The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-01-26
DOINGS OF CONGRESS J
WHAT OUR NATIONAL LAW MAX
ERS ARE CONSIDERING.

Some of the More Important Work Of
the National congress-BiIls That
the Committees Report FaVorably
Upon-Washington Topics.
Leading dairymen and dairymen's
associations in al parts of the coun-
try are urging Representatives and
Senators to get in motion an investi-
cation of the Office of the Internal
Revenue Commissioner. They want
the policy of this bureau in the prose
cution of oleomargarine cases to be
thoroughly aired The oleo law was
passed as an agricultural measure. It
was fathered in Congress by farmers,
and it was put in shape by the House
Committee on Agriculture. While it
has been on the statute books, the
production of mock butter has stead
lily increased, and our exports of but.
ter have diminished. The uniform
practice of the oleo manufacturers is
to put on the packages of oleomarg.
arine the stamps and marks required
by law, pay the tax and then scrape
Off the stamps and sell the stuff as
butter The internal revenue agents
execute the law more effectively If
they would. The dairymen now ask
that the Internal Revenue Bureau be
Investigated and the facts brought
out. The practice of compromising
cases, of paying informers 10 per cent.
of fines exacted and the acceptance by
informers of bribes. are points also
that they want inquired into.
Bills introduced in the House: BY
Mr. Boutell GID, to remove the tax
on proprietary medicines; Represen-
tative Cochran (Mo), for constitu-
tional amendment authorizing an in
come tax; Representative Knox
(Mass.), for the taking up and recoin-
age of the Hawaiian silver coins; Mr..
Levy IN. " asking the Secretary of
War for an itemized account of all re-
ceipts and expenditures in Cuba.
The Senate has adopted the resolu-
tion offered by Mr.. Allen (Neb.) call
ing upon the Secretary of the Treas
ury for the correspondence and the
substance of all verbal communica-
tions which he has had with officials
of the National City Bank of New
York concerning the transfer of the
old Custom House to the National
City Bank.
The report of the Senate Committee
on Elections, together with the views
of the minority, has been presented to
the Senate. The report of the major
ity. which is signed by Senators CAT
fiery, Pettus, Turley. Harris and Bar
rows, is an exhaustive paper, in which
all the precedents are cited and fully
discussed. The conclusion reached by
the majority is in accordance with the
precedents, and is based upon the
general proposition that whenever the
Legislature has had the right and op-
portunity to fill a vacancy, either be-
fore or after it begins, the Executive
cannot lawfully appoint. The report
covers thirteen closely-written pages,
and the views of the minority ten
pages. They are both able papers,
and are likely to have a great value
in regard to similar cases occurring in
the future. The majority recommend
the adoption of a resolution declaring
that Colonel Quay is not entitled to
take his seat as Senator from Penn
sylvania, and the views of the minority
recommend the converse of this, that
Colonel Quay is entitled to a seat in
the Senate as a Senator from Pennsyl-
vania until the next meeting of the
Legislature. The views of the minority
are signed by Senators Hoar, Chan
dler, Pritchard and McComas.
Notwithstanding the admitted ne
cessity of speedy action by Congress
for the relief of the people of Puerto
Rico, all proposed remedial legisla-
ton will be most stubbornly fought
by the Representatives of the sugar
and tobacco growers of the United
States and other interests that fear
free commerce with our West India
island dpendency will initiate against
them.
In the Senate Jan. 10 Mr.. Hale, Of
Maine, delivered an impassioned
speech, in which he declared that
nine-tenths of the American people
sympathized with the Beers in their
struggle with Great Britain. He as
serted that the English people them
selves were not in favor of the war,
which had been brought on by a
sharp Cabinet Minister engaged with
gold spectators"
The Senate has passed the bill au-
thorizing the Secretary of the Navy
to construct of stone instead of wood
the proposed dry docks at the navy
yard at League Island, Pennsylvania,
and Mare Island, California.
In the House the Pension Appro-
priation bill, carrying $145,245, ,250, has
been passed after a sharp debate.
Representative Payne, of New York,
Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee, has introduced a bill to
extend the customs laws of the United
States to Puerto Rico, and make it
customs district.
The Senate Will take the final vote
on the Financial bill Feb. Is.
The Hoar resolution of inquiry re-
garding the conduct Of the Philippine
war has been adopted, as was also
the Hale resolution relative to the
seizure Of flour by the British.
In the course of the debate of the
urgent deficiency bill in the House an
attack was made by Mr.. Richardson
on the Secretary of the Treasury for
his course in connection with the New
York Custom House sale. Mr.. Hop
kins, of Illinois. defended the Secre-
tary.
The Senate has ratified the Samoan
reaty.
CnMMERHE ANN INnIIcrpv