The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-22
some FIRE.
Congressman LessIer's Charges
Not All Smoke.
Naval Committee Lays the Mat
ter Before the House.

washington, Jan. 2.-Immediately
after the house convened today the
members OF the committee on naval
affairs. who have been investigating the
LESSER bribery charges. filed into the
house and Mr.. Foss (Ill), chairman OF
the committee, was recognized to offer
a resolution to order a full investigation
Of the charges. The resolution was as
follows.
Whereas. Information has come to
the committee on naval affairs through
a member Of said committee. of an at
tempt to corruptly influence his action
respecting proposed legislation pending
before said committee and the house,
Resolved, That the committee on, ma
val affairs or such subcommittee there
Of as said committee may appoint, be
and it is hereby authorized and directed
to fully investigate said matter, and for
such purpose it is hereby authorized and
empowered to send for persons and
papers, to compel the attendance OF
witnesses, and to administer oaths; said
committee shall have authority to report
at any time and the expense incurred
hereunder shall be paid out of the con-
Ungent fund Of the house on vouchers
approved by the chairman.
Mr. Foss explained that the action Of
the committee was unanimous and de-
manded the previous question.
Mr.. Richardson CTenn) fnterposed to
suggest that the charges were vague
and indefinite. No names were given
and he said it seemed to him that some
thing more definite should be vOuch-
safed the house. Sun, he said, he would
not insist if the committee were salts
fed.
Ask for the name" cried Mr.. sulzer
Mr.. Wheeler (<y) assured Mr.. Rich
ardsOn that the minority OF the COM
mittee were satisfied, whereupon the
latter yielded and the resolution was
unanimously adopted.
The house then proceeded with the
Philippine coinage bill.
IN THE SENATE.
Washington, Jan. 22.-UTpon the con-
! clusiOn of routine business in the senat e
J today, Mr.. Fairbanks announced that
after a conference with Mr.. Quay he
would not call uD the immigration bill
4 today, as he had intended but would do
so tomorrow. The statehood bill then
4 was taken W.
Mr.. Quay yielded to permit the pass
/ age of a bill to authorize the president
to appoint Bpigadier General Merriam,
+ .. s. A, retired to the grade of major
! general on the retired list. The debate
on the omnibus statehood bill was then
resumed Mr.. Durham speaking in op-
position to the bill.
I TO MARK CONFEDERATE GRAVES.
Washington, Jan. 22.-The senate COM
notice on military affairs today ordered
propriating $500 900 for the erection of
headstones to mark the graves of Con-
/ federate soldiers buried in the north.
AMENDMENTS TO PHILIPPINE
BILL
Washington. Jan. 22.-The senate COM
mittee on the Philippines today author
i lied favorable report on the Philippine
tariff bill which recently passed the
house, but with important amendments.
The house bill carried uniform reduc-
ton of the tariff on Philippine goods
imported into the United States making
the rate only 25 per- cent of the rates
| imposed by the Dingley bill. The senate
/ committee amended the bill so as to
provide for the admission of all Philip
pine produced articles free of duty ex-
cept sugar and tobacco, and on these
two commodities fixed the tariff at 50
per cent of the Dingley schedules. This
change was made to meet the objections
of the sugar and tobacco producers OF
this country. who have claimed that a
duty of only 25 per cent on these articles
would result in ruinous competition.