Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-05
MASON TALKS BILL TO DEATH
Retiring senator Marks Retirement
BY TtssnR RaIe Hescen-
f demns.

WASHINGTON. March 4-The senate
was called to order at 10 o'clock today for
the last sitting Of the Fifty-seventh con-
gress, but business did not begin until some
time later. The delay was due to the alb
sence Of quorum and to the fact that Mr..
Cockrell insisted upon the presence OF the
necessary number before taking up the
work Of the day.
Mr.. Allison, chairman Of the committee
on appropriations. made a statement regard
ing the amount of money appropriated by
the present congress, as compared with the
appropriations OF the Fifty-sixth congress
The total appropriations for the present
congress, he stated, was 81, ,554, ,10S .51S, as
compared with 81, ,44O. 4S9. .4Ss for the Fifty
sixth congress.
Explains the Appropriations.
There is also, he said, an aggregate ap-
preparation for the Postoflce department
of sl5S, $40 for the next fiscal year. as
compared with $13s .O00.0 900 for the current
year. making a difference Of more than $780,
C0O,000 In excess of the appropriation for
the last congress for the postal service.
This, he explained. arises from the enor-
nous increase In expenditures caused by in
creased postal business. Then also, he said,
the Tural free delivery service required
large sums. There was. he said. q smaller
deficiency than there has been in many
years in the postal receipts, as compared
with the expenditures.
He called attention to the fact that the
last congress passed no river and harbcT
bills. In the first session OF this congress
he said S27. .000,0 900 was appropriated for
rivers and harbors, in addition % which
$40. 100000 was appropriated in the sundry
civil bill for carrying out contracts.
He said that, while II appears that the
appropriations OF this congress have beea
largely in excess Of those of the last COZ
gress. the increase is chiefly made up OF
three items. namely. the $50 900. 900 for the
Panama canal, the increased appropriation
of $5O,OOO,OOO for the postal service and
the river and harbor appropriations.
Mr.. Bailey (Tex) called up a bill amend
ing the rivers and harbors act so as to pro-
vide that the S125.0OO heretofore appropri-
ated fer certain river and harbor improve
ments in Texas shall be used for the con
struction of channel In Sabine Lake, Tex
Hoar Talks of Philippines.
On an aye and nay vote demanded by Mr
Mason the senate agreed to take the bill
up-4i TO .. The effect OF the vote was Z
displace the Philippines tarifi bill. II wa
then temporarily laid aside. and Mr.. Hoa
spoke on the Philippines bill. The bill haS
been talked 10 death. he said. This wal
not In criticism Of senators who think tha
in the closing hours Of the session thi
remedy shall not be dealt with in an hour
The point he made. he said, was that tn
senate, the executive. the house Of repre-
sentatives and the public are not At Il
govern the destinies of a people 5000 mile
away who have no voice in the govern
ment 1T Is the first great object lesson,
said he, "the wretchedness. the iniquity o
what the American people did two year
ago in regard to these people"
Lodge Replies TO HOar.
Mr.. Lodge made a vigorous reply 10 Mt
Hoar, in which he said he did not agre
with him an the view that the America
people are not able to deal with the grea
problems In the east. II believe they ar
thoroughly able to deal with Il as the
dealt with greater and mightier problem
before" said Mr.. Lodge
Acting upon a resolution President pr
tenn Frye appointed Messrs. Allison an
Jones (Ark.) a committee to meet a simila
committee from the house to notify IN
president congress was ready to adjourn.
Mr.. Mason Gn) took the noor and dis