The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-04
!. WENT THROUGH
IN QUICK TIME
Strike Commission Bill Passed
by the House.
SOME CRITICISM OFFERED
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
! ADJOURNED UNTIL FRIDAY.
SOME CRITICISM OFFERED

w AsHINGTON. Dec. S.-The house
w today passed the bill appropri-
ating $4,000 to defray the ex-
penses of the anthracite coal strike
commission and then adjourned until
Friday, when the London dock charge
bill will be considered. There were two
hours of discussion on the commission
bill, during which the presidents course
In creating the commission was highly
commended except by Mr.. Burton, a
missouri Democrat. who Contended that
the commission was created without
authority of law or constitution. There
was some criticism of the feature Of the
bill allowing double salaries to the
members of the commission now in
government employ. and also because
the bin left the amount of the compen-
sation of the members to the president.
But all amendments were voted down.
The bill was passed without division
When the house met today the speak
ct announced the appointment of Mr..
Shepherd CDem., Tex d member of the
committee on public buildings and
grounds.
Waited For Cannon.
Mr. Cannon of Illinois. chairman of
the appropriation committee who was
TO have charge of the bill to defray the
expenses of the anthracite coal strike
commission, which was made an order
for today. having been detained in his
committee room. a recess was taken
for ten minutes 10 await his coming.
When the house TecOnvened the
speaker announced the appointment of
the following committees:
To Visit the Naval Academy-M essrs.
Watson of Indiana, Adams of Penn
sylvahia and Clark of Missouri.
10 visit the Military Academy
Messrs. Hull of Iowa. Steele of Indi-
ana and De Almond of Missouri
The house then went into committee
of the whole (Mr. GrOsvenor of Ohio in
the chair, and took up the considera-
ton Of the coal strike commission bill.
Amendment offered
Before the discussion began Mr..
Gaines CTenn) stated that he desired
10 offer an amendment. The chair
having ruled that amendments were
not IN order at this time. Mr. Cannon
IN charge OF the bill, agreed that the
amendment should be read for infor-
nation. 1t proved to be an amendment
TO place anthracite coal on the free list.
Mr. Benton of Missouri. a member of
the appropriations committee, to whom
Mr. Cannon yielded, said ne could not
support the bill. The president. he
said, had no legal authority for the Gre
alton of the commission. His second
objection was that ii placed $50 900 in
the presidents hands without any Iimi-
tatiOn whatever.
Mr. Livingston of Georgia and Mr.
Underwood of Alabama supported the
Dill, although they agreed that the
presidents action was irregular.
Mr. Bailey of Georgia said the presi-
dent had acted periodically Mr.
Cochran of Missouri, Mr.. Feeley of IL
linois, Mr.. Gaines of Tennessee. and Mr
Maddox Of Georgia endorsed the act of
the president
Mr.. Hemmenway of Indiana and Mr.
Lacey of Iowa warmly defended the
course of the president. the latter char
acterizing it as one Of the "boldest''
acts in the. history of the executive.
No Power Behind 1t.
Mr.. McDermott of New Jersey point
ed out the fact that the strike commits
sion had no power behind it. He
thought the commission should be given
power to make an investigation and
should report its findings to congress-
= Mr. Cannon argued that the bill
should pass in the form in which il
was presented. If the presidents ac-
ton has been without authority of law
or constitution, Mr.. Cannon said, il had
been taken in response to an over
whelming public sentiment coming up
from the whole country of 10000, 900 peo-
pie.
Mr.. Griffin of Indiana offered an
amendment to provide for the payment
OF the expenses of John Mitchell, prasi-
dent of the United Mine Workers. He
eNtolled the services of Mr.. Mitchell IN
bringing the strike to an end.
Mr.. Cannon paid a high tribute TO
Mr.. Mitchell who, he said, was a fellow
citizen of Illinois, but said he did not
believe Mr.. Mitchell would endorse such
''cheap John proposition. The
amendment was voted down.
The bill then was passed without di-
vision. although there was several dis
sendng voices on the Democratic side
The house then, at 2:35 p. m, ad-
1ourned until Friday