Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-26
CONGRESSMAN POWERS WORK.
Secured Some Important Railroad
Legislation and Was Influential In
Getting Popular Vote For Senators

Washington, ID. c., April l6-Represen-
tative Powers scored one of the legisla-
! tive victories when he secured tn passage
through the House of Il bill to create a
commission to settle the Indebtedness in
favor of the Government of the Sioux
! city and Pacific Railroad. This was re-
gardcd by the republican leaders as very
important bill, but the opposition to II was
very strenuous among democrats WHO
thought that it was a fine opportunity 10
make political capital by inveighlng
against railroads II will be Remembered
that this bill came up under Committee OF
the whole some weeks ago, but before IL
could he finished the House adjourned.
1t was by a very good piece of luck that
Judge Powers was able to call the Dill UP
again so soon. The regular business OF
the House was the consideration OF the
Agricultural Appropriation bill but Cha1r-
man Wadsworth of New York. happened
to be a few minutes late in reaching MS
seat and the House accordingly went Oh
with unfinished business Judge Powers
made "a very eloquent plea in behalf Oh inc
bill, saying that the indebtedness OF the
road to the Government amounted to
about four millions of dollars lie was
sharply antaEonizcd by Representative
Williams of Mississippi but presented his
case so strongly that Mr.. Williams 5
amendments were voted down, ana ilnal-
ly the bill passed by a good, safe margin
Al Inp beginning Oh lnlS StSoloh Va NN''
gress, Judge Powers was appointed q
member of the Committee on Privileges
and Elections. Late last week he mad an
opportunity to give good account OIL
himself as member of that Committee
when the bill to elect senators by the poo
pie was considered and passed. judge
Powers made perhaps. the ablest speech
that was delivered in behalf of the bill
and was instrumental in having it passed
The chairman of that committee Is Keep
rescntative Corliss of Michigan, VINO Is
himself a native of Vermont, having Dcel
born at RiChford, and educated at the
Vermont Methodist Seminary. Chairman
Corliss has long been active in pressing
this bill for the election of senators by the
people. and has had it twice passed by
the House of Representatives heretofore
The Senate is very Indifferent to sucf
measures and while a great many States
and a great many statesmen favor Sucf
an amendment to the Constitutions it l.
not probable that the Senate Will autho
rze 1t in this Congress.
Judge Powers has recently introduced
petitions of citizens of West Rutland, o
Ira and Clarendon, Vermont, in favor o
the Grout bill taxing oleomargarine. Thes'
petitions have been coming to Congress by
thousands of late, and great pressure !!
being brought to bear to have the bill con
sidered. 1t will be with great difficulty
however. that consideration of the bill
can he reached. because Speaker i1ender
son is understood to be adverse to II
There is ring of members in the House
who are Influenced for some reason /,
the powers that control the oeomargarin'
traffic and manufacture; and they are
holding on with might and mair not t
let the bill pass.
Representative Pearre of Maryland, ant
eleven other members. all republicans
who are determined that there shall b
some legislation on oleomargarine at th
session, We're half inclined to refrain from
voting for the Porto Rican bill last week
unless they could get promise from
Speaker Henderson to bring up the bill
General Grout. however. held that thi
was not proper way of accomplishing
legislation. and that members shoul
stand by their party first last. and all tn
time. He figured i'm rather a tragic con
ference Just about the time the roll cal
was being taken on the Porto Rcan bill
and finally prevailed on the republican
members to come back to their own cam
and vote for the Porto Rican tariff Gen
eral circuit says he feels certain that tn
oleoma rEarine bill will be taken up in tn
House this session. Tho general may b
able to accomplish that, but even if h
gets the bill passed through the House
the great corporations which have thei
attorneys on the floor of the Senate wi
probably be able to hinder its passas
there.