Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-08
57TH CONGRESS-.
Senate Will, on Wednesday,
Take Up Statehood Bill.
The House Has a Peculiar Contested
Seat Case to Settle.
Wagner Butler Case, 12th Virginia.
Presents Queer Features.

Washington Dec. I'm accordance
with the unanimous agreement reach
ed. last session. the Senate next
Wednesday. will take up the statehood
bill. which is expected to remain the
unfinished business for some time here
after. The bill undoubtedly will pro-
woke considerable debate and ii is gen.
orally believed that it viii continue TO
receive attention until the adjourn
ment for the Christmas holidays at
least. Senator Beveridge, as chairman
of the committee on territories, will
call the bill up, Wednesday, and prob
ably will make a speech in support of
the report in favor of the sub-bill pre-
scented by the committee. Other men,
hers of the committee who agree with
him will follow. All of them will give
careful attention to the testimony
taken by the Subcommittee which re-
Gently visited the territories.
the committees written report has
not yet been submitted to the Senate
and this. too. will probably be put in,
Wednesday. The report win analyze
the testimony. dealing with the ques-
tons of SOIL mines. agricultural posi-
educational IdCllilitS anu scIl-
eral fitness of the population Of the va
rious territories for statehood. 1t is
generally understood that a strong po-
stion will be taken in opposition to the
claims Of New Mexico and Arizona,
considerable stress being laid on the
fact that a large percentage of the peo-
pie of those territories are necessary i'm
the conduct of the business of many of
the courts. Attention will be given to
previous reports on the subject of
statehood for those territories. many of
which are severely criticized by the
present committee on the ground that |
they fail entirely to represent the real
The report giving the views J
of the committee will be accompanied
by a transcript of the testimony taken |
by the committee. This will be printed
for the information Of the Senate and |
the country.
1t is expected that the immigration
bill will continue to receive desultory
Monday ef-Taesday, but the
proceeding with reference to this bill
will consist largely in the reading of
the bill and the consideration of
There will be more or
less executive business during the week |
and in all probability another adjourn
ment from Thursday until the follow
ing Monday will be taken.
The House. this week. has no mapped |
out program beyond the disposition of |
the London dock charge BILL tomorrow. |
and the report of the election committees
on the contested election case of Wagner |
VS.. Butler from the 18th Missouri dis |
trict, Wednesday. The London dock bill |
has been pressed by exporting interests, |
especially the milling interests Of the |
Northwest, and is opposed by the At
lantic shipping interests. The withdraw
al, last week. from its advocacy of the |
Lumbermens Association, which was I
supporting the measure. will weaken it,
and it's passage is considered doubtful
The WagnerButler case is somewhat Of |
an anomaly. Butler was unseated at the
last session and his seat was declared |
vacant. He was reelected i'm November |
to fill the vacancy having about 5000 ma
jority on the face of the returns His |
opponent now contests. but in order to Sc
cure action before the 4th of March the |
rules relating to the prelminares of a |
contest. which may be strung out for |
months, must be shortened. The commit |
tee recommends that the period for pre-
pairing the case. taking testimony. etc, |
be shortened to 40 days. |
If the legislative appropriation bill rs |
completed in time it probably will be
taken up the latter part of the week. If |
not, the remainder of the time may be |
occupied with minor bills reported by |
committees.