The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-12-15
WASHINGTON
NEWS NOTES.
ITEMS OF INTEREST BRIEFLY
CHRONICLED.
REPRESENTATION OF SOUTH
another Bill Has Been introduced by
congressman Merrill of Pennsylva-
MA to Reduce it, Since the Failure
of Platt's Bill.

u
Of Platt's Bill
Representative Merrill, of Pennsyl-
vania, has introduced a bill to re-
uuce representation in States where
clhzens are disfranchised. The bill
ss more general than that introduced
by Senator Plat, and its provisions
apply to any State limiting suffrage.
The bill, if enacted into law, would
reduce the representation in Congress
after March 4, 1907, of any state de-
aging the right of suffrage to any Of
its male inhabitants or. in any way
ab1dglng such right, Except for par
tlcipation in rebellion or other crime
The reduction to be proportional to- the
denial OF the right of the suffrage.
The bill makes it the duty of the
Secretary of Commerce and Labor to
ascertain through the Census Bureau,
by means Of a biennial census, the
number of such citizens in each state
to whom the right to vote is so de-
MED or abridged, and to report to
the Speaker Of the House Of Repre-
scatatives on the 4th day of March,
1907, and biennially thereafter.
Provision is made for the reading
OF the report in open session at the
beginning Of each Congress.
eff it should appear" the bill fur
Their provides, "that the number of
representatives that have been ac-
credited by any state exceeds the num-
Der to which it shall be entitled, ac-
eording to the rule Of &pportionment
herein provides, none of the persons
go accredited as representatives shall
be entitled to seats In the House of
representatives., but vacancy in the
entire representation Of such state
shall be declared by resolution Of the
House, and the executive authority of
such state shall issue writs for the
election Of number of representa-
tives-at-large for the same equal to the
number to which it may be justly en-
titled as declared by the House Of
Representatives.
War Secretary Taft has been at
Kingston on the United States cruiser
Columbia and was entertained at
luncheon at the Kings House by Gov.
Sir Alexander Swettenham. They dis
cussed the question Of employing ia
maican laborers on the Panama Canal.
Claude c. Mallet, the British consul
at Panama; Mr.. Lee, secretary of the
American legation; Rear Admiral
Walker, chairman of the Canal Com
mission, and John F. Wallace, the en-
gineer in charge the canal construc-
ton, participated in the discussion.
Three thousand laborers arc wanted at
once The result Of the conference IS
deemed satisfactory to both sides. It is
understood that Secretary Taft guar
teed that the American government
wodld bear the cost Of repatriation Of
Jamaicans laboreing on the canal,
should the necessity to repatriate
arise
Sentiment among the members Of
the House for the passage at this ses-
sion of an omnibus public building bill
is being sounded by Chairman Gillett
Of the Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds, as we'll as others who
would like to have a bill of this char
acter passed at this session. Nothing
definite has yet been ascertained,
though the feeling generally seems to
be favorable. It it is decided to intro
duce an omnibus bill, the indications
are that it will have uphill work in
running its legislative course, in view
of the well-known opposition of
Speaker Cannon and the expressions
in the president message, that econ
omy should be observed. It is poss-
ible, however, that a small bill may
be reported. The last omnibus public
buildings bill carried approximately
$25,000,000.
Enlargement of the powers Of the
interstate commerce commission is
one of the questions which will be
pressed vigorously at the present ses-
sion of congress. 1t can be said that
in the mind of President Roosevelt no
problem more important than this to
all the people of the country slikely to
engage the attention of congress this
winter. In conference with members
of both the senate and the house, the
president has emphasized the argyll
ments he advanced in his message in
favor of an extension Of the powers
Of the interstate commerce COM
tnerce commission.
Another movement is on foot to dis
hlaee President Robert S. TAYLOR from