The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-22
CONSUMES MOST OF THE SESSION OF
THE SENATE
THE PNEUMATIC TUBE SERVICE
Point or Order Against the Provision
Thercfor-senator Pettus Arraixus
Certain Democrats for Supporting
Ship subsidy Bill Louisiana Pur
shase Exposition Bill, Passed by
House, Is Laid Before the Senate
Appropriations OF the Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Washington. February 1S.-Neariy
the whole OF today's session Of the
senate was devoted to consideration
Of the p~ostoffice Appropriation bill. So
far as committee amendments to the
measure are concerned. the bin a
ticaily was completed. although the
amendment appropriating $500. 600 for
an extension Of the pneumatic tube
service remains undisposed Of. A point
of order was made against IL, but, on
the appeal of Senator Mason. of ILL.,
nois, the entire question was passed
over until tomorrow.
enator Pettus. of Alabama, deliver
ed a speech in opposition to the hin
subsidy bill. The quaint humor with
which the address was replete and his
unique arraignment OF democrats, es-
pecially. who supported the measure,
a~tteracted unusual attention.
Senator Pettus urged hat the bill
ought not TO be passed, not only be-
cause of the millions 1t would draw
from the treasury, but also because OF
the principles involved. He made a
constitutional argument against the
measure.
The p~ostoffice appropriation bill ar
rying 1924, 30S, 0SS, was then taken up
and rea An amendment appropria:-
6ng $1,000 for testing the practical use
of return coupon postal cards and en-
velopeS was rejected.
Senat Butler, of North Carolina,
offered an endm reducing the
sum appropriated for inland traI:spor-
tation of mail by railroad routes from
s34, zoo, 900 to s32. 600, 900 and authorizing
the postmaster general TO re-adjust the
cost of carrying the mails owe railroad
routes n reduce it at least 5 per cent.
below the figures paid at present.
The bill was then laid aside for the
day.
The Louisiana purchase exposition
bill, passed by the house. was aid be-
fore the senate and referred.
Senator Sewel. of New Jersey, call
ed up the conference report on the mill
AIRY academy appropriation bill.
Senator Daniel, of Virginia, inquired
if the measure. as agreed upon by the
conferees, provided that a cadet con-
victed of hazing should be debarred
from holding a commission in the United
States army, navy or marine corp
Senator SeweIl replies that such Il
provision had been embodied in the bill
as it passed the senate n it was in
the measur as agreed upon in confer
ence.
Senator Daniel protested against such
action by congress-, declaring that t.
enact such an extreme and cruel pro-
vision" would be worse than the offense
of hazing itself. 1T is an extreme and
gross invasion Of personal rights"
sale he. Ito which I could never give
my assent"
The report went over until tomorrow.
After a brief executive session the SEN
ate at 6 o'clock adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The bill to authorize the holding Of
the international exposition and cele-
bration Of the Louisiana purchase at
ST. Louis in 1903 and a~ppropriating
SIS, ZOO, 900 therefor passed the house to-
day under suspension of the rules by
a vote of 191 to Al.
The sundry civil bill was under con-
SideratiOn late in the day and Mr.. Can
non, chairman of the appropriations
committee, took occasion to make a
detailed statement of the ~appropria-
ions for the present congress. He fig
ured that the appropriations would
total 1854, 11S, 595, exclusive of the sink
ing fund requirement of $50, 0000, 900
against 1861, $50, S62 for the current e
| He fired some hot shots at the minori-
ty for prating of conom n not
helping to uphold the hands Of himself
and others when they were trying to
keep appropriations down.
Mr.. Littlefield, of Maine moved to
pass under suspension of the rules the
bill to define the meaning Of the word
conspiracy" and to regulate the use
Of restraining orders as proposed to be
amended by the committee. There
was thirty minutes debate upon a side.
Mr.. Littlefield explained that it was
designed to exempt labor unions from
the operation of the conspiracy clause
of the Sherman antitrust act, but
confined the exceptions with certain
limitations by the operation Of the
amendments which the judiciary COM
mittee recommended as follows:
Provided, that the provisions of this
act shall not apply to threats to injure
h person or the property, business or
occupation of any person, firm. assocf-
| alton or corporation through intimida-
ton or coercion: nor to any acts, caus-
ing or intended to cause an illegal in
reference, by overt acts with the
right of others and to omit from the
bill, the following words, NOR shall
such agreement, combination or con-
tract be considered as in restraint OF
trade or commerce."
Mr.. Fleming, Georgia, said that with
in ten minutes Samuel Gompers presi.
den of the Federation of Labo had
state that ne would prefer that the bill
should be defeated rather than pas,
with the amendments. Other member,
expressed similar views. The bill wa.
defeated SIS to AS.
The house at $40 o'clock adjourned