Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1908 — WORK OF CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

WORK OF CONGRESS

Greatly to the surprise of every-one the subject of slavery was introduced in tha Senate Monday. Secretary 'Taft was idol slavery in the Philippine Islands. The debate was made pertinent by the sections of the bill revising the criminal code of the United States, which provide penalties for dealing in slaves. Mr. Hale asserted that such provisions should be stricken out. Senator Heyburn declared that not only is there immoral traffic in white slaves, but that actual human slavery is still maintained in the Philippine Islands. The street railway systems of the District of Columbia and the financial question occupied the time of the House of Representatives. The latter subject was discussed by Mr. Fowler, chairman of the committee on banking and currency, in an exhaustive speech, in which he opposed bond-secured currency and th§ proposition looking to the establishment of a central bank.—

The Senate Tuesday disposed of a large number of minor bills on the calendar, and- resumed consideration of the bill to revise the criminal code of the United States. Senator Heyburn was anxious to continue consideration of the code bill, of which he is in charge, until more progress should be.jnade, but adjournment was taken. National politics, international marriages and government expenditures formed the themes of discussion in the House. Incidentally it was the longest sitting of the House this session. The urgent deficiency bill was up for consideration, but in several instances it was ignored under the license of general debate. The presence of William J. Bryan in the lobby of the House furnished inspiration to Mr, Wallace of Arkansas for a vigorous speech.

The Senate was entertained, Wednesday by a series of animated comments on the method adopted by Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou in placing before the Senate his reply to the resolution calling for information relative to the operations of the Treasury Department in connect tion with the financial disturbance. The Secretary had had the introductory part of his reply printed and copies of the pamphlet were on the desks of all Senators, which was declared by Democratic Senators to be without precedent. The Senate devoted considerable time to passing minor bills on, the calendar. The need of an American merchant marine as an auxiliary to the navy formed the principal topic of discussion in the House of Representatives during the consideration of the urgent deficiency appropriation bill. Thf tfrbnte' was participated in by Mr. Littlefield of Maine, who questioned the legality of the provision of the bill appropriating $1,000,000 to supply a deficiency for coal for the navy caused by the transfer of the battle ship fieet from the Atlantic to the Pacific. He criticised Congress for its failure to make appropriations for a merchant marine. His remarks elicited from Mr. Fitzgerald, New York, the charge that the Republican party was responsible for that condition, while Mr. Sherley, Kentucky, maintained that the lack of a merchant marine, “a national disgrae*?” was due to Republican policies. The bill was still under consideration when the House adjourned.

The Senate held a short session Thursday, during which Senator . Aldrich reported his banking bill from the committee on finance and announced he would call the measure up for consideration on Monday, Feb. 30. The urgent deficiency appropriation bill was- passed -by- tho House. The total amount carried by it is $23,604,450, or $410,000 less than a 3 reported by the committee. — The largest single reduction was that of $300,000 in the clothing fund of the army. When the session \va3 resumed only a few pages of the bill remained to be disposed of. Included in these was a provision for the appointment of thirty-four additional policemen for the new House office building. Chairman Tawuey urged the provision because of the necessity for protecting such costly government property and “of guarding the reputation and honor of the members.” Mr. Mann, Illinois, opposed the provision, and it was stricken out on a point of order after considerable discussion.

The reading of the President’s message concerning the employers’ liability act, the granting of injunctions in labor cases and other matters of a general nature concerning corporations was the chief feature of the Senate proceedings Friday. The message received careful attention. The Senate ordered 10,000 copies printed. The remainder of the day wns devoted to routine business and a further consideration of the bill to revise the criminal laws of the United States. The first reading of the bill was concluded. The Senate adjourned uqtil Mouday. An unusual and almost unprecedented scene wae enacted in the House of Represenlatlvce as the result of the reading of a special message to Congress by the President, urging additional legislation in the matter Of relations of labor tuid capital and of corporations and the public. The vigorous language of the document brought forth storms of applause, first on the Democratic side of the House, then on the Republican, and culminating in a general demonstration by the entire hotly. After passing 2SS pension bills, the Indian appropriation bill wae discussed. Its consideration hnd not been completed when the House adjourned until Monday.