The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-03-20
CONGRESS-.

VVlNUAkO0s
Washington. March 12.-Senate.-
Again today the ship subsidy bill occu-
pied practically the entire time of the
senate. McCumber presented a care
fully prepared argument, in which, as
representative of an agricultural
state, he favored the bill on the ground
of its protective features. Depew, one
of the. members of the committee on
commerce. delivered an elaborate
speech, in which &c analysed the argu-
ments both for and against the propo-
sition to pay subsidies to the shipping
industries. Both as an argument and
as an oratorical effort the speech was
brilliant and was listened to attentive
1y by senators and by throngs in the
galleries. His peroration, in which he
pictured in glowing language the re-
suit of the operation of the bill, elic-
tied hearty applause from the CALLER
les. A few bills were passed, includ-
ing one providing for the redemption
of Hawaiian silver coins and the SUBJ
stitution therefor of American silver
coins.
House.-General debate on post
OllCS appropriations Jill COuJluuCu Ill
the house today, number of topics
being discussed. The proceedings was
enlivened by a clash between Corliss,
of Michigan, and Richardson. of Ala
bama, on the subject of the Pacific
cable. This is the second time the two
members have locked horns on the
cable question. Sims, Of Tennessee,
devoted some time to showing how
the house had been "buncoed," he con-
sidered, in connection with the perma-
nent census bill. Dougherty. of Mis-
souri,, discussed rural free delivery;
Jackson, of Kansas, the government
ownership Of telegraphs, and Greene,
of Pennsylvania, the Philippine situa-
ton. The latter argued that If we
would proclaim our purpose to grant
independence to the Filipinos the in
surrection would cease instantly.
Washington, March 13.-Senate.-
After the passage of considerable
number Of unobjected bills today the
senate resumed consideration of the
ship subsidy measure. Berry, of Ar
kansas, member of the commerce
commerce committee, which reported
the bill, made vigorous argument
In opposition to it. He charged that
the bill would foster trusts and mono
poles in the shipping industry, and
that already j. Pierpont Morgan and
his associates were forming a syndi-
cate for the control of the shipping
on the Atlantic. In this connection,
he became involved in a colloquy with
Hanna, of Ohio, who maintained that
the ships acquired by Morgan from
foreign countries could not participate
in the subsidies provided by the
pending measure. Perkins, of Califor-
mia, another member of the commerce
committee, delivered a carefully pre-
pared speech in support of the bill,
maintaining that it would add to the
prosperity of the entire country. We'll
lington, of Maryland, presented the
credentials Of Arthur Pue German,
elected senator from Maryland for a
term of six years, beginning on March
4, 1908. They were read and filed.
hale, of Maine, presented the confer
ence report on the diplomatic and
consular appropriation bill. The re-
port was agreed to without comment.
In presenting the Hepburn bill for the
construction of an isthmian canal,
without amendment, and with recon-
mendation that it pass, Morgan, of
Alabama. said the report of the com
mittee would be ready in a day or
two.
House.-The house today closed
general debate on the postoffice ap-
preparation bill and completed con-
sideration of twelve of the twenty
seven pages of the bill. No amend
ments were adopted. The principal
portion of the general debate today
was devoted to the discussion of the
appropriations for rural mail facili-
ties. jenkins. of Wisconsin, present
ed detailed statement of his reasons
for his theory that Cuba is now under
the sovereignty of the United States,
which sovereignty, he contends, can
not be alienated without an act of
congress. Jenkins views attracted
considerable attention.
Washington, March 14.-Senate.-
Throughout the session of the senate
today the ship subsidy bill was under
consideration. The measure was dis
cussed by Foraker of Ohio, McLaurin
of Mississippi and Harris of Kansas.
Foraker supported the bill, although
he admitted that he would have pre-
ferred to build up the American mer-
chant marine by the levying of dis
eliminating duties. He was willing,
however, to defer to the judgment of
the majority that the pending measure
embodied the better plan. Both Nc
Laurln and Harris opposed the meas
ure on the ground that, in their judg-
ment, it was not constitutional. They
maintained that it was class legisla-
ton, which amounted to little short of
robbery Of the people for the benefit
of few ship owners. Harris made
the point that the United States now
was paying more to the American
line for the carrying of ocean mails
than was paid to foreign ships for
greater service.
House.-The house today passed the
postoffice appropriation bill. The
only amendment Of Importance adopt
ed was one to incorporate in the bill
the provision to classify the rural free
delivery service, passed a few days
ago. The Burleson resolution calling
on the secretary of state for the facts
relative to tho case 0f nr Thono a q "a nj