The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-04-01
congress.
~ Resumo Of the Weeks
Preceding.

Washington, March 22.-Considera-
ton in the senate yesterday of the bill
providing for the purchase Of a site
and the erection Of a building for the
departments of state, justice and com
MERGE and labor. was made the occa-
sion for adverse criticism of the archi-
tsct who planned the White House Of
fees. Messrs. Teller and Hale led the
charge on the architect and Mr.. New
lands defended him. During the
morning hour a number Of bills were
passed.
After being in session an hour and
twenty minutes yesterday the house
ADJOURNED out of respect to the mem
DRY of the late Representative Charles
w. thompson of Alabama, who died
in this city Sunday.
Washington, March 23.-Outside of
a rev routine matters the house of
representatives devoted the entire day
to further discussion of the p~ostofice
appropriation bill. but disposed of
only one page of the bill. An amend
ment by Mr.. Tawney of Minnesota,
which was agreed to, prohibits the
postmaster general from ordering out
of p%ostofices telephone companies
other than the Bell company. An
amendment by c. b. Lands, Of In
diana prohibiting the further rental OF
cancelling machines was adopted at
ter a spirited debate.
The senate spent the greater part of
the day on the Indian appropriation
bill. Mr.. Lodge took exception to the
provision exempting candidates for
the position of Indian agency farmer
from civil service examination, and on
his suggestion the amendment was
passed over without action.
Washington, March 24.-When the
house adjourned yesterday some
progress had been made in the read
ing of the postofice appropriation bin
for amendment; but only six pages
were disposed of. The appropriation
for the railway mail service was care
fully scrutinized, and in the case Of in
land mail transportation by star
routes the appropriation was scaled
down from S. 00.O 900 to S7,S50,0O
The senate again spent the greater
part of the day considering the Indian
appropriation bill. Three hours OF the
time was given to discussion of a
claim of $50. 900 for services rendered
the Choctaw Indians. 1t finally was
eliminated from the Indian bill. The
civil service debate was renewed. and
there was considerable discussion Of
the policy to be pursued in securing
employees for work on the Panama
canal.
Washington, March 26.-The house
yesterday passed the postoffice appro-
priation bill after a prolonged debate
on the paragraph affecting rural let
ter carriers which Thursday was
stricken out, but yesterday was in
serted with enthusiasm under a spe-
cial order of the committee OF rules.
Several amendments and a substitute
offered to this paragraph were voteG
down. The bill has been under dis.
cussion since May Z.
Senator Hansbrough charged in the
otHdlC yCStCl udS lHdl lIC AloNNAlCHs
to secure the repeal of the desert land
law, the timber and stone law and the
communication clause of the homestead
sct We're due to the efforts of a lobby
composed mainly Of the holders Of
land bought in large tracts from rail-
way companies, who desire thereby to
increase the demand for their prop
erty. Senator Dubois intimated that
the pressure for repeal was due to
large holdings of forestry lands by the
railway companies. Senator Gibson
Thursday advocated the repeal of thu
laws in question.
Washington, March 25.-The house
of representatives again put itself DID
record against investigation OF the
postofice department yesterday.
Eight pages Of the p~ostoffice appro-
priation. bill we're disposed of. The
question of an investigation of the
postoffice department was brought up
by Mr.. Williams, the minority leader,
who proposed an amendment provid-
ing for a select committee of five
members of the house and three sen
ators to make a complete investiga.
ton into the alleged frauds in that de-
partment. He tainted the Republic
n for their failure to order an in
vestigation and said the party was
opposed to it. The chair sustained a
point OF order by Mr.. Overstreet
against the amendment, and when
Mr.. Williams appealed the chair was
sustained, 1873 to 80.
The senate yesterday passed the