Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-04
:
CONGRESS At WORK,
SUBSTITUTE FoR STATEHOOD BILL
REPORTED IN THE SENATE.
STRIKE COMMISSION BILL.
sou.e pi-cu..e. tho Measure. and
There i. Comfortable Adverse
cr,.tci.m of the PRESIDENT. APP
poin.mcn, of the commi."ion.
STRIKE COMMISSION BILL.
Hou.c pi.cu..e. tho Measure. and

WASHINGTON, December g3.-Ihe SEN
ntc to-day began the real work OF as
rosinE Of the business before 1t. althoush
The session lasted but an hour and nan.
when an adjournment was taken at 10y
O'clock out Of respect to the memory Oh
REPRESENTATIVES De Graffcn:eid and SheP-
pard of Texas. the bill to amend inc
Immigration laws was under olsc'ssio'i:
Early in the day Mr.. Nelson. from 'lle
Committee on Territories. reported SUD
sti.ute for the omnibus Statehood blu,
with the recommendation that Oklahoma
and Indian Territory be admitted 'nio
the Union as one State under the name
Of Oklahoma
When the immigration bill was brought
IN Mr.. Quay precipitated discussion
over the status of the Statehood bill,
which was terminated by a ruling from
:he Chair that. beginning on December
10th. it would be the unfinished business
and that at the close OF the morning
hour each day it would be laid before
the Senate unless displaced by a vote
Of that body.
House of Representatives.
The House passed to-day the bill aD-
propriatin $4,000 to defray the expenses
OF the Anthracite Coal Strike Commits
sion. and then adjourned until Friday.
when the London dock-charge bill will
be considered There were two hours OF
discussion on the commission bill. during
which the Presidents course in creating
the commission was highly commended,
except by Mr.. Benton q. Missouri Demo-
GRAFT who contended that the commission
was created without authority Of law or
The Constitution There was some criti-
cism Of the nature of the bill. allowing
double salaries to members Of the COM
mission now in government employ. and
because the bill left the amount Of tho
compensation Of the members to the
President. But all amendments were
voted down. and the bill was passed with
out division.
Before the discussion began. Mr.. Gaines
Of Tennessee. stated that he desired TO
offer an amendment. The Chair having
ruled that amendments were not in order
at this time. Mr. Cannon, in charge Of
the bill. agreed that the amendment
should be read for information. 1t proved
to be an amendment to place antllraci;
coal on the free list.
Il presume the Eleventh Command
1nent might also be read remarked Mr..
Cannon, sententiouslv. who proceeded 20
say that he had no desire to discuss the
bill. 1t showed on its face what it was.
1t merely provided for the payment of
the expenses of the Coal Strike Com
mission.
Mr.. Benton. Of Missouri. member of
The appropriations committee declared
that he could not support the bill AS an
original proposition containing authority
Tor the creation of a commission to settle
the coal strike. he said it would have
received his support. but this bill pro-
posed to place in the Presidents hands
$4,000 for the payment of the expenses of
a commission for which there was no
authority. statutory or constitutional
ft.he President. he said. had no legal au-
tt7orfty for the creation of the commits
sion.
II know. said he. that to refer to.
the constitution is to place myself in
The role of back-number. Nevertheless.
4 do have respect for the constitution
and the laws. and ! do not approve of
This sort Of proceeding.
DO you think the President should
have waited until congress enacted law
for the creation Of a commission" asked
Mr.. HeIninway. of Indiana.
II believe it was unlawful for the
President to act as he did replied Mr.
Benton, who proceeded to say that his
second objection to the bill was that it
placed $4,000 in the Presidents hands
without any limitation whatever.
Mr. Livingston. of Georgia. and Mr..
Underwood, of Alabama. supported the
bill. although they agreed that the Pres-
dents action was irregular.
Mr.. Bartlett Of Georgia. said the Presi-
dent had acted periodically. Mr. Cocf-
ran. of Missouri: Mr.. Kelly, of Illinois:
Mr.. Gaines. of Tennessee and Mr. Mad
COX. of Georgia, endorsed the action of
The President
Mr.. Cannon. in charge of the bill, ar
Eued that it should pass in the form in
which 1T was presented. The Presidents
action had been taken in response to an
overwhelming public sentiment
i sometimes think" said he. that a
just and righteous public sentiment com
ing UP from the whole country of 10000 DOC
people. which begets action. is, for the
express pnrnose it represents. larger than
the constitution
The bill was then passed. without di.
vision. although there were several dis
venting voices on the Democratic side.
The House adjourned until Friday.