Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-01-21
Congress.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ASs "A WIG MHtNtf NAS virtually NDADl
nous the House Of Representatives on
Thursday passed the Hepbarn Nicaragua
canal bill. But on a test of strength be
tween the rival routes Panama mustered
100 votes against 10 for Nicaragua.
0nly two members of the House voted
against the Hepburn bill on the question
OF final pasSag e-AIr. Fletcher of Mime.
sofa and Mr.. Lassiter Of Virginia. Mr..
Bishop of Michigan answered present"
and several members from the Northwest
refrained from voting among them Page
Morris of Duluth. who actively advocat-
ed the Panama route. Mr.. Fletcher has
several times announced his opposition TO
government construction of an isthmian
canal. believing the work should be done
hy private enterprise. The vote i'll favor
Of the bin was sos.
After an all-day debate in the House
on the Hopkins bill 10 create perlaa-
nent census bureau the matter was re-
committed on Friday TO permit the adli-
ton Of provision placing the present
employees under civil service so they could
he transferred 10 other departments. The
tight 10 recommit was made under She
leadership of Mr. Burkett of Nebraska.
the new member of the appropriations
committee. What might be termed the
first gun in the campaign for the re-as-
adjustment OF the pneumatic tube SER
vice was fired when Representative Rob
erts of Massachusetts introduced a blu
providing for the introduction of this
service in Chicago. ST. Louis. New York.
Boston, Philadelphia and Brooklyn. The
bin proposes an appropriation OF $50.
600 to be divided among the six cities
rs follows: New York and Brooklvn
Sl2G.000: Chicago, $4,000; Boston, SEQ
600; st. Louis. $4,000; Philadelphia,
$4,000. A bill was passed unanimous
~ to give Mrs, Mckinley the free mailing
privileges during the remainder OF her
life. The House then adjourned until
Monday
The House OF Representatives speut
Monday in general discussion of the pen
sion appropriation bill Mr.. Grosyenor
of Ohio and Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa de-
nounced report presented to the last
q. \. X. encampment criticising the
course of themselves ana other members
of Congress on the veteran preference
bill, which was defeated at the last ses-
sion. Mr.. Barney of Wisconsin, in charge
Of the pension bill. explained that ii car
ried S139,S46,4S0 as against $145.245,-
go appropriated for the current year
Payment of pensions had decreased from
S144,000,000 to $l3S, 100000. Mr.. Bar
ney was asked by Mr.. Richardson Of
Tennessee why this was so when the
number of pensioners was said to be larg-
er. Mr.. Barney explained that the ar
| rearages were decreasing and the num-
Der of large pensions, those from $50 to
$40 q month, was also decreasing. Mr..
Gaines of Tennessee talked about his
observations in the Philippines. MIR.
Lever of South Carolina then formally
announced the death of the late Repre-
sentative Stokes of his State, and as n
mark of respect the House adjourned.
In the Senate Mr.. Nelson of Minnesota
called up the bill providing for the estab-
lishment of department of commerce. He
explained the necessity which he said
existed for the passage of such a measure
and was piled with questions by several
Senators who thought sufficient time had
not been allowed for looking into the
merits of the measure. The bill finally
went over, subject to call by Mr. Nelson.
On Tuesday the Philippines were the
subject Of an address by Mr.. Hoar Of
Massachusetts, who spoke on his resolu-
ton introduced providing for the appoint
ment of a Senate committee to investi-
gate the administration of those islands.
He spoke at some length regarding the
unreliability of statements on the situa-
ton in the Philippines and the causes
which led to the outbreak Mr.. Lodge.
NEp IJaar'e aofiaa In 1n1
the resolution as 4 reflection on the Phil
ippine committee, of which he was chair
man, and the necessity for the latter
would cease were this resolution to be
adopted. The discussion was leading
rapidly to an opening up of the whole
Philippine question, when it was agreed
that the resolution should 90 over until
Wednesday. A concurrent resolution was
passed appointing a joint committee Of
Congress TO consider the question of 4
site for a hall of records to be erected
in Washington. The House continued
the debate on the pension appropriation
bill and devoted much time ID the prop
osition advanced by Mr.. Rixey of Nir-
ginia to open the doors OF tile soldiers
homes to ex-Confederate veterans. Two
notable speeches were made in support
of the proposition, one by Mr. Gardner, a
Michigan Republican, and the other by
Mr. De Almond, a Missouri Democrat.
A spirited discussion was precipitated
in the SenaIe Wednesday b5 remarks sub
mitted by Mr. Hale of Ma inc in respest
to bills relating to the formation of
naval reserve which he introduced Mr.
Hale took strong ground against the orr
ganization Of a naval reserve, his COM
ments being construed by several Sena-
tors into a reflection upon volunteer sol
diers and land militia. Half a dozen
Senators We're on their feet in an instant
to defend the volunteers and the National
Guard Of the various States, and the de-
bate took so wide a range that Senators
went back in their reference 10 the days
of the Revolutionary War to seek Illus
trations for their arguments. The House
passed the pension appropriation bill.
which has been under discussion for three
days, and then adjourned until Saturday.
The resolution prepared by the speciaI
committee on the Mckinley memorial
exercises providing for an address by
Secretary Of State John Hay in the Hall
of Representatives on Feb. 81 was adopt
ed A joint resolution to appropriate
100000 to pay the expenses incurred by
the West Indian and South Carolina In
terstate Exposition at Charleston, S. G.,
in connection with the government cx-
hibit at Charleston. was passed.
Washington Notes.
House coinage committee has agreed
upon a bill to maintain silver at a parity
with gold.