Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-01-24
WORK OF CONGRESS.

The Philippines were the subject of
address in the senate on the 18th by
Senator Hoar (Mass.), who spoke on his
resolution providing for the appointment
OF a senate committee. to investigate the
administration of those islands. Sena-
tor Lodge (Mass.) said he regarded the
resolution a reflection the Philip
pine committee, of which he was chair
man, and the necessity for the latter
would cease were the resolution to be
adopted. The resolution finally went
over The house continued the debate
on the pension appropriation bill and de-
voted much time to the proposition ad-
vanced by Mr.. Rixey (Va.) to open the
doors of the soldiers homes to ex-con-
federate veterans. Two notable speeches
were made in support of the proposition,
one by Mr.. Gardner (Mich.), a republic
an, and the other by Mr.. DeArmond
lMo3, a democrat. Mr.. Lamb Wa) read
a number of kilograms from prominent
ex-confederates of Richmond, protesting
against 1t. Mr.. Smith (Mich) introduced
joint resolution for a constitutional
amendment empowering congress to de-
fine the qualification of electors for mem
bers of congress and requiring that these
qualifications shall be uniform through
out the states. Mr.. Babcock (Wis) in
troduced bill placing number of arti-
cies of the iron and steel schedule on
the free list and materially reducing
sthe duties on other articles throughout
the iron and steel schedule.
A spirited discussion was precipitated
IN the senate on the 18th by some re-
marks submitted by Senator Hale (Afe)
IN respect to bills relating to the forma-
ton OF a naval reSrve which he intro
duced. He took strong ground against
the organization of a naval reserve his
comments being construed by some of
the senators into reflection upon volun-
teeF soldiers and land militia and half
a dozen senators were on their feet in
an instant to defend the volunteers and
the national guard of the various states
NO business of special Importance was
transacted, the time of the senate being
consumed by matters of routine The
mouse passed the pension appropriation
Dill. 1t carries $139, S42, 23O, against sl45-
Z1o,z9O year ago. A bill was passed to
allow the redemption of war revenue
stamps any time within two years after
the passage of the act, and also a reso-
tuition on the same subject to authorize
upon demand within one year bank
checks and drafts with war revenue
stamps imprinted thereon after the can
collation. of such stamps. The resolu-
ttons prepared by the special committee
on the Mckinley memorial exercises pro-
viding for an address by Secretary John
Hay in the hall of representatives on
FEBRUARY u was adopted. The house
then adjourned until the 18th.
The senate on the 18th for a brief time
had under consideration the bill creating
department of commerce and the dis
cussion tended to show that the measure
Will nave 10 De amended in many par
tlculars before 1t can receive the APP
prevail of the senate. 1t was pointed out
that If the bill as reported became a law
1t would create the greatest department
or the government and that the secre-
tary of commerce would have more power
even than the secretary of the treasury
Notice OF several important amendments
was given Senator Harris (Kan) intro
duced bill for the government owner
ship of telegraph lines Senator Platt
(Conn.) introduced an amendment to the
copyright law granting copyright for IL
months to books written in a foreign
language and printed abroad, such au-
thors to use this time in making arrange
ments to perfect their rights under ex-
listing law. A large number of uncontested
bills and private pension measures were
passed, after which the senate adjourned
until the GOTH. The house was not in
session
The senate was not in session on the
18th. The house was in session less than
an hour. Only routine business was
transacted, the most important feature
of which was the reporting by Mr.. Can
preparations, of an urgent deficiency bill
1t carries upwards CT s16.OOO.OO0. A bill
was passed for the protection of towns
in the Indian territory and providing that
they may issue bonds to an amount not
exceeding five mills on each dollar of
taxable property of the municipality for
the construction of sewers, waterworkS
and schoolhouses. Mr.. Kahn (Cal) intro
duced the Chinese exclusion bill agreed
; upon by all Pacific coast interests rep
resenting their views. 1t referred to
the foreign affairs committee.