The state herald., 1902-12-26
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

The war claims committee OF the
House has reported favorably bills
carrying appropriations to pay claims
growing out of the cutting of cables
by the United States naval forces in
the war with Spain.
The House passed the bill to reduce
the duties on products of the Philip
pine islands coming into the United
States from seventy-fye per cent. OF
the Dingley rates Cthe present duties)
to twenty-five per cent. of those rates.
The discussion of the bill was accom-
| panied by considerable maneuvering
| on the Democratic side to secure test
| votes on various amendments designed
to lower the tariff still further, and a
record vote was forced on motion to
| recommit with instructions to report
a bill providing for absolute free trade
with the islands. The division on this
proposition was on party lines, with
the exception of Mr.. Call (Republican
of Massachusetts, who voted with the
Democrats.
Representative Mondell of Wyoming
has introduced bill increasing the
penalty imposed upon persons commit
ting crimes against Indians. Under the
prfSert,law. .ape years imQrisannent is
the maximtNn penalty Tor stddiing
property of Indians regardless of the
value of property taken. In many in
stances large numbers of Indian cattle
and other property have been TAKEN
and upon conviction guilty parties
have been required to serve but one
years Imprisonment. Under the Mon
dell bill the penalty imposed is one
years Imprisonment If property taken
is not worth over S25; If over that
amount. the punishment shall be i'm
prisonment of not less than one year
nor more than fourteen years.
Mr.. Bartlett. Georgia Democrat.
during consideration of the legislative
appropriation bill in the House, of
fered an amendment to appropriate
S250000 to enforce the Sherman anti
trust law and to direct the attorney
general to proceed to the prosecution
of all violators of the law. Although
such a provision was plainly amenable
to point Of order. not n member on
either side of the House raised objec-
ton. Both sides wheeled into line and
all agreed that some such action was
advisable. Some of the Republicans
raised objection TO the looseness of the
language OF the amendment, and Mr.,
Hepburn offered as substitute for II
the language of the bill he introduced
the opening day of the session TO ap-
propriate 100000 for the enforcement
of the law. This was further strength
ened to make the appropriation imme
diately available. and as amended the
substitute was agreed to without di-
vision. The legislative bill was passed
practically as 1t came from the. COM
mittee. except the amendment.
The House, on the 18th inst, passed
the Senate bill for unIor. railroad
station in Washington to cost $4,000.
900. The station is to be situated
north of the present site of the Balti-
more < Ohio depot at Delaware and
Massachusetts avenues, and in front
OF II Is to be large plaza park. The
Pennsylvania railroad. by the terms
of the bill, is. to remove its tracks
from the Mali and reach the site of
u
TO run between the capitol and library
buildings. The government is to pay
the Pennsylvania railroad $l,500.O00
and the Baltimore & Ohio $500. 900. in
addition to providing for the plaza
park. The House also passed an ur.
gent deficiency bill. which carried.
among other items. an appropriation
OF 100000 for eradicating the foot
and mouth disease In New England.
and s500.000 to cover deficiencies in
the rural free delivery service. Under
suspension Of the rules. bill TO allot
the lands OF the Indians in New York
In severalty was passed.
The eight-hour labor bill. as amend
cd by the Senate committee on educa-
ton and labor. was reported to the
Senate from that committee. accom-
panied by n written statement OF the
committees reasons for its action. II
Is stated that the bill Is substantially
the same as the House bill and that II
is favored by majority OF the Senate
committee. Speaking OF the general
policy of the measure. the committee
says: Your committee do not doubt
the right OF Congress to extend the
eight-hour day. The majority approve
the policy Of extending the eight-hour
day. believing It's results will be bene-
iicial. that the products of labor will be
improved and that the happiness and
homes OF workmen will be greater and
brighter. the intelligence OF the people
increased and civilization advanced by
such legislation. A majority OF your
committee believe that this measure.
which has received from the committee
such serious and careful consideration.
IN not radical, but conservative, and,
therefore. recommend It's passage"
Representative Fowler. chairman OF
the House committee on banking and
currency. introduced bill which was
drawn by him In accordance with tho
Views OF the Republican members eN-
pressed Mt recent conferences, aud
which win be urged instead OF the cur
r.ncy bill reported to the Hous. ut tho
last session. The bill provides: THAT
any national bank may. with the ap-
proval Of the comptroller OF the cur
roncy. take out for issue and clrcula-
ton nm amount Of national bank notes
not escecding twenty-five per cent OF
It's phid-up md unimpnired capital,
without dcpoaiting United States bonds
with the United States Treasury In tho
manner provided by existing laws"
The bank In required TO deposit bonds
or gold coin equal 10 five per cent. of
the notes taken out. A tax OF one
quarter Of l cent Ii TO be paid on the
FIRST days OF January and July OF each
year IN gold on the average amount Of
-. la. ri st..