The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-03-10
NATIONAL LAWMAKERS
What the Two Houses Of Congress
fave Been Doing.
Senate Passes Naval Bill.

val appropriation bill, which has Deen
before il for the past four or FIVE days
and then proceeded to the consldera-
tion Of the army bill. Tie principal
question debated in connection with
the naval bill was that the price and
method of supplying armor plate for
battleships, and It grew out OF an
amendment suggested by Mr.. Patter-
son providing for government ar
NOR plant. He ultimately withdrew
the amendment, but offered Lers
limiting the price of armor and pro-
hibiting purchase from trusts, all OF
which were laid on the table. An
amendment TO the naval bill proposed
by Mr.. Hale was agreed 10, decreaS-
ing the amount for the navy yard at
Charleston. S. C., from seJ6,3oo TO
s334,5 500. In speaking OF the contin-
ued growth of the navy, Mr.. Patterson
said the completion OF the naval pro-
gram would place the United States
ahead of Germany and Russia In &C
tual tonnage and ahead Of France
and next to Great Britain in effective
fighting tonnage. and my Judgment
he continued, "is that American SEN
timent will not permit the United
States 10 fall behind in its naval
power any nation that it has passed.
Mr.. Patterson discussed the Phili-
ppine question, saying that while be
did not believe in holding the Philip
pines, he was Of the opinion that the
maiority Of tho people were against
him. and that therefore the day was
| far distant when the people Of that
archipclago would be given their free
dom.
Mr.. Bacon did not accept the view
| of Mr. Patterson as to the retention
of the Philippines, saying that he
| hoped the conscience of the Ameri'
| can people would be aroused over the
| injustice Of the present situation.
Speaking to the arnlOr plate ques
ton. Mr. Bacon said that this govern
ment had utterly and abjecuy surren
! dered to the arrnnr makers. leaving
| them to charge their own without cf
| fort on its part 10 make armor for it
| self
The reading of the army bill hat
not been concluded when the Senate
adjourned.
Postal Affairs in the House
Postal affairs engrossed the atten.
| ton of the House Monday practically
TO the exclusion OF all else. The sub
| ject was introduced by Mr.. Overstreet
chairman of the committee on post
offices and post roads, who submitted
the report of that committee on TIT
Hay resolution calling for certain in
formation regarding the use of influ
erce by members Of the house to Sc
cue increases in salaries. etc. for post
masters. There was full attendanc'
Of members Oh both sides of the cham
Der when Mr. Overstreet stated that n
had been directed by the unanlmou
committee to recommend that the reso
luton be tabled and the information
wanted accompanies the report. Minor
itv members, including Messrs. WI
liams. of Mississippi, and Maddox.
Georgia, urged tDai debate and vote O
the resolution should be deferred, a
they had not had an opportunity t
| read the report. so an agreement Wa
reached to postpone further s@tlo
until Wednesday. and 1000 copies c
the report were ordered printed. Iher
will be three hours debate on the mo
ton to table, and formal amendmen
will be offered by the minority TO pre-
, vide for a general investigation 0! IN
Postoffice Depal tment.
| Mr. OverStreot in connection W.T.
the report. said that in his oplnlo
there was not single instance or an
: reflection on the integrity OF an
5 member. When the printed report
+ were brought in latec by a messense
! memb bers crowded around the doo
4 keeper's desk to secure copies. an
= business was suspended temporarll
until all were supplied.
4 The postoffice appropriation Dill W.
then taken up and Mr.. Moon (Dem'
8 crat. of Tenneseel, the ranking mlno
5 itv member OF the postoffice comm
I tee. arraigned the present system Ell
= moved in the Postoffice Departmel
e and made an appeal for general II
e yestigation of the affairs OF the IL
7 rartment. Mr.. COwherd. Democrat,
g Missouri. also a member of the con
o nittee, followed with an analytlcal +
e view of the charges made IN the bri
6 tow report, which he referred to as
a shameful story ot fraud and misadmi
y istration. He also favored a gener
o congressional investigation or post
e affairs. Mr.. Cowherd read letter WI
l, ten by an agent of the Time Clo
l. Company intimating that money "ou
II be used to influence favorable actio
e Mr., Cowherd said shares OF Montas
q Indicator stock had been given
L beavers and Heath. and he thong
II some measures might have been tax
70 find out whether there had been a.
unlawful act on Heath's part.