Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-13
CONGRESSIONAL.

bill. The closing chapter was devoid
of excitement. For three hours the
Democrats offered series of amend
ments designed to place teeth" in the
bill, but they were either ruled out
of order or voted down by strict
party vote On only one vote were the
political ranks broken. 1t was an
amendment offered by Mr.. Thomas.
Republican, of Iowa, to make the fill
ing of returns incumbent upon all cor
porations mandatory. On that amend
ment seven Republicans voted with the
Democrats. The bill as passed requires
corporations hereafter organized" to
file returns covering their articles OF
Incorporation. financial composition,
condition, etc., with the interstate
commerce commission on penalty of
being restrained from engaging in in
terstate commerce.; prescribes penal
ties for false returns, etc. The COM
mission is given authority In its dis
erection to call for similar returns from
existing corporations doing an inter-
state business The commission is
given power to compel the answer to
questions, and fine Of not to exceed
IS, 900 is imposed for failure to obey
the commission in this respect. Re-
bates by carriers are made punishable
with fine of not less than 1000 and
corporations violating the provisions
Of this section are forbidden to use
the instrumentalities of interstate
commerce. Carriers are prohibited
from knowingly transporting articles
produced, manufactured or sold in vio-
lation of the Sherman act. In cases or
prosecutions no person is to be ex-
cused from testifying on the ground
that such testimony would tend to in
criminate him, but for such testimony
the witness is not to be prosecuted.
The circuit courts are given jurisdic-
ton in cases of violation
The naval appropriation bill reported
to the house Friday carried $79,04S,42O.
or $6,142,OS9 less than the estimates.
The current appropriation is $685.
1863. In addition to the provision for
the construction Of the three first-class
battleships, one first class armored
cruiser, two steel training ships and
one wooden brig, the bill allows the
selection of two midshipmen for each
senator, representative and delegate.
thus doubling the number. The COM
mittee says that with the present de-
ficiency of SIT officers and with the
number of officers that will be required
for the ships in process Of construc-
ton, the deficiency in the number OF
officers at the end of four years will
be 1850, unless additional midshipmen
are authorized. Further provision is
made for the appointment of twelve
ensigns from warrant officers and for
the appointment of thirty additional
lieutenant commanders, fifty additional
lieutenants thirty additional surgeons,
120 additional passed assistant and as
sistant surgeons, twenty-nine naval
constructors, eighty-four additional Of
ficers for the pay corps. and 5000 en-
listed men. To the marine corps, the
bill adds one colonel, one lieutenant
colonel, five majors, twelve captains,
twenty-fiv first lieutenants, twelve
second lieutenants, one assistant adJu-
tant, and inspector with the rank or
major, one assistant quartermaster
with rank of lieutenant colonel, five
assistant quartermasters with the rank
of captain, two assistant paymasters
and $40 more enlisted men. The limit
of cost for the building OF the navai
academy is to be increased from 3d.
900, 900 to $4,000, 900. The sum OF
$500, 900 is appropriated for experiment
stations and testing laboratory in the
department of marine engineering and
naval division.
Senator Hanna Wednesday intro
duced a bill granting pensions and
oounties to all ex-slaves who were
freed by the proclamation of President
Lincoln during the war of the rebel
lion. 1t provides that persons over 50
years of age, and less than 60, male or
female, shall receive a cash bounty OF
500 and monthly pensions of So per
month; persons between 60 and 20
years old, bounty of $500 and a pen
sion of SIS per month. The bill also
provides for the payment of the
bounty and pension to relatives who
may be charged with the care of ex-
slaves.
The Panama canal treaty was re-
ported to the senate in executive ses-
sion Tuesday by Senator Cullom, chair
man of the committee On foreign re-
lations. He did not make an effort to
secure consideration Of the treaty, but
stated that the committee had agreed
to report 1t unamended Senator Nor
gan offered in the senate the amend
ments to the treaty which he had Offer
ed in committee. They were ordered
printed without being read.
The senate Tuesday passed without
objection or discussion the Elkins bill
to further regulate railroad transporta-
ton. 1t is one of number of meas
,,rea nrespnted in this congress con-