The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1902-02-14
INQUIRIES OF CONGRESS
Five Investigation Committees
Are Now at Work.
MUCH WORK FOR STENOGRAPHERS

The Reason why We buy the Danish
West Indies-scnator TilIman En-
Iivens Debate-Not Afraid to Tackle
Any One-A Point of Order.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-[Special.]-
We have been besieged with interro-
CATION points at this session of con-
gress, and we are not near the end yet.
There have been more investigations
going on than l have ever seen be-
fore. 1t is not unusual now for five
committees Of the house and like
number in the senate to be in session
at one time, and all presenting some
inquiries regarding government affairs.
We had Il great many Investigations in
the last congress, but this beats the
record. First in Importance is the SEN
ate inquiry concerning the Philippines,
supplemented by occasional hearings
on the same subject by the house COM
mittee on insular affairs. Senator
Morgan has been running a continuous
investigation concerning isthmian ca
nails. The Chinese exclusion bill has
caused hearings in committees of both
houses as well as the Pacific cable
bill. The house ways and means COM
mittee devoted time 10 those who dis
cussed war revenue repeal and Cuban
reciprocity. On the same side the ter
ritories have had hearings urging state
hood. Labor men have been before
committees urging legislation which
they want, and irrigation advocates
have been questioned concerning bills
they are pushing. Delegations have
been heard on public buildings, on
river and harbor improvements, etc,
while committees having various ap-
preparation bills in charge have called
officials before them to get informa-
ton as TO government needs. The In
dian committees have investigated
leases and cessions, and agricultural
committees have been inquiring into
oleomargarine, while various commit
tees of the senate have been engaged
very often in investigating charges
against men nominated for office by
the president.
Work For Stenographers.
All this has made work for the ste
nographers. Nearly every committee
that has an investigation on hand has
a stenographic report made of it. The
regular corps of shorthand men in both
could do, as committees prefer experts
for these hearings. An immense amount
of printed matter has been stacked up
10 be buried away in document rooms
or supplied to those who may be in
terested ia the various subjects under
inquiry Some of these reports will be
read in debates.
The Danish Islands.
There seem 10 be plenty OF reasons
why this government buys from Den
mark The islands near Porto Rico. but
the principal one is that the Danes
want to get rid of them. Our govern
ment applies the Monroe doctrine to
mean that one country cannot transfer
its territory on the American continent
TO another power. We cannot very
well say 10 Denmark, You cannot sell
TO any one else. and we will not buy"
SO we take the islands, which are real
ly valuable property.
TiIIman Gets In.
1t is a very dull. dry debate in the
senate into which Senator Tillman does
not inject himself or into which he is
not "dra gged," as he often expresses
it. He takes most lively interest in
those matters which are prominent in
the senate. As soon as any senator be-
gins to discuss these topics the South
Carolina senator betrays signs of un-
easiness. Very soon he is on his feet.
His first interruption is the strict, form
al way by addressing the chair and
asking permission TO interrupt. After
that decOrum is thrown to the winds,
and he breaks in and usually has hot
time before he let's 20. He has had
sharp tits lately with Senators Hoar
and Lodge Of Massachusetts, Hans
brough and McCumber of North Da-
kota, Hale of Maine. Foraker of Ohio
and Beveridge Of Indiana. He is not
avcrse to having a brush with any SEN
atorS of his own side of the chamber
II opportunity affords, and thus he and
Morgan of Alabama have sharp ex-
change occasionally, but it is always
brief, because Morgan insists upon his
right not to be interrupted. OF course
Tillman does not always come off VIC
tor in his tits, for it is give and take
when he is ''scrapping" with senator,
and those with whom he engages are
among the ablest debaters of the SEN
ate. Let any Republican senator vigor-
ously assault the position of the Dem
Ocratic party and he will soon have
Tillman up and at him hammer and
longs" "bludgeon and gongs" and full
supply of ''red fire." He has all the
courage necessary to tackle any sena-
tor on any subject if the mood strikes
him.
Just Pofst Of Order.
A point of order had been under dis
cussion in tn, house, and Payne of
New York had lust yielded to Dalzell
Of Pennsylvania " argue the point.
"Mr. Speaker" called Mr.. Dalzell.
"The chair is reacy to rule" said
Speaker Henderson, unless the gen
floman from papuovIva.,. doa,r,. g..