote' was taken. The House concluded all preliminary steps to the passage of the railroad .rate bill, ordered a roll call on the measure, and put off the' final action until Thursday at noon. The closing speeches were made by Bourke Cockran, Mr. Mann (Ill.), Minority Leader Williams and Mr. Hepburn. The time for amendment came at 4 o’clock and for three hours scores of changes were offered, but all were defeated. The test came with the first one and the vote on this was 119 to 14G.

The Senate devoted a short session Thursday to routine business, the caucus question being sidetracked temporarily. Mr. Tillman again made reference to Mie charge that the railroads in West Virginia were discriminating against private coal mines and had read. a letter from the Governor of tire State, which was referred to the committee on interstate commerce. The urgent deficiency appropriation bill was reported and the railroad rate bill was received from the House. A number of bills were passed,' including the following: Placing telegraph operators of the Civil War on a pensionable basis; authorizing the use of $1,000,000 of the reclamation fund for the drainage of lands in North Dakota; authorizing the Construction of a dam across Rock river at Grand Detour, 111., and a large number of private pension bills. The House pased the railroad rate regulation bill by a vote of 340 to 7. The pension appropriation bill, carrying $139,. 000,000 for pensions and $1,245,000 for administration, also Was passed. Other measures passed were as follows : ;To prevent leaks in government crop reports; calling on the Secretary of the Interior for information regarding charges of irregularities in the Kingfisher, Okla., land office; to open for settlement 505,000 acres of land in the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache reservations in Oklahoma.

The Senate Friday passed the urgent deficiency appropriation bill practically as it came from the committee. The only discussion was over an amendment suggested by Mr. Patterson to strike out ths provision relieving alien workmen on tha Panama canal from the operations of the eight-hour law, the amendment being rejected. The House put out Its usual semi-monthly grist of pensions, passing in seventy-two minutes 429 bills for the benefit of veterans whp are barred for one reason or another from coming in under the general statute. Seventy-five per cent of the beneficiaries are either blind or bedridden. Two amendments to the Philippine tariff act of 1905 were passed, the purpose being to remove the discrimination against American goods. After passing a number of minor bills thb House adjourned until Monday.

Note* of the National Capital. The House committee will report bill carrying army appropriation of $70,000.000. President Roosevelt urges Senators to insist on the passage of rate bill similar to the Hepburn measure. Senator Carter, speaking for the ship subsidy bill, declared it is favored by tha entire Rocky Mountain region. China’s boycott of Amefican goods may be lifted if modifications of exclusion net favored by Secretory Metcalf are adopted by Congress. - • ; Secretary Root, after reading the Calhoun Venezuelan report, sent word to Minister Russell to insist on Castro settling the asphalt claims. Secretary Taft sent to Congress an urgent recommendation that the chief of the bureau of insular affairs should be given the rank and allowances of a brig, adier general to make the bureau conform to the others in the War Depart* ■wnt -----