Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-04-26
WORK OF CONGRESS.

Az the session OF the senate on the 10TH
consideration was begun of the bill tenn
porarily to provide form Of government
for the Philippine islands. The measure
was read and the committee amendments
were agreed to tentatively. but no action
on the bill was taken. Fifty-five private
pension bills and a few minor measures
were passed. The democrats and the
republican insurgents rode rough-shod
over the house leaders when the voting
began on the Cuban reciprocity bill They
overthrow the ruling OF the chair In COM
mittee Of the whole on the question OF
the germaness of an amendment to re-
move the differential from refined sugar
during the existence of the reciprocity
agreement provided for in the bill. The
vote to override the decision of the chair.
made by Mr.. Sherman IN. ", was III
to 100. republicans to the number of 81
Joining with a solid democratic vote to
accomplish this result. Having won this
preliminary victory, the amendment was
adopted in committee. 164 to Ill, and later
in the house by a still larger majority.
1879 to 105. On this occasion GA republic
ans voted with the democrats for the
amendment. The bill then was passed
by an overwhelming majority, A7 to g.
The senate amendments to the Chinese
exclusion bill were disagreed to and the
bill was sent to conference.
Little business of national Importance
was transacted by the senate on the 18th.
Numerous measures of minor character
and nearly 60 private pension bills were
passed. :. In the house the fertilization
appropriation bill was passed and the
conference report on the legislative APP
preparation bill agreed to- The bill to
increase the number of judges of the SUI
preme court of Oklahoma from five to
seven: the bill offered by Mr.. Bowersock
(Kan), providing for the establishment
of federal court at Kansas City, Kan;
a bill providing for the extension of the
time in which the new bridge across the
Missouri river at st. Charles. Mo-, must
be completed. and several other minor
bills were also passed.
Without a word of discussion of the
merits Of the measure the senate on the
2lst passed the river and harbor bill, car
rying in appropriations about SI0OOO,OOO.
So thoroughly had the bill been consid-
cred by the Commerce committee that
every senator was content that 1t should
pass as reported from the committee.
AS no senator was prepared to begin de-
bate on the Philippine government bill,
the measure, after a few minutes OF in
formal discussion, went over....The
house entered on the consideration of the
tCdueHly piii' Aht'
Cannon Ull.), chairman Of the committee
on appropriations, characterized the pro-
posed expenditure at West Point as the
''rankest kind of extravaganza" During
the general debate on the bill Mr.. Gill
bert 0Ky) precipitated discussion on the
race question. Mr.. Cochran (Mo) dis
cusscd the question Of the alleged viola
ton of the neutrality laws In connection
with the shipment of mules and horses to
South Africa. He insisted that 1t was
the duty of the administration to prevent
these violations of the laws of neutrality.
The agricultural appropriation bill was
then reported.
Formal discussion of the bill tempo
rarily to provide government for the
Philippine islands was begun in the SEN
ate on the ODD, Senator Rawlins (Utah).
the leading minority member OF the Phil
ippine committee, opening the debate.
He denounced the bill as an unwarrant-
ed imposition on the Filipinos, declaring
that II would establish one of the foulest
oligarchies in the history OF the world.
While he was speaking two efforts were
made to maintain a quorum. the second
resulting in q lively tilt among several
senator's, Senator Scott CIV. Va.) intimate
ing that argument could not influence
any senator. Senator Hawley (Conn.),
chairman OF the senate committee On
military affairs, introduced a bill to "in-
crease the efficiency Of the army" The
most important section Of the bill is the
following: Subject to the command OF
the president and general direction Of the
secretary of war, the lieutenant general
shall exercise command over the mill
tary forces of the United States. shall Is
sue army orders and direct inspections
of troops" The above provision Is intend
ed to give the commanding general
legal status which at present he has not,
and Is understood to be In the interest
of Gen. Miles. The house rejected
claims attached to the omnibus claim
bill by the senate aggregating H.SOo.OOo
and sent the bill to conference. Several
private bills were passed and the house
resumed consideration Of the military
academy appropriation bill. When the
item relating to the improvements at
west Point was reached, on motion OF
Mr.. Hull Qa.), in charge Of the bill,
amendments were adopted reducing the
limit of cost of the improvements from
Sc 600 to s5.5O0,000 and the appropria-
ton carried by the bill from $500 600 to
80 OO0,O 900. The bill was then passed. The
senate amendments to the river and mar
bor bill were disagreed to and the Dill
cant m conference.