Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-02-15
Congress.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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bills. 1t carries SZ0,lIl JOY. Whlcn IS
5000, 721 in excess of the current law.
Only two amendments of Importance
were adopted One provides for com
mission to redistrict the legislative dis
tricts of Oklahoma, and the other author
ICES the President, in his discretion. to
cover into the civil service the temporary
clerical force employed on account of the
war with Spain. There are about l,2oO
of these clerks still in the service. BY
the terms of the amendment the Presl-
dent must place all or none of them under
the civil service. The Philippine tarlft
bill was taken up early in the Senate.
The session was notably quiet. Mr.. Iur-
Nor of Washington delivered a carefully
prepared speech on the general Philip
pine question, and had not concluded
when the bill was laid aside for the day
He discussed particularly the legal and
constitutional questions involved in the
government and control Of the Philippine
archipelago by the United States. After
the adoption of minor amendments the
pension appropriat ton bill was passed
early in the session.
The House on Saturday devoted an
hour to the transaction of minor business
and the remainder of the day to eulagies
on the life and public services of the
late Representative Burke of Texas.
80
General debate on the oeomargarne
bill was closed Monday. The friends of
the bill have decided to offer an amend
ment to make the 10-cent tax apply to
oleomargarine in imitation of butter, "of
any shade of yellow" The amendment
is designed to meet the charge Of the OPP
ponents of the bill that without this
amendment the language of the bill might
be construed to absolutely prohibit the
sale of oeomargarine. Throughout near
" the entire session of the Senate the
Philippine tariff bill was under consld-
Grafton Mr.. Turner (Wash.) concluded
his speech begun the previous Friday
on the legal and constitutional phases Of
the Philippine question He held in the
main that as the Filipinos had establish
ed an independent government in the ISL
ands prior to the fall of Manila, the
United States under the principles of in
ternationxl law had no right in the ISL
ands. Mr. Teller (Colo) took the floor to
deliver a speech on the pending measure
but had scarcely introduced his argument
before ne ECtlucSLGu lh6tI liz NC 'tt'S'' St ~
continue his address the next day.
By vote of 155 to 106. the opponents
of the Oleomargarine bill forced adjourn
ment in the House late Tuesday after
noon before the bill had been disposed of.
The temporary defeat of the bill was
complete, but not squarely upon its mer-
it's The dairy forces were repeatedly
routed during the day. Without compe-
tent leaders the "cowboys,' as the friends
of the bill have been dub5ed, were fire.
uuently stampeded. The unusual and
wholly unexpected spectacle was present
ed Of a measure that was supposed I'M
Guestonably to command the support of
safe majority, being torn to pieces and
kicked about the chamber. The Joint
resolution proposing a constitutional
amendment making the commencement
and termination of Congress and Of the
Presidents and Vice-Fresdent's terms of
Office the last Thursday in April instead
Of the 4th day of March was taken up in
the Senate, and after some Opposition by
Mr. Stewart of Nevada was passed. The
amendment is to become effective with
the expiration of the Fifty-eighth Con-
gress in April. 1905. 1t is believed The
House will concur in the resolution. If
it does President Roosevelt's term Of
office will be extended nearly two months.
\ stirring debate on the general Philip
pine question was precipitated in the Sen
ate late in the day, the principal partici-
pants being Mr.. Plat of Connecticut and
Mi Uoar OF Massachusetts.
The House Of representative on We'd
nesday passed the cleo bill. The test OF
strength of the contending forces came on
the motion Of Mr.. WadswOrth Of New
York to refer the bill back to the com
mittee on agriculture, with instructions
to report the substitute or minority meas
ure. This motion was defeated by a ma
iority Of fOrty-four, the vote being 1G2 to
11S. War claims occupied the attention
Of the House after the passage Of the
oleOmargarine bill, and the day was MADE
notable for the passage of the first bill
for the payment of claims of United
States citizens arising out of the Spanish
war. 1t carried something over 500 900
for the payment of POP claims for proper
ty taken within the United States FOR
the use of the army. An omnibus bill
carrying claims aggregating $2,114,552
for stores and supplies taken from loyal
citizens during the Civil War also was
passed. These claims were allowed m
der the provisions of the Bowman act.
and the bill was identical with one pass
ed BY the House at the last session. Two
other bills. which have been before Con-
gress for tWenty-eight years, to refer GER
tain claims for additional compensation
by the builders Of certain monitors dur
ing the Civil War to the court of claims
wC e passed. With the exception of i
sharp clash between Mr.. Lodge and Mr..
Patterson over the matter of admission
of representatives Of the press to the in
Yestigation which the Philippine commit
tee is conducting. the discussion of the
Philippine tariff bill in the Senate was
quiet. Mr.. Teller occupied the attention
of the Senate during the greater part Of
the session, and did not conclude his