Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-04-03
FEDERAL LAW MAKERS.

FEDERAL LAW MAKERS.
Washington, March 24.-Considera-
ton was begun by the senate Of what
is popularity known as the oleomar-
garine bill. The measure places a tax
of 10 cents a pound on oleomargarine
colOred in imitation of butter and re-
duces the present tax of 2 cents per
pound on oleomargarine to one quarter
of a cent per pound in it's uncolored
form. Senator Proctor of Vermont,
chairman of the committee on agri-
culture, made the opening statement
in support of the measure. He con-
cluded with the observation that the
pending bill was "a measure to protect
an honest product against fraud
Mr.. Boreing of Kentucky interjected
an attack on the Goebel election law
into the discussion Of the Moss-Rhea
contested election case from the third
Kentucky district, which again Occu-
pied the attention of the house.
but Mr.. Rhea declined debate on the
Washington, March 26.-Through-
out the session of the senate the
Oleomargarine bill was under discus
sion. Senator Hansborough OF North
Dakota concluded his speech in sup
pert of the measure, maintaining that
the oleOmargarine industry had been
01,41 i I'll,
states and it ought to be compelled
by congress to take off it's mask and
place it's product on the market for
what it really was. Senator Stewart
of Nevada declared the proposed
legislation unnecessary and that
there was no more reason for taxing
colored oleomargarine than for
taxing cOlored butter. The principal
speech was delivered by Senator
Dolliver of Iowa who denounced the
oleomargarine Industry, declaring 1t
had put itself in partnership with
lawlessness and false pretenses.
Senators Hoar and Lodge of Mas
sachusetts explained that their rea-
son for supporting the bill was that
1t was a tax on an evident fraud
The general debate on the military
appropriation bill was concluded in
the house and consideration of the
bill under the fve-minute rule begun.
Washington, March 27.-In the
senate Mr.. Harris of Kansas and Mr..
Quarles of Wisconsin spoke on the
oleomargarine bill Senator Harris
supported the measure, but urged the
amendment which he proposed, to
place tax of 10 cents per pound on
adulterated butter and regulating the
manufacture and sale of renovated
butter, ought to be adopted. Senator
Quarles denounced the oleomargarine
industry as fraud. Taking advantage
of the latitude the debate offered by
the senate rules, Senator Patterson of
Colorado sharply criticised the
methods by which Gen. Funston cap
tured Aguinaldo, and sought to show
that Funston's statement that he had
not violated the articles of civilized
warfare were not accurate.
A sensation was caused in the house
by the presentation by Mr.. Richard
son of Tennessee, the democratic
leader, of charges alleging the cor
rupt use of 100000 in connection
with the sale Of the Danish West In
dies. The charges were contained in
an alleged secret report of Captain
Walter Christmas to the Danish gov
eminent in which he declared he had
employed corrupt means in bringing
negotiations for the sale of the is
lands to contamination. The report,
extracts from WHICH Mr.. Richardson
read, mentioned the names of Abner
Mckinley and his partner, Colonel
Brown, and G. w. Knox, who is de-
scribed as an intimate friend of Sen
ator Hanna" Richard P. Evans, who
is said to represent Mr.. Gardner and
his friends in the house." and two
press associations, the names of which |
are not given, as having been inter |
ested in the matter The charges |
against members of congress are not !
specific. Upon the basis of this re-
port, Mr.. Richardson asked the adop-
ton of resolution for the appoint
ment of an investigating committee
of seven. The speaker ruled the mat
ter privileged after MI Richardson
had amended his resolution so as to
specifically include the members of
the house. Great excitement at
tended the whole proceeding. Mr..
Cannon Of Illinois insisted that Mr..
richardson's presentation was frag-
and that the whole matter
should go over in order that mem
oers might read the documents.
Christmas, he declared, on his own
statement was a briber and worse,
put the house voted down the motion !
% postpone and the resolution after ;
1elng amended in minor particulars ,
vas adopted. The speaker immediate
y appointed the following committee s
o make the investigation: Messrs. '
oalzell (rep., Pa, Hit (rep., IIl) Is
cousins (rep., la, Mccall (rep., J.
dass.), Richardson (dem., TENN 6
)insmore (dem., Ark. Cowherd 6
dem, Mo-. The army appropriation G
ill subsequently passed without ma f
erial amendment. h