The National tribune., 1904-04-14
THE SPIRIT
OF CONGRESS.

April 4-Thousf the Post Office Ap-
preparation bill was before the Senate al
most the entire day, the early debate on
the measure was in relation TO general land
laws. Mr.. Gibson lMont) denied that the
postponementS Of the bill for the repeal Of
the desert land act and the commutation
clause of the homestead act were proceed
ing at the instigation and in the interest
of Immigrant railroads. Mr.. Gibson, aided
by Mr.. Quarles (Wis.). made light Of the
charge that a lobby was maintained in
| Washington to fight for the passage of this
bill. Messrs. Hansbrough On. d. and
Warren (Wyo.) took the other side Of the
question.
Considerable progress was made with the
Post Office Appropriation bill. The pro-
visions of the bill relating to sites for
Post Office purposes in. New York City, as
amended by the Senate committee, were
agreed to. Other important amendments
agreed to were those providing for the
! transfer OF the free delivery service from
the Office of the Fourth Assistant Postmas-
ter General to the Office Of the First Assist
age limit for cars used In tho Railway Mail
Service, and the restrictions placed upon
First and Second-class Postmasters In the
matter Of telephone service.
In the House an attempt to secure con-
|
of the bill appropriatins S475. 900 for the
Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition,
to be held in Portland, Ore, In 1905. failed,
after the House had divided several times
and the roll had been called twice.
The Military Academy Appropriation
in charge Of the bill, had explained it's
features briefly, Mr.. Goodfogle IN. "
spoke In behalf Of the Jews Of the United
States, for whom he asked equal treatment
and protection while travelling in Russia.
Mr.: Livernash (Cal: made an attack on
/ (Pa.) discussed the negro question.
/ April 6.-After listening to a two-hour
speech by Mr.. Morgan on the Panama
Canal question, the Senate again took up
the Post Office Appropriation bill, but adj
journed without completing it's considera-
ton. Some important amendments aside
from those suggested by the committee were
agreed to, among them one increasing from
two to four ounces the size of franked let
ters,. and another adding Is members to
the force of rural free delivery agents.
| Mr.. Morgan's speech was in especial ad-
vocacy of his resolution requesting informa-
ton from the AttorneyGeneral concerning
concessions to the original Panama Canal
Company, and was in the main an arraign-
ment of the new Panama company.
| The proceedings in the House were en-
livened by speeches by Mr.. De Almond and
Mr.. Grosvenor, the former attacking the
Republicans for failure to order an In
to revise the tariff. and the latter vigorous
| ~ defending the Republican party for its
policies and lauding President Roosevelt
for the part he played in the postal inyesti-
| CATION, the passage of the Cuban Recipro-
| city law, and the treaty with Panama for
h. 81 latin al VIZ
remarks of both speakers were listened to
| after Mr.. Grosvenor began to speak the
| with attention by the members, and soon
galleries filled up, and the occupants re-
manned until the debate closed. Mr.. Gros
yenor was frequently interrupted, and was
| appiauded by the Republicans when he an
swered the gibes of several Democratic
members on the subject of the tariff and
| the postal investigation.
Earlier in the day Mr.. Prince Cll.), in
| vigorous speech, predicted friction be-
tween the General Staff of the Army and
| the Secretary Of War.
I The Military Academy bill was passed
without amendment.
April 6.-After waiting with much pa
| tience for many days, Mr.. Hepburn found
| opportunity to speak to the Senate on the
subject of pure food. Technically. the
| speech was in support of resolution
calling upon the Secretary Of Agriculture
| to send to the Senate the results of the
| Investigations made by his Department
| into adulterated foods, but in reality it
was in support of the pure food bill.
The greater part Of the remainder Of
| the day was devoted to the consideration
! Of Mr. Quinter's amendment for grading
the salaries of rural free delivery carriers,
| and it was then declared out of order
| The committee amendment bearing upon
| the salaries Of carriers and regulating
| their services for private individuals was
| accepted
In five-honr session, the House passed
| II bills relating to the District of Column
ba, including one Incorporating the Car
| nege Institute; passed the Bowman Omni-
bus claims bill, carrying Approximately
sos 600 for the payment of small claims
agreed to the conference report on the
| Notifications bill, and insisted on it's dis
| agreement to an amendment in the bill
| providing for the purchase of submarine
| boat.
The Alaska Delegate bill was taken up
Mr.. Cushman (Wash) opened the discus
sion with a lengthy explanation of the
measure, setting out the necessities of
the Territory in the way Of representation
in Congress.
April THE Senate listened to eulo-
gies Of the late Senator Hanna. The gall
leries were we'll filled and the speakers
given close attention. Those who spoke
were Senators Foraker. Scott, Cockrell,
Plat (Conn.), Cullom, Blackburn, Elkins,
| Fairbanks, Daniel, Perkins, Depew, Bev-
eridge, Doliver, Kearns, and Dick.
The Swayne impeachment proceeding
which has been looked upon as the only
possible block to an early adjournment Of
Congress. was disposed Of in FIVE minutes
by the House, by the adoption of a resolu-
ton making the case a special order for
| Dec. Ii next. In the meantime, the Judi
| cary Committee is to take additional tes-
| timony in the case.
After disposing Of conference report
on the Army Appropriation bill. the
House took up the bill extending the coast
wise laws to the Philippines, and by a vote
of 1872 to 100, adopted special rule to
dispose of this bill, after debate of two
hours. This debate was exhausted save
five minutes when the House adjourned
at 5:3O o'clock An amendment to the bill,
postponing the opera ton of the laws until
July l, 1906, instead of 1905, win be pro-
posed
April On the Senate Mr.. Spooner
| tooL nccoSiop to roplv RI tho Damoprafi Ia