The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-04-08
congress.
~ Rssums Of the Wssk's
Preceding.

Washington, March 31.-The senate
| yesterday began consideration or the
postoffice appropriation bill, and IL
was the signal for a revival OF the
Democratic demand for an inyestiga-
ton into the charges of corruption
in the rostofice department. The de-
bate was initiated by Mr.. German,
who spoke for almost two hours in
criticism of the course OF the Repub-
lican party in the house in refusing an
inquiry, at the same time charging
the postofice committee with Undue
haste in reporting the bill, as he did
the Republican party with a desire TO
adjourn congress at an exceptionally
early date in order to meet the
wishes of the president. Mr.. Penrose
and Mr.. Lodge spoke for the Repub-
lican side of the chamber, defending
the committee on postoffices against
the charge of haste and also the adj
ministration
substantial progress was made yes
terday by the house in the considera-
ton Of the sundry civil bill, %iftyone
pages being disposed of, leaving only
twenty-one to be read. No amend
ments of general Importance were
made.
Washington, April 1.-The attention
of the enate was divided yesterday
between the bill for the repeal of the
desert land. the timber and stone and
the homestead Communication laws and
the postofice appropriation bill. The
repeal bill was taken up only for the
purpose of discussion and Mr.. Clark
(Wyo.) was the principal speaker. He
contested the position taken by Mr..
Gibson that there have been great
frauds in the administration of the
land laws in the West. He declared
that there is a lobby in Washington
in the interest of the repeal bill and
engaged in a short colloQuoy with MIR.
Patterson, during which each charac-
terized the statement of the other as
untrue.
Consideration Of the sundry civil
appropriation bill was concluded in
tuc MUSE ytSlSIudy anu IL VI was
about to be passed when Mr.. Suizer
forced a roll call on a motion to com
nit the bill with instructions to strike
out the paragraph appropriating $780,
900 for rental of the New York Gus
tom house. The vote showed a quor-
um was not present and adjournment
was taken until to-day.
Washington, April Good Friday
was devoted by the senate to almost
continuous discussion of political
questions. The time until 2 o'clock
was devoted to consideration of the
Carmack resolution proposing an in
quiry into the legality of the recent
executive old age pension order. MIR.
Mallory was the principal speaker.
but he was frequently interrupted by
Republican senators. He commended
that Secretary Hitchcock had tram
scended the limits of executive author
ity in issuing the order The latter half
of the day was devoted to the post
office appropriation bill, but no appre,-
cable progress was made with that
measure, the speeches on it being in
the main political and of general char
acter.
The house passed the sundry civil
appropriation bill after voting down a.
proposition by Mr.. SulZer to recon-
nit it with instructions to strike out
the appropriation of S136, 800 for rent
! of the New York custom house. The
remainder of the day was devoted to
discussion of the conference report
on the army appropriation bill. With
the exception of II amendment pro-
viding certain increases in the signal
corps the house disagreed to all 9TH
er important senate amendments and
the bill was sent back to conference.
Washington, April 5.-Though the
p~Ostoftice appropriation bill was be-
fore the senate almost the entire
day, the early debate on the measure
was in relation to general land laws.
Mr.. Gibson of Montana denied that
the proponents of the bill for the re-
peal of the desert land act and the
act were proceeding at the instigation
and in the interest of land grant rail-
roads. Mr.. Gibson, aided by MIR.
Quarles of Wisconsin. made light Of
the charge that a lobby was main
tanned in Washington to fight for the
passage of this bill. Messrs Hans
brough of North Dakota and Warren
of Wyoming took the other side Of
the question. Mr.. Hansbrough NEIL
toned the name Of George H. Max
well, who, he said, was drawing a
princely salary for the work he did.
Considerable progress was made with
the postof1ice appropriation bill.
In the house an attempt to secure
consideration, under suspension of the
rules, of a bill appropriating $475 900
for the Lewis and Clark centennial
exposition to be held in Portland, Or,
in 1Q05 failod after tho hOuSa had df.