The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1903-12-07
President Roosevelt's S Mes
sages Read to Both of
the Houses Today.
TO PROBE ALL FRAUD
Chief Executive DWellS on
Honesty-The Regular
Sessions Opened.

Washington, d. C., Dec. 7.-Thc first
regular session Of the Fifty-eighth con-
gress began at noon today but the senate
met half an hour previous to that time i'll
accordance with the adjournment OF Sat
urday last for the purpose OF permitting
an orderly termination of the called ses-
sion. The fact that there had been an
extra session had the effect OF robbing
the day of the regular session of many
of the features which usually characterize
a first day, but there were still some OF
the usual indications, the principal one
of which, the attendance OF the public.
The galleries were by no means crowded.
but there was n larger attendance than
usual and there was an air OF expectancy
which is noticeable only on unusual oc
casions.
The first portion of the half hour sit
ting of the extra session was devoted TO
executive business but before the doors
were closed the senate passed bill
amending the law relative to congressional
franks.
Executive Session.
The motion for an executive session was
made by Mr.. Allison, who stated that
there was some business necessary to
transact behind closed doors before the
termination of the called session. The
motion prevailed and at II 80 the exc
cutive session began.
After the doors were opened Senator
platt (Conn.) presided over the senate
during the favorable consideration of a
resolution OF thanks to Senator Frye for
the courteous manner in which he has
presided over the senate"
The resolution was offered by Mr.. Cor
man.
Mr.. Kean made favorable report from
the committee on contingent expenses on
the resolution of Mr. Penrose requesting
the transmission TO the senate by the post.
master general of all the papers relating
TO the postoffice investigation. Mr.. Cor.
man objected to the present consideration
Of the resolution and it went TO the cal
endar.
A favorable report was made by Mr..
Burton from the committee forest re-
serves and the protection Of game, on a
bill creating the national Appalachian
forest reserve"
Mr.. Frye then took the chair at IL
o'clock and announced that the hour pro-
vided by law for the meeting of the
first regular session OF the Fifty-eighrh
congress having arrived, Il declare the
extraordinary session adjourned"
TIdyCI was OHSICi ny tHS NV - J.
Prettyman. The roll was called and 81
senators having responded, Mr.. Frye an
nounced that quorum was present.
Resolutions.
Resolutions were offered and agreed to
as follows:
By Platt Comm, fixing the daily meet
ing hour at IL o'clock Mr.. Power for a
committee to inform the house that "A
quorum of the senate was present; by
Mr.. Hale, that a committee of two sem
ators be appointed to join like committee
from the house to notify the president that
a quorum of the senate had assembled
AS bills and petitions were being pre-
sented Mr.. Hoar suggested that it was not
customary for the senate to transact bust
ness pending the notification of the presi-
dent and on his motion a recess was taken
for one hour.
Upon convening the senate Mr.. Hale re-
ported for the committee that the president
had been advised and would shortly COM
municate message.
Mr.. Barnes, assistant secretary to the
president, then introduced the message,
which was read at once.
President Roosevelt's message contains
about $4,000 words. 1t opens with con-
gratulations to the country on the
amount of substantial achievement which
has marked the past year. both as regards
our foreign and our domestic policy"
CAPITAL AND LABOR--The creation
of the department OF capital and labor is
commended at length, and the adminstra-
ton policy OF demanding that both capt
taistic and labor organizations obey the
letter of the law is set forth in incisve
language.
EJNANrE ;e eba tbat %1o
ceipts for the last fiscal year were $780,
so6,674, and the expenditures $500 ,ooo,-
oo7, leaving surplus of $54,,o7 ,667.
Reduced custom receipts may wipe out
the surplus for the present fiscal year
since "a large surplus is undesirable
The president advises no "legislation to
reconstruct the monetary system" The
message recommends appropriation to CON
tue the commission to establish an inter
national standard of exchange.
SHIPPING.--In view OF the diversity
of opinion as to the methods of develop
ing American merchant shipping, The APP
pointment OF a commission to devise
suitable plan is recommended.
IMMlGRATION.-Th necessity for
closer scrutiny Of immigrants and better
enforcement OF the laws OH the subject is
made clear.
CORRUPTION IN OFFlCE.--The mes
sage has many scathng words regarding
frauds in the postal, immigration and land
services 1t recommends that the $780,
900 appropriated last session to enforce
the antitrust law be made available also
for the attorney general to prosecute
frauds in these three services 1t also
recommends that bribery be made an ex-
traditable ofense.
NArT0NAJ ApDITD ATION
The message devotes much space to this