Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-01-09
CONGRESS.

VVANONGAO0e
Washington, Jan. 5.-Senate.-
Lodge introduced resolution sus
pending for ninety days the duty on
coal, saying that in New England there
was much distress, and factories
might have to shut down. Culbersoa
followed with resolution providing
for the removal of the duty on anthra
cite coal and asked its immediate con-
sideration. Plat Of Connecticut OBJ
jected. Vest also introduced resolu
ton on the subject. Another resolu
ton bearing on the subject of coal, in
troduced by Jones of Arkansas, recited
the charge of w. r. Hearst that there
was an illegal combination among GER
tain railroads to control the shipment
of anthracite coal and called on the at
torney general for the evidence which
it was alleged had been secured by
him. 1t caused lively debate, In
which several republican senators Wig
orously resented what they thought
was q reflection on the attorney gen.
erel. The discussion continued until
2 o'clock, when the resolution went
over, being displaced by the omnibus
statehood bill Nelson addressed the
senate in opposition to the bill and
favored single statehood for Oklahoma
and Indian Territory. At o'clock the
senate adjourned.
House.-The bill to create a general
staff In the army was the issue in the
house. An attempt was made to pasa
1t under suspension Of the rules, which
required a two-thirds majority. Al.
though all the members of the min
ority Of the military committee en-
dorsed it, opposition developed be
cause Of the hurried manner in which
1t was proposed to pass the bill, and
the division, 10S to 40. developed that
1t did not command the support Of
two-thirds OF those present. A call Of
the house followed, but as the roll
call showed about thirty less than a
quorum, the house adjourned,
Washington, Jan. 6.-Senate-Sen.
ator Hoar made notable speech in
the senate today on his bill regulating
trusts. His utterances were listened
to with marked attention, He said
that nearly all thoughtful men in this
country are agreed that some legisla-
ton, state or national, ought to be
had for the. regulation and control Of
what are called trusts and of large
masses of capital accumulated by cor
porations or artificial persons holding
property and conducting business
without individual liability. There
was, he said, a general feeling of in
security and alarm about the matter
and we we're dealing with a real peril
and not with fancy or imaginary
danger. He argued that II his bill
should become law and prove effec.
tive no corporation engaging in the
commerce which is within the jurisdic-
ton of congress can keep its condi
ton secret. The bill, he said de-
ponds for its validity on the constitu
tional power of congress to regulate
international and interstate commerce.
Should the bill not prove effectual he
contended that it would be easy to ex-
tend its operation by imposing like
personal liability on every stock
holder. Senator Vest made an attack
on protected industries through the
operation of the Dingley law. Vest
used as text for his remarks his reso-
luton introduced yesterday. instruct
ing the committee on finance to pre-.
pare and report q bill removing the
duty on coal. Feeble in the extreme
and supporting himself on his desk,
he called attention to the condition of
distress which had arisen as a result
of the shortage in the coal supply.
There was breathless silence in the
chamber as he spoke, and every SEN
ator on the floor turned in his direc.
ton in order to catch his words. He
said that the question was no longer
personal one, but one of humanity
and that We are not on the verge of a
crisis, but actually In 1t. He charged
the republican senators with being
silent and dumb to the state of affairs
having only In mind the party cry
"stand pat" He characterized the
Dingley tariff act as a sacred ele.
plant with which rothing was to be
DONE" He sarcastically remarked
that If the whole question was one of
raising money for the next presiden.
tial campaign, that was the end of the
discussion.
House.-The house today passed the
bill for the creation off, general staff
for the army by vote of 1853 to 81.
BY the terms Of the bill it becomes
the duty Of the general staff to pre-
pare plans for the national defense
and for the mobilization of the army
In time OF war, to investigate and re-
port on all questions affecting the eff.
hciency of the service and to render
professional aid to the secretary and
to general officers and other superior
commanders.
Washington, Jan. 7.-Senate.-The
senate discussed the bill for the re.
organization of the militia and also the
statehood bill. Mallory of Florida led
the democratic senators in opposition
to the section of the militia bill provid-
ing for reserve force of trained men,
the contention being that it not only
infringed on the rights of the several
states, but also increased the standing
army by 100000 men. When the state
hood bill came up Beveridge had read
number OF resolutions adopted at a
recent convention in Oklahoma favor
ing single statehood with Indian Ter
ritory. Quay, who is leading the fight
for the admission of Oklahoma, Arr.
IONA and New Mexico, criticised the
resolutions, saying the people who
adopted them had not acted intelli.
gently because the single statehood
bill had been withdrawn. He further
charged that they did not represent
the sentiment of a majority of the PEG.
pie of Oklahoma.
House.-The session OF the house
lasted little more than two hours.
The senate bill for the redemption OF
the silver coinage ,of the Hawaiian
islands and it's recoinage into United
States coin, was passed after an hours
debate.
Washington, Jan. ---Senate-To
day the senate again discussed the
Vest resolution requesting the finance
committee to report a bill removing
the duty on anthracite coal, and Al.