Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-23
57TH CONGRESS.
lessIer Bribery Case Taken
Up in the House.
The Substitute Philippine Coinage
Bill Passed, l46 to 1928.
Panama Canal Treaty Between United
States and Colombia Signed.

Washington, Jan. 22-When the
House convened, the members of
the committee on naval affairs.
who have been investigating the Lessler
bribery charges, came in. Foss Qll.1,
chairman of the committee. was imne-
diateiy recognized. He offered a resolu-
ton that fun investigation of the
charges be made. The resolution reads as
follows:
Whereas in formation has come to the
committee on naval affairs, through a
member of said committee, of an attempt
ing proposed legislation pending before
said committee and the House,
Resolved, That the committee ON naval
affairs or such subcommittee thereof as
said committee may appoint be and is
hereby authorized and directed to fully
investigate said matter and for such pur-
pose it is hereby authorized and empow-
cred to send for persons and papers. to
compel the attendance of witnesses and
to administer oaths, said committee shah
have authority. to report at any time and
the expense incurred hereunder shall be
paid out of the contingent fund of the
House on vouchers approved by the chair
man."
Fess explained that the action of CON-
mittee was unanimous and demanded the
previous question.
Richardson (Tenn) suggested that the
charges were vague. No names were
given and it seemed to him that some
thing more definite should be vouchsafed
the House. Still he said he would not in
SiS he
ASK for the name" cried Sulzer (New
York;
Wheeler CKy) assured Mr.. Richardson
that the minority of the committee were
satisfied. The latter yielded and the reso-
tuition was passed unanimously. The
House then proceeded with the Philippine
coinage bill.
In course of debate Hill (Ct) made the
important statement, in connection with
what he had said, yesterday. that Secre-
tary Shaw informed him, today, that a
Mexican gentleman was now in this city
in the interest of an arrangement by
which Mexico could adopt a currency sys-
tenn uniform and Interchangeable with
that of the United States. =
After d protracted discussion in which
Cannon Qll). Payne IN. ", Grosvenor
(Ohio) ana others spoke in support of tho
| majority bill. and Fowler IN. j. in favos
| Of the substitute, Jones Qa.) moved to
Strike out the first section of the majority
bill and insert the first section of the
| minority substitute which provided for
| the introduction of American coinage sys-
tenn complete into the islands.
The first section of the substitute pro-
vides the lawful money of the United
States shall be legal tender in the Phil
| ippines for debts. public and private, and
declared the coinage laws of the United
| States to be in full force in the islands.
Mccall Mass.) spoke in favor of The
substitute.
| The vote was then taken The entire
Democratic side and about 20 Republicans
voted for Jones motion and it was carried
ON a rising vote of 1l5 to IS.
| Without division dhe remainder of the
majority bill was stricken out and The
substitute inserted.
| When the action of the committee OF
| the whole was reported to the House
Olmstead (Pa.) demanded Il separate vot,
upon che substitute. and the roll was
| called. The substitute was adopted, IA
to lbs. Twenty-eight Republicans votet
with the Democrats for the substitute.
BY this action the House leaders wen
down to signal defeat. The insttlar com
mittee includes in it's membership tn,
chairmen of the most powerful commit
tees of the House; Cannon, chairman o
the appropriations Hit, chairman of for
leign affairs; Payne, chairman of ways am
| means; Hepburn, chairman of interstate
and commerce. and Tawney, chairman, o
the committee en- expeditions.
The committee reported Il bill to estab
fish the gold standard in the islands an,
to authorize the coinage OF silver peso
of ZIG grains, to be made legal tender a
the rate OF two pesos for one gold dollar
The majority members made a gallan
. fight for their bill, but the IS Republi
cans under the lead of Hill of Connect
cut, Fowler of New Jersey. and Mccall
of Massachusetts, Joined with the Demo
Gratis and carried through the substitute
The fact that Secretary Shaw and othe
high treasury officials were quoted ON tn
| floor as favoring the substitute aided Il
the overthrow of the committee bill
| Their opinions were advanced as agains
those of Gov. Taft and other members O
the Philippine committee.
The substitute passed provides that tn
lawful money of the United States sha
be legal tender in the Philippines and dc
Iclares that the coinage laws of the Unite