New-York tribune., 1902-01-23
BUSINESS IN THE !SENA TIE.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BILL CON
SIDERED-GOVERNOR OTERO
CONFIRMED.

Washington. jan 22.-Debate the Philippine
tariff bill continued in the Senate to-day.
no member OF the body being prepared TO proceed
with the discussion. The bill providing for the
establishment of a Department of Commerce was
under discussion nearly two hours. Little prog
made with It, as, while the debate dis
closed objections to the main features of the
bill, there disposition on the part of the
Senate give II careful consideration and to per-
feet the details.
Mr. Culberson secured the adoption of his resou-
ton directing the Secretary Of War transmit to
the Senate copies of all suggestions, statements
criticisms and correspondence between the War De-
partment any official thereof and any person or
corporation relating the customs tariff affecting
the Philippine Islands.
Mr. Teller offered the concurrent resolution in
troduced in the House yesterday by William Alden
Smith, of Michigan requesting the British Govern
ment to set aside the death sentence imposed on
Commandant Scheepers. of the Boer army, and
asked that ii be laid until tomorrow. Il am
told Mr. Teller said, we can have by tomorrow
official evidence that the statements in the resolu-
ton are correct. This is which certainly
calls for the intervention of the United States or
of some other government which has some feeling
OF humanity. War, wherever ii is should be con-
Quoted upon principles of humanity or. at least, If
not. should enter protest against it,
Mr.. Quarles offered an amendment to the Depart
ment OF Commerce bill providing that the Secretary
of Commerce should have complete control of the
formation naturally relating to the subjects confided
to his department. and to this end the Secretary
should have authority to call on all other depart
mertS OF the government for statistical data to be
published as he may deem wise
Mr. Gallinger made vigorous argument in sup
port of the pending measure. The establishment of
such department, he said, had been demanded by
commercial and industrial bodies throughout the
country for years.
The president pro tempore laid before the Senate
a letter from Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor protesting against
the incorporation of the Department of Labor in the
proposed Department of Commerce. He said that
the Department of Labor had been organized al the
earnest solicitation of the organized labor of the
country in the hope that 1t ultimately might become
one of the executive departments of the
with Secretary Of Labor who should have seat
in the Cabinet. Mr. GOmpers of the opinion
in the Department of Commerce it would minimize
the interests Of labor and he protested against any
such result.
After long discussion the bill with all amend
ments ordered reprinted, pending further con-
sideration.
Mr.. Pettus offered amendment providing that
the Department of Labor should not be transferred
to the Department OF Commerce.
Pending action the amendment the Senate, at
2:25 p m went into executive session and at 4:45
p. m. adjourned.
In executive session the nomination of NJ. A
Otero Governor of New-MeXco confirmed
Senator Morgan spoke for more than hour in
opposition to the nomination. When he closed the
vote taken without division. Many unoppoSed
nominations confirmed.