The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-12-15
ed Senators.

day. Tbe time or DOtn DOuleS WAS
| devoted entirely to the usual formal
tiles attended BY scenes. familiar, but
always interesting. There were the
greetings between members, the great
floral display and the hundreds OF
visitors. with beautifully gowned wo-
men predominating. Corridors, conf
mittee rooms and cloak rooms were
| thronged. The hustle extended even
| to the floors of the chambers, although
no weighty legislative problems await
| ed solution.
Reading Of the Message.
| After listening to the residing Of the
| Presidents annual message to Con-
gress the House adjourned until We'd
nesday. During the first 10 minutes
of the session two minor routine mat
| ters were disposed of. but out side OF
these no other business was transact
| ed.
Shortly after the clerk began to read
the message printed copies were dis
tributed among the members. Demo.
Gratis and Republicans alike gave close
attention TO the utterances of the
President and with the aid of the
printed copies intently followed the
clerk in the reading.
Upon the conclusion Of the reading
Of the message. which consumed one
hour and SO minutes, there was loud
applause from the Republican side.
The message. on motion Of Mr..
Payne, was referred to the committee
of the whole House on the State OF
the Union, after which the House adj
journed.
In the Senate.
The Senate was in session for more
than two hours, and in addition to
listening to the reading Of the Presi.
dents message received a preliminary
report from the merchant marine com.
mission, witnessed the induction OF
Senators Knox and Crane into Office,
and in executive session referred the
presidential nominations to the proper
committees.
Work Of Wednesday.
Upon the converting the House,
Mr.. Bingham, of Pennsylvania. from
the committee on appropriations. re-
ported the legislative. executive and ju-
dicial bill, and gave notice that he
would call the bill up for consideration
Immediately after the reading of the
journal. The House, on motion Of Mr..
Payne, of New York, went into COM
mittee Of the whole for the purpose Of
referring certain portions of the Pres
ident's message to the respective COM
mittees having jurisdiction of the sew
eral subjects. AS soon as this was done,
the House adjourned until tomorrow.
In the Sentate.
The Senate Wednesday reached a
decision to take a vote on the Philip
pine civil government bill, providing
for the construction of railroads on the
islands on the 18th instant, and in ad
dition transacted considerable other
business. Mr. Platt, of New York Gre
ated something Of a stir by introducing
bill providing for a reduction OF the
congressional representation Of the
Southern States on the ground that
many of the citizens Of those States are
deprived of their right to vote, and Mr.
ceptionally early debate by attempting
TO secure the passage Of the bill grant
ing pension to the telegraph operators
OF the civil war. The debate was not
concluded. A large number of bills and
joint resolutions. were introduced, and
many petitions presented. The discus
sion of the time for voting upon the
Philippine bill brought out the fact that
there is a general understanding that
the Christmas holiday recess will begin
on the 10Th instant.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
The annual fight on the Civil Service
Commission was begun in the House
Thursday during consideration Of the
legislative appropriation bill. The op-
position came from Messrs. Bartlett.
Of Georgia, Hepburn, OF Iowa, and
Grosvenor, of Ohio.
The legislative bill was scrutinized
carefully in consonance with the Presi-
dents recommendation against extra
vagance. Mr. Bingham, in charge OF
the bill. was required constantly to ex-
plain some particular appropriation.
The pay of the stenographefs to COM
mittees of the House was reduced from
$4,000 per annum to $4,000, and the
House refused to accept the provision
increasing the pay of the secretary to
the Civil Service Commission. But
little progress was made on the bills.
The House Friday passed the legis-
lative, executive, and judicial appro-
priation bill practically as it came
from the committee and adjourned
until Monday. With the disposal OF
the provisions relating to the Civ)
Service Commission, which Yesterday
caused so much discussion and critb
cism. there was no lengthy debate on
Any item today. Throughout the ses.
sion the policy Of retrencnment held
| full sway, and all attempts to In
| crease salaries failed.
By the terms Of I concurrent reso-
luton, which was adopted, the House
agreed to adjourn on Dec. q until jan
uary 4. 1905, for the usual Christmas
holidays.
| n, TILE ccnhrP