The Washington times., 1904-01-04
The Venerable DR.. Ed
ward Everett Hale
Opens Session of Up
per Branch With Prayer
Senator Gallinger Intro
duceS Bill to Release
Ex-Auditor Petty and
His Sureties.

special message from the President.
explaining his sction in carrying into
effect the act Of Congress authorizing
MIN TO conclude arrange nts for the
construction OF an interoc,..n waterway
between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
was today sent to Congress-
The message was read in the Senate
at l2:S1. The House adjourned without
the message having been read.
Dr. Hale Opens Session
The venerable Rev. Dr Edward Ev-
erett Hale. the new Chaplain of the
/ senate. qrened the first session OF the
new year IN that body with prayer to
day- de arrived al the Capitol at Has
clock. with number Of relatives. and
was escorted directly TO the committee
room OF senator Lodge. The latter ex-
tended hearty greeting to DR. Hale
and was introduced TO the other mem
Ders OF the party. He then took Dr.
Hale 70 the room of the President Of
the Senate to await the opening of the
session at noon
The new chaplain s. PRAYER occlpiad
less than a minute in delivery At it,
conclusion he spent seversla minutes on
the Senate floor receiving greet Igs srom
members of the body and then took a
seat in the Senator's reserved gallery.
where his relatives were.
The attendance in the Senate totssv
was larger than usual on the first DAY
after the holiday recess. The most con-
spicrous absentees at the opening OF the
days proceedings were Mr.. Hoar, Mr..
Cullom. Mr.. Lanna. and Mr. Depew.
On request Of Mr. Penrose, after a
partial reading. the further reading of
the journal was dispensed with
No Overhead Wires.
Mr.. Gallingcr. from the District Com
mittee. reported adversely on Senate
joint resolution p. proposing TO con-
fer authority on the District Com
missioners TO permit the temporary
erection Of roles and overhead wires
FOR use pending and in connection with
construction work on the new Union
station ~On his motion consideration Of
the bill was indefinitely postponed.
MI Penrose made a favorable report
or a bill relative to the port of Cbes-
ter. Pa" striking out all of the orfgf-
nal bill and substituting a provision
constituting Chester a SUPPORT of en-
try in the customs collection district OF
Philadelphia.
Mr. Foster of Washineton introduced
a bill to establish a permanent military
camping ground at or in the vicinity of
Tacoma. Wash
To Release Petty.
The James NJ. A. Watson case came
before the Senate in the introduction b.
Mr.. Gallinger Of a bill, which was re
ferred to the District Committee. to re-
lease ex-Auditor James T Petty and his
sUreties. Charles B. Church, Jesse B.
Wilson. and George T Dearing. from all
liability in connection with Watson's
alleged embeZZlement Of $4,000 Of Dis
trict funds
To transfer TO the District Committee
the parking along Pennsylvania Avenue
in front Of the new District building
site. Mr.. Gallinger introduced a bill. and
IL was referred TO the District Commit
tee The announced purpose is Ito pro-
vide a suitable approach" to the new
building.
To establish United States Court
Of Patent Appeals. a bill was introduced
by Mr.. Platt of Connecticut This court
Is 10 be patterned upon sae United States
Supreme Court. as has been fully de-
scribed heretofore in The Times
To Promote F. A. Miller.
a bill OF interest 10 a large number
Of Washingtonians especially in army
and navy and resident circles. was in
troduced by Mr.. Plat OF Connecticut
IL IS 20 authorize the President 10 ap-
point Lieut. COmdr Frederick Augustus
Miller L. 5. N. retired. as a command
er on the retired list. Lieutenant Com
nander Miller resides at 200 AIassachu-
sets Avenue northwest. The bill was
referred TO the Committee on Naval At
fairs.
Mr.. Foraker introduced bill TO direct
the Secretary of War 10 r,lace rSrie- Cen
Thomas NJ. Anderson. L. 5. A. retired.
or TIE retired list of major generals. IL
was referred to the Military Affairs
Committee.
To establish in the Department Of Ag-
riculture bureau te be known as the
Bur,au of Highways and TO arovide for
national aid in the Improvement OF such
highways is the purport of a bill intro
iGced by Mr. Latimer OF South Carolina
and referred TO the Committee on Agri-
culture.
Other District Matters.
Other matters OF District interest were
introduced by Mr.. Gallinger and. on his
motion, referred to the District Com
nittee. rs follows:
Authorizing the laying of water mains
and service sewers in the District OF
Columbia. and the levying of assess
ments therefor
To amend the law relating to taxation