The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-28
PASSES SENATE
Bill Establishing a New Cabinet
Office
To Be Called Department of
Commerce and Labor.
BODY is In NO HURRY
To Pass the Philippine Tariff
Measure.
Disposition to Carefully Exam
inc the Subject.

Washington Jan. 2S.-A resolution in
troduced yesterday by Mr.Lodge (Mass-)
authorizing the committee on Philip
pines to make an investigation of the
Philippines question and for that pur-
pose TO sit during the sessions of the
senate was reported favorably and
adopted by the senate soon after it con-
vened today.
Mr.. Bacon Pa.) offered a resolution
providing that the committee on print
ing consider the expediency of printing
a special edition of the congressional
record for sale to the general public at
50 for the long sessions and 81 for the
short sessions. He said some action
ought to be taken by congress to in
sure to the general public more COM
plete information as to the doingS in
congress. Under the present system, he
said, it was impossible for the public
to be kept informed upon the work of
congress 1t was no reflection, he said,
upon the newspapers of the country, to
say they did not publish full reports of
congressional proceedings. No newspa-
per could afford to present to its readers
more than a grief synopsis of the pro-
ceedings in the two branches of con-
gresS.
Mr.. Hawley remarked that his news
paper experience extended back be-
tween 40 and so years. When he was
younger the newspapers of the country
devoted considerable attention to the
proceedings of congress and in a meas
ure at least, he thought they might re-
turn, with interest, to their old practice.
The resolution was adopted.
Consideration of the bill to establish
a department of commerce then was
resumed, the pending amendment being
that of Mr.. Pettus providing that the
department of labor should not be
made part of the proposed new de-
partment.
After a brief discussion the amend
ment was rejected, 10 to SO.
ment providing that the name of the
new department should be the depart
ment of commerce and labor.
Mr. Nelson in charge of the bill agreed
to the amendment and it was adopted.
Mr.. Hale withdrew his amendment
offered a few days ago transferring the
interstate commerce commission to the
new department. He had been con-
vinced, he said. since offering the
amendment that such a transfer would
destroy the functions of the commits
sion.
No other amendments being offered,
the bill was reported from the commit
tee of the whole to the senate.
Mr. Quarles demanded a separate
vote on the amendment by which the
census bureau was stricken from the
bill as a part of the new department.
By a vote of to %, the census bureau
was retained in the N easure as one of
the bureaus of the new department.
The bill then was passed.
When the Philippine tariff bill was
taken up, Mr.. Bacon (Ga) offered a
joint resolution containing that por-
tion of the bill relative to shipping in
the Philippines. He wanted it passed
Immediately, saying that it was the
really urgent portion of the bill; the
minority would make no objection to
the resolution, and it could pass the
house and become a law at once.
Mr.. Lodge stated that the measure
under consideration was a house bill,
and contained many other important
fea lures, AND he saw no reasoD why it
should be passed piecemeaL
Mr.. Bacon insisted that senators
should have opportunity to examine
the reports of the Taft commission,
which were very voluminous and he
thought it would be wen to pass the
resolution, which was offered in good
faith, and thus give senators an oppor-
tunity to prepare to discuss the other
features of the bill.