Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-04
GIVES STRIKE BOARD CASH
House Passes Bill to Pay Presidents Arb.
tration Commission.
MISSOURI MEMBER CONDEMNS ROOSEVELT
Measure IL Passed without Division
After Attempt to Include John
Mitchell i'm saIary List
IL voted Down.

WASHINGTON. Dec. s.-The house today
passed the bill appropriating $4,000 to
defray the expenses Of the strike commits
sion and then adjourned until Friday. when
the London dock charge bill will be con-
sidered.
There were two hours discussion on tho
commission bill, in which the presidents
action was highly commended. except by
Mr.. Burton (Mo.) who commended that the
commission was created without authority
Of law and constitution.
There was some criticism Of the clause
allowing double salaries to members of the
commission now in government employ,
and also Of that leaving the amount of com
pensation Of members to the president. But
all amendements were voted down. The
bill was passed without division.
When the house reconvened the speaker
announced the appointment Of the following
committees:
To Visit the Naval Academy-Messrs
Watson Und.), Adams, (Pa.). and Clark.
CMo.).
To Visit the Military Academy-Messrs
Hull, Qa.), Steele, CPa), and DeArmond,
(Mo.l.
The house then went into committee OF
the whole, Mr.. Grosvenor (OO, in the chair.
and took up the coal strike commission
bill.
Before the discussion began Mr.. Gaines
CTenn.) stated that he desided TO offer
an amendment. The chair having 'uled
that amendments were not in order at This
time, Mr.. Cannon in charge Of the bill.
agreed that the amendment should be read
for Information. 1t proposed to place an
thracite on the free list.
Presidents Action Illegal.
Mr.. Burton (Mo.), a member Of the ap-
propriations committee, to whom Mr.. Can
non yielded, declared that he could not sup
port the bill. The president, he said, had
no legal authority to Great the commits
sion and the bill besides placed $50, 900 in
the presidents hands without any limita-
ton.
Mr.. Livingston (Ga.) and Mr.. Underwood
CAla) supported the bill, although they
agreed that the presidents action was ir-
regular.
Mr.. Bailey tGa.) said the president had
acted periodically. Mr.. Cochran CMo.).
Mr.. Feeley, md, Mr.. Gaines CTenn.) and
Mr.. Maddox (Ga.), endorsed the act OF the
president.
Mr.. Hemenway Ond) and Mr.. Lacey Qa.)
warmly defended the course of the. presi-
Nf NHN iSNhNi Ohdld CltIlLluL II as one
of the "boldest" acts in the history of the
executive.
Mr.. McDermott IN. J.) pointed out that
the strike commission had no power behind
1t. He thought it should be given power
to make an investigation and report it's
findings to congress.
Mr.. Cannon Oll) argued that the bill
should pass in the form in which IL was
presented. II the presidents action had
been without authority of law or constitu-
ton, it had been taken in response to an
overwhelming public sentiment. ..--
Mr.. Griffith QndA offered an amendment
to. provide for the payment OF. the expenses
OF John Mitchell, president, Of the United
Mine Workers. He extolled the service of
Mr.. Mitchell in bringing the strike to an
end.
Mr.. Cannon paid a high, tribute to Mr.
Mitchell, but said he did not believe Mr..
Mitchell would endorse such a 'cheap John
proposition. The amendment. was voted
down..
The bill then passed without division
although there were several dissenting
voices on the democratic side.
The house adjourned until Friday.