Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-20
CONGRESSIONAL

the matter OF private pension legisia-
ton. 1t was the last opportunity ut
passing pension bills at this session,
and the calendar was cleared, not only
of house, but of senate bills, 1926 in all
being passed. Three hundred and
twelve Is the highest previous record,
made in the Fifty.frst congress.
Among them was bill to grant q
pension of $50 month to the widow
Of the late Representative Rumple, Of
Iowa, who died about two weeks ago.
Mr.. Rumple had a gallant war record,
having taken part in over thirty bat
ties, and having risen from a private
to the rank of captain. The house also
passed a senate bill to authorize the
president to place Edward l.. Bailey
on the retired list of the army as q
colonel. After having served over
thirty-nine years in the regular army,
Colonel Bailey resigned his commits
SION.
President Roosevelt Saturday after
noon signed the bill providing for q
department of commerce, thus conclud-
Ing its enactment into law. The bill
was received at the White house FRI
day evening. Saturday morning, in
accordance with the usual form, 1t was
sent to the department of justice for
examination by the attorney general.
It was returned to the President Sat
urday afternoon, with Attorney knox's
recommendation that it be signed.
Soon afterward President Roosevelt
affixed his signature in the presence
of Secretary Root and Secretary Cor
telyou. The signing of the measure
creating what promises to be one of
the most important departments of the
government was attended by no cere-
mony. In due time the formal an
nouncement will be sent to congress
that the president has signed the
Ill.
The senate committee on postoffices
md postroads Friday adopted the state
hood bill as a rider to the postoffice
appropriation bill by vote Of s to 8,
and will probably report the measure
very soon. Great Importance has been
attached to the identity Of the con-
ferees who will have the shaping Of
the bill after 1t passes the senate, but
1t was pointed out that there is an
element Of weakness in this very fact.
The chief men on the conference COM
mittee will be Senator Mason for the
senate, and Mr.. Loud for the house,
these being the chairmen of the post
office committees, respectively, of the
senate and house Of representatives.
Each is serving his last term, and this
Is the last bill with which they will
have anything to do. In fact, this is
the first time Mr.. Mason has ever re-
ported out postoffice bill, and it is
predicted that he, as well as the re-
firing chairman on the house side,
will rather see the statehood bill go to
the dogs than to let the postoffice ap-
preparation bill fall If it comes to the
last extremity. With this exception
the matter Is practically where it has
been for some days.
The report on the Elkins rebate bill,
ordered favorably reported by the
house committee on interstate COM
merce Friday, was filed in the house
by Mr.. Mann, of Illinois. "In extern
sive hearings before your committees
on the general subject of proposed
amendments to the interstate COM
merce law" the report cites, "it was
strongly urged by the members of the
interstate commerce commission that
the provisions Of existing law provid-
Ing for punishment of the officers and
agents of railroads, but not for the
punishment Of the railroad itself, pre-
vented the enforcement of the law for
bidding rebates and dismriminations.
The experience of the interstate COM
MERGE commission has been that it is
impossible to obtain proof of the grant
ing of rebate by an officer Of rail-
road to some favored shipper unless
the officer himself gives the evidence,
in which case he is free from prosecu-
ton.
The senate committee on judiciary
continued it's consideration of the trust
question and, after holding two ses-
sions Friday, adjourned. The COM
mittee was especially concerned in an
effort so to amend the Littlefield bill
rs not to make It burdensome to small
corporations. 1t practically is the
unanimous opinion of the committee
that bill should be enacted into law,
but there is much difference as to the
phraseology to be employed. There
also is practical unanimity as to the
desirability of making the proposed
law apply to corporations which are
capable of becoming oppressive in their
operation and of relieving those which
are beneficent in their operations and
are not extensive enough to require
close supervision. The committee is
finding difficulty in defining line of
demarcation, but the members express
the belief that way will be found out
NJ tho difficultv and that tho hill will