The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1902-01-24
WORK OF CONGRESS.

In the senate on the 18th Senator Nell
son (AIinn.) called up the bill providing
for the establishment of a department
of commerce. After some discussion the
bill finally went over, subject to call by
Senator Nelson. The senate was in ex-
ecutive session for an hour and a half.
The Hepburn Nicaragua canal bill was
received by the senate from the house
and referred to the committee on in
terstate canals. The house spent the
day in general discussion of the pension
appropriation bill, the first of the annual
budgets. The debate took q wide range.
Mr.. Grosvenor co. and Mr.. Hepburn
Qa-) denounced a report presented to
the last G. A R. encampment criticising
the course of themselves and other men,
bers of congress on the veteran prefer
ence" bill, which was defeated at the last
session. They explained that their OPP
position to the bill was due to the in
corporation in the bill of a clause which
had not been Endorsed by the G. A. r.,
placing veterans of the Spanish war in
the preferential claims. Mr.. Rixey (Va-)
caused something of a stir on the demo-
cratic side by advancing a proposition
to open the doors of national soldiers
homes to eX-confederates and to furnish
federal aid to state confederate homes.
Mr.. Gillett (Mass.) introduced bill for
the creation of a approximation COM
mission who are to devise a system by
which government employees will be
insured as to have an annuity in their
old age. Mr.. Crumpacker Qnd.) intro
duced a bill for the punishment of per-
sons taking part in the lynching of an
alien. Mr.. Lever g. c. then formally
sentative Stokes. of his state and the
house, after adopting the customary
resolutions of regret, as a mark of re-
spect adjourned.
The Philippines were the subject of an
address in the senate on the 18th by
Senator HOar (MaSSO. who spoke his
resolution providing for the appointment
OF senate committee to investigate the
administration of those islands. Sena-
tor Lodge (Mass.) said he regarded the
resolution as reflection on 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 adj
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 CMich.), a republic
an, and the other by Mr.. DeArmond
(Mo), democrat. Mr.. Lamb (Va.) read
number Of kilograms from prominent
ex-confederates of Richmond, protesting
against it, Mr.. Smith (AIich.) introduced
a 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 CWis) in
troduced bill placing a number of arti-
cles of the iron and steel schedule on
the free list and materially reducing
the 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 (Me.)
In respect to bills relating to the forma-
ton of a naval resrve which he intro
uuced- He took strong ground against
the organization of a naval reserve, his
comments being construed by some of
the senators into reflection upon volun-
teer soldiers and land militia and half
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
bill 1t carries s139, $40. go, against s145,-
245,23O year ago. 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-
luton on the same subject to authorize
the secretary OF the treasury to return
upon demand within one year bank
checks and drafts with war revenue
stamps imprinted thereon after the cam
lions 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 q 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 tho dis
cussion tended to show that the measure
will have to be amended in many par
ticulars before 1t can receive the ap-
prevail of the senate. 1t was pointed out
that If the bill as reported became a law
1t would create the greatest department
of 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 CKan) intro
duced bill for the government owner
ship of telegraph lines. Senator Plat
Comm introduced an amendment to the
copyright law granting copyright for Il
months to books written in 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 20th....The house was not in
session.