Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-12-12
NATIONAL LAWMAKERS.
Second Session of the FIfty-seventh Con.
gress Resumes It's Labors After
The Recess.

There were two events of interest in the
senate on the I'd. the swearing In of Gen.
Russell A. Alger as a senator from
Michigan and the presentation or the
presidents annual message, which occu-
pied one hour and Is minutes in it's de-
livery Senator Frye (Me.) laid before
the senate a numbr of annual reports
of government officials and then had read
the resignation of Rev. w. H. Milburn,
the blind chaplain of the senate. I'm
mediately after the reading the journal
in the house Gordon Russell, who was
elected to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of r. C. DeGraffenreid (Tex.) and
Edward Swami, who was elected to fill
the vacancy caused by the death of Amos
J. Cummings IN. 70. appeared at the
bar and took the oath. The speaker then
ments. After the noon recess the presi-
dents message was read and an ad-
journment taken.
The senate on the Sd began the real
work of disposing of business before it.
although the session lasted only an hour
and a half. When an adjournment was
taken at 1:30 o'clock, out OF respect to
the memory Of Representatives DeGrat-
fenreid and Sheppard. of Texas, the bill
to amend the immigration laws was un-
der discussion. Early in the day Senator
Nelson (Minn.). from the committee on
territories, reported substitute for the
omnibus statehood bill with the recon-
mendation that Oklahoma and the In
dian territory be admitted into the union
as one state under the name of Okla
homa- Senator Quarles (Wis.) introduced
a bill for the repeal of the desert land
law bill and the law authorizing the en-
try to timber and stone lands under the
placer mining laws and also a provision
for the homestead law permitting the
Communication of homestead entries. a
joint resolution providing for a commits
sion to investigate the pension laws was
introduced by Senator Scott CIV. Va-).....
The house passed the bill to appropriate
$4,000 to defray the expenses OF the an
thracite coal strike commission and then
adjourned until the 5th. There were two
hours of discussion on the bill. during
which the presidents course in Great
ing the commission was highly commend
ed. except by Mr.. Burton, Missouri
democrat. who contended that the COM
mission was created without authority of
law or constitution.
The senate was in session on the 4th
one hour and FIVE minutes, most of which
time was spent behind closed doors.
After the reception of a number of bills
and petitions and the adoption of con-
current resolution calling on the presi-
dent for the papers in the Plus fund case,
recently arbitrated before The Hague
tribunal, Senator Beveridge Und.) had
read the resolutions adopted by the dele
gates TO the Oklohoma non-partisan con-
vention favoring the admission of Okla
homa and the Indian territory one
state and opposing the house omnibus
statehood bill. Senator Hoar (Mass.)
presented amendment to the fmmigra-
ton bill. providing that the wives and
their intentions of becoming citizens.
shall be admitted without tax or fee.
The house was not in session.
The senate was not in session on the
on the private calendar. The most i'm
portant bill passed was one to adjudicate
in the court of claims the claims of GER
tain importers of steel blooms who. be-
tween 1879 and 1882, paid customs duties
equivalent to Is per cent. ad valOrem
when it is claimed the correct rate should
have been 80 per cent About 600 is
involved A bill was passed authorizing
certain persons to accept presents and
decorations from foreign governments
A bill was introduced authorizing the
president and the authorities of the state
of Texas to run and mark the boundary
lines between Oklahoma and New Mexico
and the state of Texas.
The senate was not in session on the
9Th. The house passed the pension ap-
preparation bill, carrying $139. S47, 900, with
out a word of debate, and devoted the
remainder Of the day to the passage Of
which were passed. The bill authorizing
the Kansas City Outer Belt & Electric
| Railroad company to construct a bridge
across the Missouri river at point with
in i've miles north of the Raw river in
Wyandotte county, Kan, to point in
Clay county, Mo-, was passed. Mr.. Jones
(Wash) introduced a joint resolution pro-
viding for commission of Is members of
the house to visit Alaska to investigate
and report upon its condition and needs
and recommend legislation. Mr.. Bar
tholdt (Mo.) presented a resolution call
ing upon the secretary of war for all
reports received by the department upon
the operations of the anti-canteen law.
Mr.. Scott (Kan.) introduced bill to tax
trusts and large corporations.
Loubet's Gift Roos Welt.
Washington, Dec. 5.-Lieut. De Far
almond, naval attache of the French