Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-05-16
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS
WHAT IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS WEEK

WHAT IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS WEEK
More Debate on the Philippine Situation
House Passes the Bill to Admit Three New
States-some Structures Argued for in th'
Senate on Army Appropriation Bill-Botf
Houses Vote to Aid the West Indies Volcano
Sufferers.
Fridays debate on the Philippine
bill in the Senate was mild. The OPP
position contended that the Filipinos
were capable of self government and OF
establishing a government quite equal
to some European governments. Mr.
Carmack of Tennessee apologized for
what he called his unjust" and i'm
proper" language the day before. lie
said he had employed that language in
characterizing certain acts in the Phil
ippines under genuine sense of out
rage" but he would try to refrain
from such language in the future. Mr.
Dolliver, his opponent of the day be-
fore, also regretted if he had wound
ed the sensibilities of Mr.. McCar-
mack. - The House passed the bill for
the admission of Oklahoma, Arizona
and New Mexico to the Union, with
out division, except for a few verbal
amendments. Delegate Mark A, Smith
of Arizona, who had been fighting for
the admission of his territory for a
dozen years, was seized with illness at
the close Of vigorous speech on this
measure but was saved from stroke
of apoplexy by the prompt efforts of
several physicians who are members of
the House.
The Senate passed the army appro
priation bill Saturday. An attempt
was made by Democratic members to
amend it so that no part of the appro
priation should be used for representa-
sion to the coronations of kings,
princes or potentates, but the attempt
failed, and a resolution to the effect
that special representation of the
United States to any such coronation
is contrary to the countrys policy and
that the president has no power to APP
point such representation except by
assent of the Senate, also went over.
The House transacted minor business
and then paid tribute to the memories
of Representative Polk of Pennsylvania
and Senator Kyle of South Dakota.
The Senate Saturday passed bill,
introduced by Senator Fairbanks, APP
propriating 500, 600 for supplies for
the relief of the sufferers in Martin
ique. When the bill was presented to
the House Mr.. Underwood of Alabama
expressed the opinion that there was
no occasion for a Legislative spasm. "
He said the reports might be exagge
rated, and he thought some official re-
port should be had before action was
taken. Notwithstanding Mr.. Payne's
plea of the urgent necessity for i'm
mediate action, Mr.. Underwood OBJ
iected.
Discussion of the Philippines bill
was continued in the Senate Monday.
Mr.. Foraker of Ohio pointed out that
the United States government must
stay on the islands until law and or
der and the establishment of a stable /
government has been secured, The ,
United States. he said, was bound by (
the treaty of Paris to protect all prop .
erty rights in the Philippines, includ- /
ing the friars' rights in the holding of /
about 800 000 acres of land. Until a
government was formed which would .
10 all this the United States must re-
main in the Philippines, The House
passed by an overwhelming vote, a bill
granting $780, 900 for the relief of the
sufferers in the great calamity in the
Vest Indies. The bill was substi-
ute for the relief measure passed by
he Senate and followed the receipt of
message setting forth the magnitude
If the calamity and urging an appro-
lriation of 500. 600. This amount was
United to 500. 600 owing to the large
private contributions that were being
made. The Senate concurred in this
ill.
The Senate Tuesday made an addi-
ional appropriation of $500, 600 for the
tricken people of the West Indies, in
ccordance with the presidents recon-
lendation that $500, 600 be appropriate .
d. The agricultural appropriation
ill was passed. and further discussion
f the Philippine bill was had The
avail appropriation bill, which pro !
ides for two battleships, two armored !
ruisers and two gunboatS, and carries {
total of 81, $50, 900, was taken up in ,
he House.
In the Senate Wednesday Mr.. Proc
or of Vermont offered an amendment !
} the fertilization appropriation bill, !;
rovidIng that no part of the appro- \
ration made should be used for pro- !
uring disappearing gun carriages. {
wo hours of debate followed Mr.. :
rector led the debate against the dis !
ppearing gun carriages, declaring =
lat they never would be effective. y
nd that in actual war it would be =
lown they were lamentable failure. :
he naval appropriation bill was CON \
1ered in the House An amendment AZ
this bill is projected, providing that
/ four of the large new ships shall be d
lilt in government yards. 5
Notes