Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-02-20
A BLAZE IN 1RE HOUSE.
Excitement Created in the Capitol
w. at Washington Over
. Small Fire.
WOODWORK leNl1Ep BY DEFECTIVE FLuE
Incident Does Not Interfere with the
Regular Business of the House
LittIeGeId Anti-rrust Bill Report
ed to the Senate from the Commit-
tee ON Judiciary.


tee on Judiciary.
Washington, Feb. 1s.-Some little
excitement was created in the house
of representatives before that body
convened Tuesday by the discovery of
slight blaze in the flooring of the
east reserved gallery. The flooring had
become ignited from defective tlue
in the democratic cloak room, and
when discovered about Is feet of the
molding was ablaze. The blaze was
soon eNtinguished and the members
suffered no inconvenience when the
house met.
After the reading of the journal, Mr..
Cooper (TeN.) called attention to the
fact that through an error in the rec
ord bill passed Monday relating to
an appropriation in the river and har-
Dor bill for Sabin Pass technically re-
pealed the river and harbor bill. AS
the matter was somewhat complicated,
it was allowed to go over until Wednes-
day.
Mr.. Littlefield (Me.). as matter of
privilege, criticised some remarks of
Mr.. Sulzer IN. " as they appeared in
the record. He also denied some as
sertions made in newspaper article
concerning the Littlefeld antitrust
bill.
Mr.. Sulzer replied in semi-humor-
Gus vein, SAYING Mr.. Littletield's speech
was his defense for his failure to pass
his antitrust bill, as promised last
summer.
Mr.. Littlefield did not pursue the
matter further. except TO declare with
great emphasis that statement made
by Mr.. Sulzer was made with the knowl
edge that it was untrue.
Mr.. DalZell, from the committee on
rules. then presented a special rule
making in order the legislation re-
ported in the naval bill for the in
crease of the personnel of the navy,
and for the increase of The limit of cost
of the naval academy. He explained
how vital the proposed legislation was,
and read the recomme ndations of the
secretary of the navy on the subject.
Mr.. Richardson (Tenn.) and Mr. Tn
derwood (Ala.) both denounced the
principle involved in the rule as Vi
cious. The resolution was adopted
without division and the house went
into committee of the whole and en-
tered upon the consideration of the
naval appropriation bill.
Mr.. Foss. chairman of the commit
tee in charge of the bill. made pre-
liminary statement explaining it's i'm
portant features and dwelling espe-
cially upon the necessity for providing
additional officers in the navy.
Senate.
Washington, Feb. 1S.-Soon after
the senate met Tuesday Senator Hoar
from the committee on judiciary. re-
ported the Littlefield antitrust bill as
amended. Senator Platt Comm. of
the committee, stated that it was not
unanimous report. and that he was
opposed to the measure. He said a large
proportion of the bill had been wisely
and appropriately treated in legisla-
ton recently enacted. Concerning the
new features there were he said. un.
constitutional provisions in them. Even
if they were within the constitutional
authority of congress. they are mis-.
chievous. and will work great injury tc
the business interests of the United
States.
A house bill was passed granting q
pension of $50 per month to the
widow of the late Representative Johr
N. w. Rumple. of Iowa. who was 6
captain of volunteers in the civi
war.
fho 0111fi IN f0y
the reading in the senate on Monday
February 49, of Washington's Farewell
Address, was adopted. and the presiden1
pro tempore designated Senator Du.
bois. of Idaho. as the reader.
Bills were passed to extend the limit
of cost to $4,000 of the United States
post office building at Marblehead,
Mass; to authorize the absentee
Wyandotte Indians to select certain
lands, and for other purposes; for the
purchase of site and the erection of
building thereon at Oregon City. Ore,
and appropriating 100000 therefor.
The Quay resolution asking for a
vote on the statehood bill went over
The Carmack resolution directing the
eenamittee on Philippines to visit til.
sosoHoS W was
on Senator Lodges motion. referred t.
the committee on Philippines on g
yen and nay vote, 81 to "a.
A resolution by Senator Dubois re-
auiring the civil service commission to
furnish the senate information regard
ing the dismissal of Elmer Forshay
from the office Of the surveyor general
OF Idaho, provoked considerable dis
cussion which lasted until two o'clock,
when it went over until Wednesday.
The statehood bill then was taken up
and Senator Depew then resumed his
remarks in opposition to it.
To Dispose of Ship Subsidy Bill.
Washington, Feb. 1S.--At meeting
of the house committee On merchant
marine and fisheries Tuesday. Chair
man Grosvenor called up the ship sub
Fidy bill and gave notice that the bill
would be taken up at meeting of the
committee next Monday for final dis
position.
Another Fruitless RnIIot.
Dover, Def. Feb ls.-The twenty.
fourth ballot for United States senate.
Tuesday was without definite results.