Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-15
IN THE SENATE.
Bill to Remove Coal Duty Passed
Without Debate.


acted promptly on the House bill provid-
ini, rebates Of the duty on coal and pass
ed it unanimously without debate, few
minutes after it was brought over from
the House.
For an hour and half Tillman occu-
pied the attention of the Senate in char
acteri5tic speech in which he denounced
trusts and monopolies and severely crit
iciZed the attorney general
Til)man said that Aldrich, since the res
olution came up. had become more siren
uous ard had exhibited more feeling ami
earnestness than he thought him capable
of. He criticized those who asserted that
there was not now sufficient authority to
remedy the evils which exist, and he said
that We may load down our statute books
with laws, but unless the sworn officers
of the law shall discharge their duties
feariessiy and honestly, every effort to
protect the people will fail because OF
their dereliction.
Efforts have been made said Till
man, proof has been filed, pleadings
have been had, petitions to the attorney
general filed warning and begging him to
protect the people against the impending
danger. but he had sat quietly in his Of
flee and done nothing
Rich and poor alike, he declared, are
freezing because OF the fact that mo-
nopoy does exist, because the lawyers
have failed to interpret the laws in the
interest of the people.
The energy of the venerable and bril-
liant senator from Missouri, Tillman said.
spurred the tagging horses in the House
of Representatives and those in the SEN
ate who had been cold-bloodedly contem-
plating the condition of affairs for Il
month. His only wonder. he said. was
that in these trying times of death and
distress mobs We're not taking steps to
show monopolists that in the last resort
men will neither starve nor freeze to
death but will throttle the law, if neces-
sary, and take it into their own hands and
seize supplies.
He criticised tie coal strike commits
siorers ana said that they were taking
prevalent and unnecessary testimony
when, If they wanted to. they could find
out about the combination and report to
Congress that such monopoly exists.
He criticised a decision by Judge Taft
involving q case under the interstate com
merce law, and said it was the same
judge who would not leave the onerous
and odous'' duties upon which he was
now engaged in the Philippines for seat
on the supreme bench Tillman will con-
tnue. tomorrow.
Hoar. Mass, offered a concurrent reso-
luton calling upon the President to in
form the Senate what government exist
ed in the island of Guam and through
what executive department the powers Of
such government are now executed and
administered well as the number of
inhabitants in said islands, and also by
what authority Mabini, the Filipino chief.
is being detained in the Philippines. AT
Hoars request the resolution went over
until tomorrow.
At o'clock the statehood bill was tax
en- up,
The House bill providing rebates of the
duty on coal was reported favorably by
the finance committee, Aldrich remark
ing that the committees action was unan-
imous. Aldrich offered a committee
amendment adding a new section to the
bill providing that the provisions of Par
agraph AS of the Dingey act shall not
be construed hereafter to authorize the
imposition of any duty on anthracite coal
Al1rich asked Immediate consideration.
As amended the bill passed unanimously
When the militia bill was taken up
Quarles. Wis, offered an amendment,
which was agreed to, striking out all Of
section q of the bill regarding u re-
serve force of 100000 trained men. An
amendment by Beveridge was agreed to
eXenpting certain persons having relig-
ious seruples against war from serving in
the militia The bill was then passed.
At 40 r. M. the Senate went into ex-
ecutive session and adjourned shortly af-
forwards