The Tupelo journal., 1903-12-18
TOPICS OF THE DAY.
NEWS FROM EVERYWHERE.
FiFTY.EiGHTH CONGRESS.
REGULAR

;Senate-The recent investigation into
frauds in the post office department was
the basis of a sharp tilt In the senate on
the Sth, between Mr.. German and Mr..
by Mr.. Lodge to refer to the committee
on post offices the resolution introduced
vestigation into the conditions In the de-
partment. Mr.. German intimated that the
investigation by the department had been
partisan in character. Mr.. Lodge defend
ed the departments work, and declared
1t was far more thorough than a con-
gressional inquiry would be. The resolu-
ton went over without action. Mr.. Teller
made a speech in opposition to the Cuban
bill. He severely criticised Gen. Wood.
and declared the bill was in the interest
of the trust. At four o'clock the senate
went into executive session, adjourning a
few minutes later. .House-The house,
on the Sth, authorized the committee on
post offices and post roads to request the
postmaster-general to supply the commit
tee with papers in connection with the
recent investigation of the post office de-
partment. 1t was explained by Mr.. Over
street, chairman of the committee. that
the purpose of the resolution was to sup
ply the committee with information es-
sential to proper consideration of appro-
p%riation bills. The house also instructed
the judiciary to make inquiry
and report whether the Isle of Pines could
be coded to Cuba without the concurrent
action of the house and senate.
Senate-Senator Teller concluded his
speech in opposition to the Cuban rec
iprocity bill. on the 9Th, and Senator Nor
gan also was heard in opposition to that
measure. The Alabama senator devoted
the greater share of his attention to the
he United States had broken faith in
failing to obey the Spooner law, and
warned Cuba that the same course might
be followed by us towards that country
in case the pending bill should become a
law. Mr.. Morgan stopped speaking at
4:6, and the senate went into executive
session, and ten minutes later adjourned.
......House-Soon after the house met, on
the 9th, Representative De Almond, of
Missouri. asked if it would be in order for
the speaker to ask unanimous consent to
to each of the large committees of the
house. Mr.. Payne objected. The house
then, at 12:15, adjourned.
Senate-Immediately upon the opening
of the senate, on the 10th. Mr.. Spooner
presented a bundle of petitions from Wis
Reed Smoot, of Utah. The Cuban rec
iprocity bill was called up, but no one
was prepared to discuss 1t. Mr.. Mitchell
ave notice that, on the 18th, he would
address the senate on his bill providing
for the holding of an international expo
sition in Oregon in commemoration of the
Lewis and Clark expedition. and authoriz-
ing an appropriation. At 12:40 p. m. the
senate adjourned. ..... House-When the
house met, on the 10th, the bill of APP
propriatiom for the fiscal Of 1899 was SUB.
IL ia 1 % W. wv II
appropriation for 1905 was $139. S47, 900.
Mr.. Tawney. chairman of the industrial
arts and expositions committee. reported
to the house a joint resolution naming a
committee of the house to act with a like
committee of the senate to represent the
congress at the ceremonies in New Or
leans, on the 18th, commemorative of the
hundredth anniversary of the eding of
Louisiana territory to the United States
by France The bill appropriates 81, 500
to defray the expenses of the delegation.
He asked unanimous consent for its con-
sideration. The house then adjourned.
Senate-There We're two speeches in the
senate. on the 18th, on the Cuban recip-
rocity bill, one of them a statement in
support of the bill and the other in OPP
position to it. The opposing speech was
made by Mr.. Bard. of California, who
contended that the United States was
under no obligation to give further aid
to Cuba, especially when to do so we
must pursue a course injurious to our own
industries. Mr.. McCreary, of Kentucky,
supported the bill as in line with our
past m-agnanimous course towards Cuba,
and especially because he believed it to
he a step towards tariff reform. ......
HouSe-The birth of the Republic of Pan
anna and its recognition by this govern
mert was the subject of a spirited de-
bate in the house. on the 18th. Nearly
the whole of the four hours session was
taken up in a discussion of the isthmian
the pension bill. Mr.. Van Voorhis (Ohio).
of the appropriations committee. made a
statement concerning the provisions of
the bill, when the debate digressed to
Panama. The house adjourned until the
14th.