The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-03-31
THE SPIRIT
OF CONGRESS,

architect, and Mr.. Newlands came to the
rescue During the morning hour q num-
Der of bills were passed.
The session of the House lasted but an
hour and 70 minutes. adjournment being
taken as mark of respect to the memory
of Representative Charles w. Thompson
(Ala.) who died on Sunday.
The time of the short session was taken
up in discussing resolution offered by Mr..
Hepburn (Iowa) providing that a speech
printed by Mr.. Baker IN. ", under leave
to extend his remarks in the Record, should
be expunged. The speech reflected upon
| the official integrity Of Representative
BabcOck (Wis.) alleging that he had gross
| ly misused his Thanking privilege, and max
ing other charges against him. Mr.. Will
| iams (Miss.), the minority leader, adj
mitted that such portion of Mr.. Bakers
speech as referred directly to Mr.. Babcock
should be stricken from the Record, but op-
posed the expunging Of the entire speech.
Mr.. Baker sought to speak in opposition
to the resolution, but the Speaker declined
to recognize him. and after the previous
question had been ordered by party vote,
the resolution was agreed to without divi-
sion.
March 22-The Senate spent the greater
part of the day in considering the Indian
appropriation bill. That measure. cover
ing 100 pages, was read almost through
| Tor Committee amendments. most of which
were agreed to. but there was more or less
debate on various provisions.
Late in tie day Senator-elect Dick
(Ohio) appeared in the Senate Chamber,
the first time since his election. He went
direct to Senator Foraker's seat and was
cordially greeted, but their conference was
cut short by the announcement Of an Elk
ecutive session. from which Mr.. Dick, not
| having yet taken the oath Of Office. was
excluded under the rules of the Senate.
Outside Of "a few routine matters the
House of Representatives devoted the en-
| tire day to further discussion Of the Post
Office Appropriation bill, but disposed of
| only one page Of the bill
Mr.. Butler (Ta.) endeavored unsuccess-
| fully to have passed an amendment de-
| signed to transfer back to the Office Of the
| First Assistant DDstmaster-General juris-
diction of thea Free Delivery and Rural
Delivery services. which caused Mr. Moon
! (Tenn). tile ranking minority member of
| the committee. TO administer a rebuke to
those members who are trying to take
from the Fourth, assistant Postmaster Cen
eral certain duties given him under the
law. He said there was a motive behind
| it all. and that certain members. chatting
| under the recent report of the Department,
are seekingI TO punish Bristow for discov-
ering fraudS in7another bureau Of the De-
An amendment by Mr.. Tawney (Minn),
which was agreed to-, prohibits the Post
master General from ordering out of Post
| Offices telephone companies other than the
| Bell Company. An amendment by Mr. G..
B. Landis (Ind.), prohibiting the further
rental OF cancelling machines. was adopted
after spirited debate.
March 23-rhe Senate again spent the
greater part, of the day considering the
| Indian Appropriation bill. Three hours
Of the time was given to the discussion of
a claim of $4,000 for services rendered
the Choctaw Indians, and the amendment
| was defeated. The Civil Service debate
was renewed. and there was considerable
discussion of the policy to be pursued in
securing employees for work on the Pan
anna Canal.
In the House the Post Office Appropria-
ton bill was again under consideration,
| but only six pages were disposed of The
appropriation for the Railway Mail Sery-
| ice was carefully scrutinized, and in the
case Of inland mail transportation by star
| routes the appropriation was scaled down
from So, 1OQ, 600 to $7,850,0O0.
The question as to the length Of time a.
postal car may be used before it becomes
unfit for service was settled by the House,
when an amendment by Mr.. Tawney
| (Minn.) was adopted providing that no
part of the appropriation shall be used for
the rental of cars which have been in sery-
ice for more than Is years.
An unsuccessful fight was made against
|
tions for special mai facilities over trunk
lines south from Washington and west
| from Kansas City.
March 24-The Senate passed the In
dian Appropriation bill. After the routine
features of the bill had been disposed of
Mr.. Bacon again raised the question of
Civil Service appointments. basing his re-
marks upon the statement made by Mr.
Hoar Wednesday to the effect that Senators
from States of political faith different from
that Of the President should be consulted
in the matter of appointments to Office. Mr..
Bacon contended that the Southern States
were practically DISTINGUISHED under q Re-
publican Administration, and said that this
condition of affairs was contrary to the
intention of the founders of the Govern
ment.
Early in the day Mr.. Gibson spoke in
support Of his bill for the repeal of the
desert land, the timber, and stone laws, and
of the communication clause Of the homestead
law.
The House of Representatives again put
| itself on record against any Investigation
of the Post Office Department: Eight
were disposed Of. The question of an in
| vestigation.of The Post Office Department
was brought UP by Mr.. Williams, the
| minority kader! who proposed an amend
| ment providing sfor q select committee of
five membeRs of the House and three Sem
RIOTS 10 urge COupictS lnFcStlSdIlOu INTO
the alleged fradds in that Department. He
| tainted the Republicans for their failure
| to order IN Investigation. and said the
party was opposed to it.
The Chair sustained point Of order by
Mr.. Overstfeet against the amendment, and
when Mr.. Williams appealed, the Chair
was sustained+o139 to 90.
March 2c.--&enator Hansbrough charged
| in the Senate that the movement to secure
the repeal Of tte desert hand law. the tim
clause Of the h0mestead act was due to the
efforts Of o. lobby composed mainly of the
holders Off lands bought In large tracts
from railroad companies, who desire there
by to increase the demand for their prop
erty. Senator Dubois intimated that the
pressure for repeal was due TO large hold
ings of forest lieu lands BY railroads. Both
statements were. made in the course OF
speeches ia reply to the speech made
| Thursday by Senator Gibson. advocating
| the renaaf Of the laws in nnasfion