Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-03-14
DoINcs IN CONGRESS.
Bills Passed and Resolutions introduced
at the First Session of the Fifty
Seventh Body.

A speech was made in the senate on the
9th by Senator Hanna (O.1 the pending
shipping bill, which he discussed from the
standpoint of an American business man.
Early in the session Senator Frye (Ade.),
in charge of the pending shipping bill,
obtained an agreement that the senate
should vote on the measure and all
Hending amendments three p. m.
March II, that tine being entirely salts
factory to those opposed to the bill. An
extended debate also occurred on the
measure providing for the protection Of
the president of the United States. Sen
ator Bacon (Ga.) took the ground that
in its present shape the bill was an in
yasion of the jurisdiction of the states
and that it ought to be amended radi-
cally. No action the bill taken.
Senator Penrose (Pa-) offered resolu-
ton expressing the sorrow of the SEN
ate at the death of Representative Rufus
K Polk (Pa-) and providing for the ap-
pointment of committee Of senators to
attend the funeral. The resolution
adopted and the president named COM
mittee. As additional mark of respect
the senate then at AIS %. m. adjourned
THE house debated the bill to classify
the rural free delivery Service-and to
place the carriers under contract. Little
interest manifested in the discus
sion. Mr.. Richardson (Tenn.) introduced
a resolution that the secretary of war
be requested to furnish the house GER
tain reports made on the transport serv-
ice between San Francisco and the Phil
ippine islands.
On account of the indisposition of Sem
ator Vest (io.) and Senator Mallory
(Fla.), who expected to speak on the
pending ship subsidy bill, that measure
was not considered by the senate on the
7th. The diplomatic and consular ap-
preparation bill was passed and then the
senate took up the measure for the pro-
lection of the president of the United
States, Senator Bacon (Ga.) speaking in
opposition to the bill. Senator Teller
(Col) presented memorial from the
Colorado legislature urging that the
present tariff on sugar be retained and
protesting against any reciprocity with
Cuba as opposed to the rapidly develop
ing beet sugar interests of the western
states Senator Gamble Is. CO, from the
committee Indian affairs, reported ia
vorably the bill ratifying the agreement
with the Rosebud Sioux Indians for the
cession of their unallotted lands in
Gregory county, S. D., to the United
States. There are 415,OO0 acres, for which
the Indians receive 81. $4,000. A bill was
introduced by Senator Rawlins CUtah)
prohibiting the leasing of mineral lands
on Indian reservations. The senate then
adjourned until the 10th. The bill to
classify the rural free delivery service
and to place the carriers under the con-
tract system, held the floor in the house.
Mr.. Mondell (Wyo.) reported the New
lands irrigation bill.
The senate was not in session on the
8th. In the house the bill to classify
the rural free delivery service and place
the carriers under the contract system
was debated. Mr.. Burkett (Neb.) intro
duced bill authorizing the president to
appoint in the regular army and place
upon the retired list certain officers who
served in the volunteer service in the war
with Spain, the Philippines and Porto
Rico. A bill was passed authorizing the
South Omaha Bridge company to con-
struct bridge across the Missouri river.
A bill to establish information bu-
reau at the capitol was also introduced.
The purpose of the bill is to assist MEM
berS of congress in answering and sup
plying their constituents with public doc
umentS.
For nearly two hours the 10th Sem
ator Vest (Mo) addressed the senate in
opposition to the pending ship subsidy
bill. He attacked the present naviga-
ton laws, which he declared We're relics
of barbarism and responsible for the de-
cline of our merchant marine. The SEN
ate passed a considerable number of I'M
objected bills on the calendar. The bill
to classify the rural free delivery serv-
ice and place the carriers under the con-
tract system was passed in the house
Before it passed the bill was al
tered radically by its opponents. A bill
passed authorizing the G.. A. r. to
erect in the District of Columbia monu-
ment to Benjamin E. Stephenson, found
of the G. A. r. Mr.. Ray IN. W and
Mr.. Jenkins CWis) fled a minority re-
port on the Newlands bill for the irriga-
ton of arid lands. The report character
ICES the matter an unfair, unwiSe and
improvident scheme and says the land
grant railroads are behind the scheme.