Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1908 — WORK OF CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

WORK OF CONGRESS

The Senate was in session only four minutes Monday, adjourning as a mark of. respect to the memory of Senator Mallory of Florida, who died recently. One hundred and sixty bills, some of them of considerable importance, were introduced in the House. President Roosevelt’s message urging that the employes to take the neYt census be chosen under civil service rules was read. Representative H. B. Slemp of the Ninth Virginia district took the oath of office. Senator Aldrich introduced his currency bill Tuesday, which was read, and announced that the committee on finance would be glad to consider in connection with jt iilj billaLwhiicli Senators might desire to introduce. Senator Clay of Georgia announced (hat he intended to have a vote on hi» resolution favoring a federal law’ to aid the States in their efforts to epforce prohibition. The resolution was allowed to go over until .the next meeting. Several addresses were made in the House in connection with the resolutions referring to President’s annual message to the various committees. Representative Sheppard of Texas made a plea for the restoration of the legend, “In God We Trust” to American coins. Mr. Willett of New York sought to blame the recent financial disturbance on President Roosevelt. Representative Hardick of Georgia declared that the only safety for the Republican party lay in the nomination of Taft for President. Mr. Morris of Nebraska spoke in favor of taxing national bank deposits to provide a guarantee fund.

The Senate was not in session Wednesday. In the House a rule was adopted giving the bill to revise, codify and amend the laws the right of way along with other preferred measures. Upon the conclusion of the reading of the bill it was laid aside to permit Mr. Gaines of Tennessee to address the. Housed in favor of an - appropriation for “The Hermitage,” the home of. Andrew Jackson, near Nashville, Tenn. The Brownson affair was brought up in the Senate Thursday, when Senator Hale explained the navy personnel bill. Mr. Tillman intimated that he wisL.-d to call before the committee Witnesses to testify concerning this matter. Mr. Hale replied that he thought there would be no obstacle to allowing the Senator to do that. The Senate adjourned until Monday. Members of the House took part in a lottery for rooms in the new House office building opposite the capitol. Aside from passing two bridge bills the assignment of quarters was the only business transacted.

The Senate was not in session Friday. The House resumed its old activity and for over five hours transacted business of a public nature. Material progress was made with the bill to codify, revise and amend the criminal laws of the United States, which was takan up after some routine bills had been disposed of. An attempt by Mr. Littlefield of Maine to amend the bill so as to afford protection to aliens in the matter of civil rights failed by a decisive vote. The feature of the session was a brief address by Mr. Burleson of Texas, who credited Senator Foraker and other Republicans with having charged the President with the responsibility for the recent financial crisis. Mr. Burleson, became engaged in a lively colloquy with Mr. Payne of New York. was not in session Saturday. A vigorous fight was w-aged in the House of Representatives over the bill to codify and revise the penal laws of the United States, with particular reference against the civil rights of citizens. Messrs. Smith of Missouri and Hughes of New Jersey, offered amendments-,-har-ms; for their object the exemption of labor unions from the operation of the s?ct.oi» whenever such unions declare strikes or boycotts. A motion to strike out the whole section was made by Mr. Bartlett of Georgia. The brunt of ihe debate was borne by Mr. Sherley of Kmlucky, a member of the Committee on Revision, but he was supported by a number of Republicans. These amendijionts wire all lost, as was one by Mr. Pe Armona to strike out Section 20. It is likely that discussion of the bill on poinc»i«f law will be indulged from time to .time foi several weeks.

NATIONAL CAPITAL NOTES. Representative Gill of Maryland offered n rraolution designed to open the way for a congressional airing of the Admiral Brownson incident. It wax referred to the committee on naval affairs. Itidhard A. Ballinger, commissioner of the general land office, hns tendered his resignation, to take effect March 4. President Roosevelt has appointed Fred Dennitt, assistant commissioner, to take his place. Representative Fuller of Illinois received a petition for the admission of New Mexico as a separate Stats, with the announcement that a delegation would be in Washington in a short time to urge Congress to act. The President sent to the Senate the following nominations: George L. Godfrey of lowa, to be surveyor of customs for the port of Iles Moines, Iowa; John 11. Page of Arizona, to be secretary of Arizona. There were also a number of army and navy promotions and many postmasters named. t Senator Knox of Pennsylvania introduced a bill to remedy the defects in the present employers' liability law by making It applicable only to cor,iorations engaged in such commerce as Congress has the undoubted right to control. v President Roosevelt directed the Secretary ot War to. have prepared appointments for James F. Tracey as secretary of finance and justice on the Philippine commission, and Gegorio A rents to be judge of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, vice Tracey, appointed secretary of finance and justice.