Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-04-26
WORK OF CONGRESS.

Little business OF national Importance
was transacted by the senate on the 18th.
Numerous measures Of minor character
and nearly 60 private pension bills were
passed. In the house the fertilization
appropriation bill was passed and the
conference report the legislative ap-
preparation bill agreed to. The bill to
increase the number of judges of the sT,-
preme court Of Oklahoma from five to
seven; the bill offered by Mr.. Bowersock
(Kan.), providing for the establishment
of a federal court at Kansas City. Kan.s
a bill providing for the extension of the
time in which the new bridge across the
missouri river at St Charles, Mo-. must
be completed, and several other minor
bills were also passed.
Without a word Of discussion OF the
merits of the measure the senate on the
21st passed the river and harbor bill, car
rying in appropriations about $4,000 600.
So thoroughly had the bill been consid-
cred by the commerce committee that
every senator was content that 1t should
pass as reported from the committee.
AS no senator was prepared to begin de-
bate on the Philippine government bill,
the measure, after a few minutes of in
formal discussion, went over....The
house entered on the consideration OF the
military academy appropriation bill. Mr..
Cannon QH.), chairman of the committee
on appropriations, characterized the pro-
posed expenditure at West Point as the
''rankest kind of extravaganza" During
bert (ky.) precipitated discussion on the
race question. Mr.. Cochran (Ho.) dis
cussed the question of the alleged viola
ton of the neutrality laws in connection
with the shipment of mules and horses to
South Africa. He insisted that 1t was
the duty of the administration to prevent
these violations of the laws of neutrality.
The agricultural appropriation bill was
then reported.
Formal discussion or the bill tempo
pa T~fl TO do
Philippine islands was begun in the sem
ate on the 22d, Senator RawIins Utah),
the leading minority member of the Phil
ippine committee. opening the debate.
He denounced the bill as an unwarrant-
ed imposition on the Filipinos, declaring
that it would establish one of the foulest
oligarchies in the history of the world.
While he was speaking two efforts were
made to maintain a quorum, the second
resulting in a lively tilt among several
senators. Senator Scott CIV. Va intimat-
ing that argument could not influence
any senator. Senator Hawley Comm,
chairman of the senate committee on
military affairs, introduced a bill to ''in-
crease the efficiency of the army" The
most important section of the bill is the
following: Subject to the command OF
the president and general direction of the
secretary OF war, the lieutenant general
shall exercise command over the mill
tary forces of the United States, shall is
sue army orders and direct Inspections
of troops" The above provision is intend
ed to- give the commanding general a
legal status which at present he has not,
and is understood to be in the interest
of Gen. Miles. The house rejected
claims attached to the omnibus claim
bill by the senate aggregating 81, 800, 600
and sent the bill to conference. Several
private bills were passed and the house
resumed consideration of the military
academy appropriation bill. When the
item relating to the improvements at
inf Of
Mr.. Hull Qa.), in charge of the BILL
amendments were adopted reducing the
limit of cost of the improvements from
sc, SOC, 600 to IS, 500, GOO and the appropria-
ton carried by the bill from S. 900 to
100000 The bill was then passed. The
senate amendments to the river and har-
Dor bill were disagreed to and the bill
sent to conference.
Senator RawIins (Utah) on the sd con-
tinued his speech in the senate opposing
the Philippine temporary government
bill. He discussed at great length the
testimony presented to the committee on
Philippines and the reports made by off,
Gals to the war departments He pre-
scented many cases of torture of Filipi-
nos of the burning of towns and of the
Incarceration of Filipinos. All this he
said, was done to carry to the Fiiipinos
the benign administration OF the Amert-
can government He had not concluded
when the senate adjourned. Senator Du-
bois Oda) introduced a bill for a commits
sion to inquire into the condition of the
colored people of the United States. THE
house began consideration of the senate
amendments to the oleomargarine bill.
By the ruling of the chair the question
of further amendment of the senate
proposition was confined within very mar
row limits. The opponents of the meas
ure, who sought to modify the senate
amendments in various particulars, were
outvoted on every proposition submitted
Five of the II pages were completed be-
fore adjournment. Mr. Richardson
CTenn.) introduced a resolution that the
ways and means committee be instruct
ed to investigate the question of the re-
cent increase in the price of meats and
determine the cause thereof and II prac-
ticabIe offer some explanation that will
afford relief against the evil complained
of Mr. McDermott IN. j. introduced
a bill abolishing all duties upon meat
and poultry from foreign countries.