The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-17
NEW GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENT BILL
1t Does Not Meet the Sem
ate's Approval.
1T MIST BE AMENDED
1T MUST BE AMENDED
The Discussion Brief. No Definite
Action Taken.
MIsaEPResENTeD ON CANAL QUESTION
Senators Declare That Statements Representing
Them as in Favor Of Panama Canal
Route Are ncorrec'. Number of
v
UncoBtested Bills Passed
(By the Associated Press }


Washington, jan 1G.-For a brief time
today the Senate had under considera-
tlon the bill creating a Department of
Commerce. The discussion tended to
STOW that the measure will have to be
amended in many particulars before it
= can receive the approval of the Senate
Serious objections were raised to the
transfer to the proposed department of
several important bureaus now a part of
ether departments of the Government.
Notice OF several important amendments
was given but no definite action on the
measure was taken.
large number of uncontested bills
and private pension measures was passed
after which the Senate adjourned until
Monday.
Mr.. Hoar asked that his resolution
adopted yesterday calling for informa-
ton concerning the exaction of duties
upon supplies and comforts in regard to
the Boer prisoners in Bermuda from this
country be recalled. He explained that
inc article OF the House convention upon
Which The resolution had been based
had been adopted by Great Britain bur
had noC been adopted by the United
States. He said he had been informed.
since the adoption of the resolution that
the Governor of Bermuda proposed to
recommend to the Legislature of Ber-
muda that the law eXacting such duties
be repealed. He said the exaction of
such duties was not violation of treaty
Obligations but he thought it was a
matter which ought TO be investigated
The motion to recall was adopted and
the resolution was referred to the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations.
A House concurrent resolution provid-
ing that the two branches of Congress
assemble in the Hall of the House. of
Representatives ON Thursday, February
p, to participate in services in memory
Of the late President Mckinley was
adopted
Mr.. Mallory (Fla) rising to a ques-
ton of privilege called attention TO an
article in a New York newspaper of the
l4th instant purporting to give poll of
the Senate on the subject OF an isthmian
canal in the course of which he was
represented as being in favor of the
Panama route. He declared he had had
no interview with any one upon that
subject. AS a matter of fact the article
misrepresented him entirely Il am de-
vdedIy in favor said he, "of pressing
the Nicaragua project as rapidly as possi-
Bile and if it were in my power | should
be very glad 10 bring the matter up
tor vote today
Ir. Clay (Ga), made similar state
mcnt about the same article, asserting
that he never had intmated TO anyone
what his views on the canal question
were, bat that he did as fact favor
the Nicaragua project and not the Pan
anna route, as stated in the article in
question.
The bill to establish the Department
of Commerce was called up by Mr.. Mel
son Mimi.
After some minor amendments to the
measures had been offered by Mr. Mel
son and adopted, Mr.. Lodge offered AN
amendment to section II of the bill,
providing that the Secretary of State
should designate an official in his de-
rartment to furnish instructions to CON
sular officers supplied by the Secretary
of Commerce and to prepare the dis
pat ches of the consular officers for trans
mission TO the Secretary of Commerce
HG al OuStu tOuSluPrIGlP
comment, all OF it being favorable to
Mr.. Lodges proposition.
Mr.. Hale sharply criticised the bill. He
said the measure so suddenly flashed
ppoa the Senate created the largest dc
rartment in the government. The Sec
retary CT Commerce would become thei
most important member of the Cabinet,
He would be even a more important Of
fetal than the Secretary of the Treas
raTy with all of his, great administrative
fnties.
Many Bureaus had been included in the
proposed department that have no more
relation to commerce than light has to
darkness. He referred particularly to the
transfer to the new Department OF the
Coast and Geodetic Survey and urged
mat if that bureau were changed~at all
II should be placed under the Navy
Department He referred to various
navies in TIE several departments.
This brought Mr.. Tillman to his feet
Il would like to add another navy to
those enumerated by the Senator he
said that is, the army transport ser
sce. That is assuming great proper
tions and about it l have heard some
scandal
At the instance of Afr. Teller section
of the bill providing for the transfer Of