Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1906 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

The conference report on the statehood bill was withdrawn from the Senate Tuesday and a n«tv report containing the compromise provision agreed upon by the conferees of both houses, presented. No action was taken. A bill extending to thirty-six hours the time, that live stock may be carried in transit without unloading was passed. A measure giving the the midshipmen the navAl academy recently dismissed for hazing as may be reinstated without prejudice to the service was passed, as was-a, joint resolution appropriating SBO,OOO to supply a deficiency in the postoffice The House a rule sending the railroad rate hill back tJ conference without even an expression of its wishes. While the sundry civil bill was under consideration an amendment prohibiting canteens..jn_soldiers’ homes was adopted. The conference report on the Indian appropriation bill was accepted. The Tillman bill, prohibiting corporations from making campaign contributions, was received from the Senate and referred to the Committee on Election of the President. Vice President and members of Congress. The Senate without division adopted the conference report on the statehood bill Wednesday evening. Previous to this Senator Millard argued in opposition to the sea .level Panama canal, bill, and there was further debate r.n the Lake Erie and Ohio River canal measure, which was not acted upon. There was applause from both sides of the House when Mr. r -Hamittoß-^Mich.) reported fir. f the conferees on the statehood f cH had reached an agreement and asked that ii be printed in the Record. The day was spent on the sundry civil appropriation bill. Tho House refused to sanction the abolishment of receivers of land offices. Considerable time was taken up in debate over tlie appropriation for the'geological survey, in which the officials of this serv'ce came in for much criticism, -- The Senate Thursday decided to »*&te the next '"Thursday on the sea level Panama canal bill, Senator Ilryden made a speech favoring the lock type. The conference reports on the. diploma lie and the naval appropriation bills, the former complete, and the latter partial, were accepted. A bill limiting the liability that may be assumed by individuals to national banks was passed, as was Senator Mnrgan's resolution relative to the control of the Panama railroad. A. W. Benson was admitted to his seat as successor to Senator Burton ©tlvans.es, and the credentiais- of Senator-elect Da Pont of Delaware were received. Several bills of a semi-private character were passed, The conference report on the statehood bill was adopted by the House after a dramatic scene in which the Speaker was the chief participant anil in which he took exception to what .he interpreted as insinuations by Delegate s *ui‘ , !> of Arizona that undue influence had been used to affect his position on the question. The conference report on the omnibus lighthouse bill also was accepted, and the report of- the conferees on the agricultural appropriation of SIOO,OOO for the further gauging of the waters of ihe United States was eliminated, but the appropriations for further tests-of structural materials. lignites and other eons wore increased.

The time of the Senate Friday was divided between the Panama canal bill and the Lake Erie and Ohio river ship canal measure. On the former there were speeches by Messrs. Teller and Morgan, while in connection with the latter a number of Senators engaged in a controversy over the policy of granting a national charter to an interstate canal. Senator ..Beacon- took, positive ground against such a course. By a vote of 110 to 36 the House declared in favor of the lock type for the Panama canal. The action was •taken on an amendment to the canal appropriation section of the sundry civil lull which provides that no part of the $25,000.000^, s~t .aside for renal construction shall he used ©n a water way of the sealevel type. By a decisive vote the House refused’ to sanction the purchase of materials for the Panama canal in foreign marketer--- A provision for f.he traveling expenses of the Keep commission was eliminated on a point of order. An amendment terminating the codifying comujTssion Dec. 15 was adopted. The conference report on the naval appropriation bill was disagreed to .and the measure sent back to conference. The bill amending the national hanking law with the Senate amendments was concurred in. War claims were made the order for Saturday. The Sfnate spent tlie entire day Saturday debating tlie bill to incorporate a ship canal connecting Lake Erie with the Ohio River, but took no action on it. Senator Patterson attacked the measure as being in the interest of speculation, and it was warmly defended by Senators Knox *nml Nelson. Senator La Follctte offered a number oi amendments, but they were tabled. The House, by a vote of 129 to 82, adopted the Senate resolution providing for the purchase of material and equipment for nsc In tlie construction of the Panama Gaual of domestic uptnufactures and of the lowest responsible bidder unless the President shall in any ease deem the bid extortionate or unreasonable. The sundry civil appropriation 'bill vvaAWkised. It carries a total of $94,587,070, of which nearly $26,000,000 is for the Panama Canal. A bill establishing a sob-port of entry at Superior, Wis.. also was .passed. By unanimous consent the consideration of war claims was postponed until next Friday. The conference report on the diplomatic bill waa agreed to. In the Nnfloiml Utipllnl. The National D.ugue i f Women’* Organizations met nt the Willard hotel to pass resolutions favoring the expulsion of Reed"Sni *)t from the Senate. Conferee* ou the army npprepriation bill rime t« n complete agreeiumt. The Senate amendment appropriating $1,000.-. Wt±. Lr i bo -puuLipatioa of - regular soldier* in tnautover* and exweises with the State militia* was agreed to. The appropriation is divided to aatlior.se - the use of $159,009 for barrack* an I quarters UU! $630,000 for transportation.