The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-03-12
JUDGE CONNER
HAS RETURNED
roth District Congressman Tells
Of Recent Session.
Interviewed by Review Judge Conner
Speaks Of Important Work Of
kCOngreSS.

Washington on TUESDAY anu NC Is noW
busy at his Denison Office taking hold
of his legal affairs and keeping in touch
with his constituents through the dis
trict. In response to the Reviews re-
quest for a resume of the work OF Con-
gress Judge Conner said:
When you ask me to give an outline
of the work of the last session of Con.
gress 1 find it difficult to tell where to
begin or what to say that would be OF
most interest in view of the fact that SO
much was accomplished. The session
was one of more than. ordinary interest
both in legislation proposed and CON-
pleted. The work of Congress does
not consist in passing legislation alone
but in defeating many measures that
are considered at length and found to
be without merit, If all the bills in
PRODUCED into Congress became laws L
apprehend the country would suffer
much harm. There are certain bills
that must be considered and passed in
each Congress in order to keep the
government moving along. These
measures are known as Appropriation
Bills, for the various departments of
the government.
At the session of Congress just closed
pension bill in the neighborhood Of
One Hundred and Thirty-five Million
Dollars was passed.
The Indian Appropriation Bill also
passed at this session was smaller than
last year, while the Naval Bill was the
largest that was ever passed. The in
crease was on account of provision be-
ing made for the construction of battle
ships, some of the largest that have
ever been constructed, and on account
of provision being made for an increase
of officers and men to man the ships.
This means that this country is plan
ming to put itself upon equal footing
with the navy Of any other nation and
to protect our coast cities from foreign
invasion as we'll as to defend the Mon
roe Doctrine which has become cher
ished doctrine in this country.
The Army Appropriation Bill passed
at this session. on account of the reduc
ton Of the army in the Philippine Is
lands, is smaller than that Of last year.
The Postoffice Appropriation Bill, on
account of the extension of rural free
delivery service throughout the country,
was somewhat larger than the one OF
last year. and it must be expected that
this will gradually increase as the rural
service increases.
In addition to the bills mentioned
the Legislative, Diplomatic and Consu
lar, Sundry Civil, General Deficiency
and Urgent Deficiency Bill were passed
at this session. These appropriation
bills are in the main what are known as
supply measures-thatis, they are made
to pay the ordinary running expenses
of the government and to keep it alive
Perhaps more interest was shown or
the part of the public in securing anti
trust legislation than to any other
character There were great many
remedies suggested, some of which
were regarded as too drastic and some
too feeble to bring about the desired
results. The Littlefield Bill while
perhaps in some respects more drastic
than the one which finally became q
law passed the House unanimously, but
did not meet with the same favor in
the Senate. The remedies against
trusts as proposed are first, publicity
and second, the prevention of rebates
by common carriers. This latter pro
vision not only prohibits the giving Of
rebates by the carrier but also pro
hibits the acceptance OF rebates under
penalty by the shipper. 1t is hoped
that these two remedies will result in
the prevention of certain interest:
from crushing out competition, and
that competition will prevent monopoly
The disposition of Congress to modify
trust schedule when occasion requires
was manifested by the suspension Of
the duty on anthracite coal. There
was great demand on the part of the
people that something should be done
to relieve the situation caused by the
the scarcity in the supply of coal, and
while it was felt on the part of Con
gress that this legislation would not ir
any material respect relieve the situa
tion yet in response to the demand O
the people of the country the suspen
sion was made.
A bill to create new department te
be known as the Department of Com
merce was passed at this session and
became law. The result of this leg
islation will doubtless be to extend our
trade abroad as we'll as at home and to
enable us to find markets for our sur
plus product throughout the world
Geo. B. Cortelyou, secretary to the
President, has been appointed secre.