The National tribune., 1903-11-19
CONGRESS.
A Busy Week, With But Little Of
Exciting Interest.

The first days session of Congress was
a record-breaker In the introduction of
bills. In all, $40 were introduced in the
House, and in addition there were 13
joint resolutions, seven House resolutions
and three concurrent resolutions. OF the
bills, 7O4 were private, principally for the
relief of individuals.
Delegate DOdney (N. M was one Of the
| early birds with bill to enable the people
of New Mexico to form a Constitution and
State Government, and be admitted to the
Union on an equal footing with the Origi-
nal States. This was put in its little bed
in the proper pigeon-hole of the Committee
on Territories.
| Several bills were to punish the muir
der of the President Vice-President, and
foreign ministers. One. introduced by Mr.
Littlefield, prescribed lfe-imprisOnment
for attempting to commit bodily injury
upon the person of the President or Vice
President, and 30 years of Imprisonment
for persons who aid or abet any Of these
crimes with fine and Imprisonment for
teaching anarchistic doctrines or cOnspir-
ing for the killing of ruler of any other
country.
Mr.. Stephens Tex.) was promptly on
hand with a bill for the admission Of
Indian Territory and Oklahoma as n State.
He also offered a joint resolution prOpos-
ing an amendment to the Constitution per-
mitting tax on incomes and inheritances.
Mr.. Mudd Md introduced joint reso-
luton authorizing the President to appoint
commission with reference to the con-
struction of n free open waterway between
the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays.
Mr.. Livingston (Ga.) wants sub-Treas-
ury at Atlanta, and also Military Park.
Mr.. BrownlOw Uenn.) wants the Secre-
tary of War authorized to allow the burial
of widows of enlisted men in National
Cemeteries, in the same graves with their
husbands.
Mr.. Bates Pa.) introduced bill to give
S24 a month to soldiers upon the arrival
at the age of 20.
Mr.. Shafroth (Colo) introduced bill to
adopt the Metric System of Weights and
Measures as the standard Of the United
States.
A little furry disturbed the Senate last
Thursday over the case Of Reed Smoot.
Senator Hoar advised against sending Pc
titions in affecting that case. Senator
Dubois warmly rejoined that the sending
in of petitions was entirely proper, that
the Christian men and women who sent
them were quite within their rights, and
should not be rebuffed. Senator Hale
Joined in with him, and it became apparent
that an unexpected number of Senators
sympathized with the petitioners.
The Thursday session Of the House
lasted only 10 minutes, but great deal
Mr.. Payne (N. ", who has been appoint
ed Chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means, introduced the Cuban recip-
rOcity bill as agreed upon by the Senate
and House Republicans.
The Friday session of the House lasted
only II minutes. and would have been
shorter had not Mr.. Livernash (Cal.l risen
to question of privilege, which he at
tempted 10 pervert into a discussion of the
Panama situation. He was headed off By
Mr. Payne IN. " raising the point of
order that the situation in Panama was
not question of personal privilege, where
upon the gentleman with the anatomical
name had to sit down.
Mr. Dick (Ohio) reintroduced his reso-
luton providing for Congressional inves-
tigation into the denial of the right Of
suffrage in several States of the South.
The Republican caucus has adopted MIR.
Dicks resolution, and it will be pressed.
1t reads as follows:
Resolved. That the matter be referred
to the Committee on Election of the Pres
ident. Viee-President and Representatives
in Congress, whose duty it shall be, and
who shall have full and ample power to
investigate and inquire into the validity of
the election laws of the several States and
the manner of their enforcement, and
whether the right to vote at any election
for the choice of. electors for President