The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-14
HOUSE HAS BUSINESS SESSION.
MANY HILLS PASSED WITH RtT
LITTLE DERtTE.
Joint Resolution Adopted In Favor Of
Election of senators by Direct Vote
Of the People -t'oriiss OF Michigan
for a Government Pacific Cable.

Ot tne PeOfue Oruss OF NtcN'hhh
for a Government Pacific Gable.
WASHINGTON. Feb. I3.-This wa a purely
legislative day in the House, with but
little argument, and a umber OF measures
were passed under call OF committees.
The most important was the joint reso-
luton proposing an TO the
Constitution providing for the election OF
United States Senators by a direct vote
Of the people. This IL the fourth consecu-
tive Congress in which the House has passed
this joint resolution.
A bill was also passed authorizing a
settlement by the Quartermaster-General OF
claims by Confederate officers and soldiers
for horses, side arms and personal property
taken by Federal soldiers under orders
of their superiors in violation OF the terms
of the surrender by Lee TO Grant at Apo
mattox, limiting the expenditure on this
account to $4,000.
These other bills were passed: Allowing
appeals to Circuit Courts of Appeals by both
parties in cases of receivership In
junction; giving the Spanish Claims Com
mission, under the Treaty OF Paris, power
TO compel the attendance of witnesses, 10
preserve order, and to punish for con
tempt, and requiring the Marshal OF tho
'N
District of Columbia TO serve the processes
OF the commission.
Upon n bill reported from the Committee
on Interstate and Foreign Commerce,
authorizing the construction OF a bridge
by the White River Railroad Company across
a lot reserved for a lock on White RIVER
in Independence county, Ark, MT. Cor
Hiss (Rep, Michl made a speech on me
hill to lay "A Pacific cable. The rlght
TO do this. he said, was inherent IN the people,
and could not he diverted from them except
by an act Of Congress. He denied mat the
President had the power TO grant permls-
sion to lay a cable, although ffesiueht
Grant made such an order.
OF the measures before the House, he
said, one authorized the construction OF a
cable by the Government, and proposed
10 permit u private corporation OF the
United States, allied with a BRUSH cor
p~Oration ha wing cable lines IN ASIA, Ia,
usurp this prerogative of the people
the Government. Mr.. Corliss said the
officers Of that corporation had ~endeavored
TO get "A contract upon the basis OF a letter
written to the Attomey-General, dated
Feb. 8, 1902, the effect OF which, he said,
would he TO postpone until January, 1905,
the completion Of the cable 10 the Philip
pines. The object Of this delay was Ia
continue to the Eastern Extension Com
pany, the British ally Of the Commercial
Company, the enormous profits OF IFS pres
ent business.
Mr.. Lacey rep, La, from the Com.
mittee on Indian Affairs, f~avorebly reported
the Curtis bill. 20 provide for granting
rights of way to railroad companies through
the Indian Territory. The act Of 1899,
intended to make general provisions for
these grants, has been found To I've defective
in some respects, which are cured in the
proposed law. Under it appeals may be
taken on the question of damages for taking
tribal property; station grounds 200 by 1000
feet in size may be taken; also forty acres
for yards at any station; TO secure water
supply a company may impound any sur
face pond or dam any creek, canon or
river; the distance between stations Ia
reduced from ten to eight miles. The
bill is recommended by the Secretary OF
,ha IntpTinr