The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1902-01-23

Congress-.


| The House OF Representatives spent
Monday in general discussion of the pen
sion appropriation dill. Mr.. Grosvenor
" Ohio and Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa de-
bounced report presented 10 the last
J. A. II. encampment criticis:Dg the
course of themselves and other members
" Congress on the veteran preference"
bill. which was defeated at the last ses-
sion. Mr.. Barney Of Wisconsin. in charge
II the pension bill. explained that it car
red Sl39.Si6.4SO. as against Sl45.245.-
23O appropriated for the current year.
Payment of pensions had decreased from
s144. .OOO 900 to S13S.jO0000. Mr.. Bar
Tennessee why this was so when the
| number of pensioners was said to be larg-
,r. Mr.. Barney explained that the ar
rearages were decreasing ard the num-
Der OF large pensions. those from 500 to
SI5 a month. was also decreasing. MIR.
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
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. lie
explained the necessity which he said
existed for the passage of such 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.
On Tuesday the Philippines were the
subject of an address by Mr.. Hoar OF
Massachusetts,. who spoke on his resolu-
tion introduced providing for the appoint
ment of a Senate committee 10 investi-
gate the administration Of those Islands.
He spoke at some length regarding the
unreliability of statements on the sltua-
ton in the Philippines and the causes
which led to the outbreak. Mr.. Lodge,
Mr.. HOar's colleague. said he regarded
the resolution as a 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 go over until
Wednesday. A concurrent resolution was
passed appointing joint committee Of
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 to the prop
osition advanced by Mr.. Rixey Of Vir-
ginia to open the doors OF the soldiers
homes to ex-Confederate veterans. Two
notable speeches were made in support
of the proposition. one by Mr.. Gardner.
Michigan Republican. and the other by
Mr.. De Almond. Missouri Democrat.
The Rixey suggestion met with much op-
position on the Democratic side on the
ground that it was utterly impracticable.
There was a sharp controversy in the ex-
ecutive session over the confirmation of !
s. G. Sharp as marshal for the new east |
ern district of Kentucky. The two Sen |
ators from Kentucky. DebOe (Iiep.) and
Blackburn (Dem.). took opposing posi- |
tions. Blackburn objected to conhrma- |
tion on the ground that Sharp had pre-
sided over a mass meeting held in front |
Of the executive mansion in Frankfort in |
1899 while the Goebel-Taylor controversy |
was at its height and a few days before |
GOebel was assassinated.
A spirited discussion was precipitated |
in the Senate Wednesday by remarks sub |
mitted by Mr.. Hale of Maine in respect |
to bills relating to the formation Of q |
naval reserve which he introduced. Mr.. |
Hale took strong ground against the or
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 dozen |
Senators were on their feet in an instant |
JsLo xol nj th- NafsAnaI
Guard of the various States. and the de
bate took so wide range that Senators
went back in their reference to 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 special
committee on the Mckinley memorial
exercises providing for an address by
Secretary of State John Hay in the Hail
of Representatives on Feb. 81 was adopt
ed. A joint resolution to appropriate
500 900 to pay the expenses incurred by
the West Indian and South Carolina In
terstate Exposition at Charleston. $. G.
in connection with the government ex
hibit at Charleston. was passed.
The Senate on Thursday for a brief
time had under consideration the bill ere
ating q department of commerce and the
discussion tended to show that the meas
ure will have to be amended in many par
ticulars before it can receive the ap
proyal Of the Senate. Serious objections
were raised to the transfer TO the prOpos
ed department of several important bu
reaus now 4 part of other departments
of the government. 1t was pointed ouI |
that il the bill as reported became law
il would create the greatest department
Of the government and that the secretary
Of commerce would have more power
even than the Secretary of the Treasury
Notice Of several important amendments
was given. The House concurrent RESP
luton providing for Mckinley memoria
exercises by Congress in the hall of the
House of Representatives on Thursday
Feb. %. was adopted.
By a strictly partisan vote favorable
report on Senator Frye's ship subsidy
bill was authorized by the Senate com
mittee on commerce on Friday. The com
mittee made several important amend
ments to the bill. One allows mail car
rying vessels to be either iron or steel |
instead Of steel only. as originally pro
vided. Another reduces TO 1000 gross
registered tons the vessels receiving q |
bounty The Democrats voted solidly foi
striking out the general subsidy provision
Washington Notes.
House coinage committee has agreed