Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-12-25
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Bill to Reduce Duties On philippins
Products Passed.

Products Passed.
The PURE FOOD BILL DISCUSSED.
4 Resolution Introduced 70 Suspend The
Allen Contrast Labor Law for Eorsign
Exhibitors st WORLDS Fair-An
Emergency Currency Bill.
Washington, Dec. 1o.-The house
yesterday passed the bill to reduce
the duties on the products Of the
Philippine islands coming into the
United States from rs per cent. Of
the Dingley rates (the present du-
ties) to Is per cent. Of these rates.
The discussion Of the bill was accom-
panied by considerable maneuvering
on the democratic side to secure test
votes on various amendments de-
signed to lower the tariff barrier still
further, and q record vote was forced
on motion to recommit with in
structions to report bill providing
for absolute free trade with the is
lands. The division on this PROPOSE
ton was on party lines, with the ex-
ceptlon Of Mr.. Mccall, republican, Of
Massachusetts,, who voted with the
democrats.
The discussion Of the pure food
bill, which has been made q continu-
ing order until disposed Of, was then
begun. Mr.. Tompkins, of Ohio, said
1t did not prohibit the manufacture
or sale Of any food product, not dele
ferrous, however adulterated, nor in
hibit the sale Of adulterated drugs,
but 1t does provide that all adulter-
ated foods and drugs shall DO placed
on the market under their true
names and in such manner a. to ad-
wise the purchaser what he Is get
ting. He referred to the revelations
before the committee, where 1t was
shown that fraud and deception was
pracMced in foods not suspected Of
being other than genuine BY the gen
eral public.
Mr.. AdamsoA, Of Georgia, opposed
the bill on the ground that states
could deal adequately with the situa-
ton. He said he believed thoroughly
in tho protection Of the public against
fraud, but he did not believe In in
posing the task on the federal gov
eminent. No one could contend, he
said, that a state could not punish
common cheats and swindlers If they
deceived in that they sold one thing
and delivered another.
Mr.. Gardner, Of Massachusetts,, op-
posed the bill. He declared that it
would interfere materially with |
many legitimate industries. Boracic
acid, he said, was used in the
preservation Of Goldfish and un-
der the terms Of the bill probably |
would be regarded as deleterious to |
health by the government chemists.
He said he would offer an amendment |
to meet his objection to the bill. In
conclusion he said there was great
deal Of humbug about the cutlery
against adulterated foods. II we ate
adulterated food, he said, we did not
want to know it any more than we
wanted to know the unhealthful con-
ditions with which we we're some
times surrounded. He said he be-
lieved the anti-spitting and other so
called health regulations and ordi-
nances were overdone. Without &C
ton on the bill the house adjourned.
The Mccall resolution calling on
the state department for the corre-
spondence in the Venezuelan i'm
broglio was adopted at the beginning
Of the session.
A joint resolution was introduced
by Mr.. Tswney, chairman Of the
house committee on industrial arts
and expositions, providing that the
alien contract labor law shall not
operate to prevent foreign exhibitors
at the Louisiana Purchase exposition
at st. Louis from bringing into the
United States under contract such
employees, natives Of foreign coun-
tries, as they may deem necessary
for specified purposes, subject to the
Of the secretary Of the
treasury.
Mr.. Lewis, Of Georgia, democratic
Of the house committee on
and currency, introduced a
bill to provide an elastic or emer-
gency currency TO meet the financial
and commercial requirements Of the
country. The bill authorizes the
Of the currency to issue
to any national banking association,
in addition to the circulation now
authorized by law, circulating notes
to an amount not exceeding Is per
cent Of the paid-up capital and sur
plus of said bank.
The Figure.