Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-03-20
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL PASSED SENATE

against the treatmenU HIS Stdtc lidu
received. Mr.. Foster, Of Illinois, and
Mr.. Cochran, of Missouri, discussed
the Boer war, criticising the majority
severely for failure to allow congress
to express the sympathy of the
American people with the struggling
republics. At the conclusion Of the
proceedings Mr.. Wachter, of Mary
land, denied newspaper story to
the effect that Speaker Henderson
had attempted to influence his course
on the question of Cuban reciprocity
Washington, March 15.-Through-
out the session Of the senate yes
terday the ship subsidy bill was un-
der consideration. The measure was
discussed by Senator Foraker, of
Ohio; Senator McLaurin, Of Missis-
sippi, and Senator Harris, of Kansas.
Senator Foraker supported the bill,
although he admitted that he would
have preferred to build up the Amer
ican merchant marine by the levying
of discriminating duties. He was
willing, however, to defer to the
judgment of the majority that the
pending measure embodied the bet
ter plan. Both Senator McLaurin and
Senator Harris opposed the measure
on the ground that in their judg-
'ment 1t was not constitutional.
They maintained that it was class
legislation which amounted to little
short of robbery of the people for
the benefit of a few shipowners.
Senator Harris made the point that
the United States now was paying
more TO the American line for the
carrying OF ocean mails than was
paid to foreign ships for greater serv-
ice.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Harris
remarks the senate, at 4;30, went
into executive session and at sos adj
iourned.
Senator Penrose, who. as chairman
Of the committee on immigration,
has charge of the Chinese exclusion
bill, gave notice that upon the dis
position of the bill providing for the
protection of the president ne would
move to make the Chinese exclusion
bill the unfinished business on the
senate calendar, with the object of
securing the earliest possible con
sideration for it.. Senators Proctor
and Spooner indicated possible OBJ
iections because Of the hitherto gen
eral understanding that the oleomar-
garine bill should be given right of
way after the presidential protection
bill. but Senator Penrose SAYS later
that he hoped to reach an amcable
arrangement with the senators who
are pressing the oleomargarine bill.
That measure, he felt sure, would
arouse much debate and he hoped
there would be no long controversy
over the Chinese ail. He considers
early action on the Chinese bill very
necessary because of the fact that
the law which now controls in the
matter for the exclusion of Chinese
will expire early in May. Hle ex-
presses the opinion that whatever
concession may be made to the favor
OF the oleomargarine bill the Chi
nese bill will not be held for the
Nicaragua canal bill. because of the
certainty of the prolonged debate on
that measure.
Senator Penrose introduced as an
amendment to the pending resolution
providing for the election of United
States senators by direct vote of the
people a proposition to increase the
number of senators in proportion to
population and providing for other
important changes in senatorial rep
'resentation of the states.
The house yesterday passed the
post Office appropriation bill. The
only amendment of Importance
adopted was one to incorporate in
the bill the provisions of the bill to
classify the rural free delivery sery-
ice, passed few days ago.
Quite number Of other bills were
passed, including three bills for ma
rine hospitals at Buffalo, Savannah
and Pittsburg; to permit the issue
of school bonds in Oklahoma; to rati-
fy the act of the Arizona Legislature
providing fund for the University
Of Arizona; for the refunding Of the
debt OF Navajo county, Ariz., at a
lower rate of interest. and to change
the boundaries between the southern
and central districts of the Indian
territories.
The Burleson resolution calling on
the secretary Of state for the facts
relative TO the case of DR.. Thomas
and wife who desired to go to South