The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-10
HEARINGS AND NEW BILLS.
Arguments Before Congregational
Committees on Proposed Legislation.

Il
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-Luke Wright,
vice governor of the Philippines. appeared
before the Senate committee on Philippines
to-day and urged the passage of the bill
reducing the duty on Philippine goods
coming to this country to 25 per cent. of
the Dingley rates. He also thought
Chinese laborers should be allowed to come
to the islands. Governor Wright also sup
ported the bill for reform in the Philip
pine currency. Mr.. Wright said that in his
opinion the tariff of IS per cent which now
obtains on all products shipped from the
Philippines to the United States really
amounts to a prohibition. He pleaded for
larger and more liberal trade relations
with the islands and said that the ships
bringing sugar and tobacco to this country
should take back American products.
Former Congressman s. j. Burrows, of
Massachusetts,, was heard by the commit
tee on immigration to-day. He said many
desirable immigrants would be kept out of
the country by the educational test in the
pending bill. He said that professedly one
purpose of the bill is to discriminate
against the Latin race, and he urged that
If that was to be the policy 1t would strike
among others the French, who always had
been our friends. Gen. w. w. Dudley and
Hon B. l.. Payson followed Mr.. Burrows
the former speaking for the Chicago &
Milwaukee Railroad Company and the lat
ter for the Southern Pacific. Both spoke
against the educational test provided by
the bill as calculated to decrease the labor
supply, which they urged is undesirable
The Department of Agriculture has APP
pealed to the House committee agri-
culture TO aid the department in stamping
out the foot and mouth disease, which has
appeared among cattle in New York, ask
ing that an emergency appropriation OF
$4,000 or 81 100000 be made The commit
tee is advised that there about 1.s00
herds which in the opinion of the depart
ment must be slaughtered. Dr. Salmon,
chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry,
has reported that the price per head fixed
for one herd slaughtered In New Hamp-
shire was s4S. of which the department
agreed with the state authorities to pay 20
per cent, and this he thinks will be an
average price. The committee is also adj
vised that it is the opinion of the depart
ment officials that the disease was trans
mitted through hay shipped from abroad
The Department of Agriculture is anxious
to take the most vigorous measures, and
the committee on agriculture Is disposed to
give every possible aid and will take the
matter up. The killing of diseased cattle
and the thorough disinfectiOn OF the in
fected quarters is demanded
bill was introduced in the House to-day
by Representative Payne, chairman of the
committee on ways and means. which aims
to relieve the situation with reference to
tea. 1t provides that any merchandise de-
posted in any public or private bonded
warehouse may be withdrawn for consump-
ton within three years from the date of
original importation on payment of the
duties and charges TO which il may be SUBJ
tect by law at the time of such withdrawal
There are some further provisions which
safeguard the proposed legislation.
The Indian appropriation bill was re-
ported to the House to-day. 1t carries
| N,7l5,93O. about $4,000 more than the esti-
mates, but more than 81. 900. 900 less than the
appropriation for the current fiscal year.
Delegate Wilcox, OF Hawaii, introduced
a bill in the House 10 pay the judgments
rendered by the Hawaiian Legislature for
| property destroyed in suppressing the bu-
| bonic plague.
The Senate committee education and
| labor to-day heard arguments in opposi-
| ton TO the eight hour bill By members OF
| the National Manufacturers Association.
Among the speakers was John j. Kirby,
| jr., of Dayton, o.
Senator Berry introduced an amendment
/ TO the anthracite coal strike commission
bill limiting the compensation Of the men,