Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-01-15
WORK OF CONGRESS.

In the senate on the 7th Senator Nor
gan (Ala.) secured the adoption of a
resolution which indicated his purpose
to have the committee on 1nteroceanic
canals inquire into the relations alleged
to exist between the transcontinentaI
railroad companies of the United States
and Canada and the Panama Canal COM
pany. Over 800 bills and Joint reSolu-
lions were introduced during the day..
The debate on the Nicaraguan canal bill
in the house was opened in lively fashion
yesterday by Mr.. Hepburn, chairman of
the interstate and foreign commerce
commission, which reported the bill For
two hours he held the floor, replying to
volley of questions. He maintained
that the alleged new effer of the Panama
company to sell its property for $4,000
600 was part of a Han to delay. Mr..
Cooper CWis) introduced a bill giving
complete form of ci$il government for
the Philippines to begin January I, 1904
A bill introduced by Mr.. Padgett CTenn.)
provides for paying former confederate
soldiers for horses, brides, ETC., taken
from them in violation of the terms of
surrender made by Gems. Lee and
Johnston with Gens. Grant and Sherman.
Mr.. Hooker (NGiss.) introduced a joint
resolution, reciting that Commodore
Schley was in absolute command at the
battle of Santiago and is entitled to the
credit for the glorious victory which re-
suited in the total destruction of the
Spanish ships. The resolution provides
for the thanks of congress to Admiral
Schley and the officers and men under
his command. Mr.. Bartholdt (Mo.) intro
duced bill repeating all of the increased
taxes under the war revenue act.
During consideration by the senate on
the Sth of private pension bills Senator
Gallinger, chairman of the committee on
pensions announced that none but alb
solutely meritorious cases would be pre-
sented to the senate for its considera-
ton and that the closest scrutiny would
be given by tthe committee to every bill
introduced. Senator Rawlins (Utah) in
troduced a resolution directing the COM
mittee on Indian affairs to investigate
the question of the leasing of mineral
lands owned by Indians. The debate on
the Nicaragua canal bill in the house de-
veloped sentiment in favor of giving
consideration to the recent offer of the
Panama company to sell its franchises
and property for $4O,O 600. It was agreed
that general debate on the bill should
close the next day at two o'clock after
which the bill would be open to amend
ment under the five-minute rule Mr.
Hopkins Cll) secured unanimous con-
sent that the bill to establish a perma-
nent census bureau be made a continu-
ing order until disposed of, after the
Nicaraguan bill is acted upon. Mr.. KIe-
berge (Tex.) introduced a bill for a board
of engineers to adopt plan for irriga-
ton in the Rio Grande valley.
The open session of the senate on the
9th was devoted to routine business.
After an executive session the senate
adjourned until the 18th. The Hepburn
Nicaraguan canal bill passed the house
by practically a unanimous vote. Only
two members out of 80 voted against it,
Messrs. Fletcher, republican (Minn.) and
Lancaster, democrat Wa.), were the two
voting in the negative. All amendments
failed and the bill passed exactly as it
came from the committee. A section
fixes the aggregate cost at $3.50, OOO, 600, to
be drawn from the trea sury on warrants
of the president.
The senate was not in session on the
10TH. The house spent the day con-
sidering the Hopkins bill to create a per-
manent census bureau. There was strong
opposition to the bill as drawn, on the
ground that it was not we'll matured,
and it was finally recommitted. Mr..
Sherman On. " introduced a bill con-
tinuing in force all laws prohibiting the
coming of Chinese Mr.. Lowering Mass }
introduced a bill providing a salary for
ex-presidents of the United States at
the rate of $4,000 annually from the
date of retirement from the presidency.
A bill passed unanimously to give Mrs.
Mckinley the free mailing privilege dur
ing the remainder of her life. The pen
sion appropriation bill was reported by
the committee. 1t carries $139, S42 230, ex-
actly the amount of the estimates, as
against $145, 245, $50 appropriated last year
An adjournment was then taken until