The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-12-27
THE RECESS BEGINS.
Senators and Representatives Go
Home for the Holidays.

Washington, Dec. 22.-~hen Unr
house met Friday there were less
than 100 members on the floor. The
majority of the members already had
departed from their homes to spend
the holiday recess. The chaplain in
his invocation referred tenderly to the
death of Mrs. Frye, the wife of Sen
ator Frye, and of Representative
Wise, of Virginia.
Mr.. Jones (Va.) announced the
death Of Representative Wise, of Vir-
GINA, which occurred at Williams
burg, Va, early Friday morning. He
offered the customary resolutions,
which were adopted, and the speaker
appointed the following committee of
II to attend the funeral: Messrs.
Weeks (Mich.), Aldrich (Ala.), Kahn
(Cal.), Roberts (Mass.), Minor (Wis.),
Brick CInd.), Jones (Va.), Swanson
(va.), otey (va.), Rixey (Va.), Hay
Va.), Lamb (Va.), Quarles Wa.),
Rhea (Va.), Lassiter (Va.), Lloyd (Mo.)
and Gaines CTenn.).
Then, at 1925, as a further mark of
respect to the memory of the de-
ceased, the house adjourned until jan
uary 3. 1901.
Senate,
Washington, Dec. 22.-No business
was transacted by the senate Friday.
The news Of the death of Mrs. Will
liam z. Frye, wife of the president
pro tenn. of the senate, was conveyed
officially to the body, and out of re-
spect to her memory immediate adj
iournment was taken until January
3, 1901.
Senator Fairbanks (Ind.) called the
body to order and Rev. DR.. w. II. Mil
burn pronounced a beautiful inVoca-
ton.
The secretary then read a letter
from Senator Frye appointing Senator
Fairbanks presiding officer during his
absence from the senate.
Meantime a conference of senator's
had been held as to the order of bust
ness. The reading of the journal was
suspended and at 1905 P. m, on mo-
ton of Senator Hoar, the senate ad-
journed until January 3, 1901.
River and HarbOr Bill.
Washington, Dec. 22.-The river and
harbor bill was completed Friday night,
and Chairman Burton gave out a state
ment showing the amounts appropri-
ated. The total is approximately $780,
900, 900, of which about $23, 000, 600 is in
direct appropriations and about $751;
100000 in the authorization of con-
tracts for continuous work. Compared
with former river and harbor bills the
present one is the second largest on
record, and after the senate has added
amendments, it is expected to be well
up, if not ahead, of all previous rec
ords. The bill Of 1900 carried 500, 1885,
165, and that of 1897, which was the
largest on record, carried $72, 2 1884.
The Postal Commission
Washington, Dec. 22.-The commits.
sion made up of members of the SEN
ate and house of Representatives in
congress known as the postal COM
mission has about completed it's la
bors and probably will make its re-
port to congress by January 10. NJ
merou charges having been made of
exorbitant sums charged the govern
ment for carriage of mails by the
railroads and for use of postal cars,
ETC., congress committed to. this joint
congressional commission the duty of
making a thorough investigation of
rates paid railroads for mail t%ranspor-
tation. The senators on the commits
sion are Messrs. Wolcott, Allison,
Chandler and Martin, and the repre-
sentatives Loud, Moody, Catchings and
Fleming.
The investigation has been in prog
ress during the last 2h years, and has
been exhaustive in a.. branches. The
Chicago, New York, Buffalo, Detroit
and Boston, taking testimony of rail
road officials and of all others who
could shed light on the subject. Meet
ings were held Thursday and Friday
for the purpose of agreeing on a re-
port, tentative drafts of reports be-
ing presented by members. No final
agreement was reached and the COM
mission adjourned until January 8,
when it is expected the matter will
be so far along that a report can be
made by the 10th.
1t is understood that the commits
sion is unanimous in the view that the
specification of exorbitant railroad
mail carrying charges, amounting to
three or four times their fair value,
have not been sustained by the testi-
mony. One of the specifications was
that the cost of railway carriage to
the government could be cut 25 per
cent. at once, and that investigation
would show that a reduction of rs
per cent. could be made, so that the
total annual cost to the government
would be about $s,OOO,OOO, instead Of
upward of $33, 900, 900. 1t is this speci-
fication which, it is understood, the
commission is unanimous in not sus-
tanning. It's members are not yet
agreed, however, OF the question as
to whether there is any overcharge,
and this is the chief point yet to be
decided. 1t is not yet clear that the
report will be unanimous on all points