Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-01
58TH CONGRESS.
Upper Branch Discusses Wide
Variety Of Subjects.
Posioffce Bill Debate Confined to
One Speech.
Consideration Of the Sundry Civil Bill
in House.

Washington, March 31.-The atten-
ton Of the Senate was divided, TODAY.
between the bill for the repeal OF the
desert land. the timber and stone and
the homestead communication laws and
the post office appropriation bill.
The repeal bill was taken up only
for the purpose of discussion. and Mr..
clark Of Wyoming was the principal
cuoakcr He contested the position
taken by Mr.. Gibson, that there have
been great frauds in the administra
ton of land laws in the West. lie de-
clared that there is lobby in Wash
inston in the interest of the repeal bill
ana engaged in a short colloquy with
MIR. Patterson, during which each chaI-
actcriZed the statement of the other
as untrue.
The general debate on hte post office
bill was confined largely to a speech
by Mr.. McCrcary and Interruptions by
Republican senators. Mr.. McCreary
charged in the main that the policy Of
an early adjournment of Congress had
been adopted III order to avoid legis-
lation not dcsilel by the Republican
leaders.
The Senate passed joint resolution
providing for the printing of 12.00A
copies OF the record of the Northern
Securities merger case in the suprem"
court for free distribution.
MI. Clark. Wyo., addressed the Sen
ate on the bill repeating the desert
land and other land laws. He took is
sue with the statements of Mr.. Gibson
charging fraud in administration of
the land laws. He expressed the Opin
ion that if the bill should become a law
| it would absolutely stop the develop
ment of the Semi-arid region.
Mr.. lioar offered and the Senate
adopted an addition to the rules MAX
| ing confidential any communication
i sent to the Senate from an executive
| department concerning Z matter for
executive consideration. Mr. Hoar eX-
| planned that often statements by poll
| ticians written in a very free manner
are sent to the Senate committees glv-
| ing nominations under considerations
and such he said. should not be pub
lished. He said the rule was intended
to meet these cases.
Mr. Clark criticized the operation of
the forest reserve ?w. saying that IN
der it two-thirds of the area of his
, own county had been withdrawn from
entry. This was not the fault of the
law.
Clark spoke Of tho work of the commits
sion recently sent into the West to invee-
rigata the operations Of land law.. ana
commended the President for his course
, in this matter.
Continuing. he said: Never in thu his
tory Of land legislation has there been
such determined. such n barrfaced lob
by, as is behind this legislation ANA which,
has been pressing it for the pas: three
years. It is no secret that one Of the
largest holders OF these lands recently
has boosted ut Il public banquet that he
had contributed $1,000 Tor the purpose OF
tliS bin
Gibson and Patterson both demanded
| .he name of the man in question. bat
Clark declined to give it to the Scnat"
saving te would not enter into prrsonali-
tics of that character in the Senate. but
h" would give The name to any senator
who might wish it,
Patterson demanded that Clark should
say who constitutes the lobby here in
| the interest of the repeal bill Clarl.
| again declined, hut said the senator from
Colorado knew who constituted the lobby.
PATTERSON replied promptly. saying:
There * not one word of truth in that
st itCment.'
Clark replied that he had meant m,re-
~ to say that Patterson mus; have OBJ
served the lobby and he withdrew the
statement that the Colorado senator had
had positive knowledge of its existence.
The post office appropriation hill was
taken M. McCrcary read from the mos
sage Of the President {" snow conditions
in the department VIII, H. h. said. waT-
Ianted and made necessary an investi%a
ton
The policy Of the Earurican party in
regard To immigration and Stitchuni for
NnU Al Ia, hon
severely criticised by MCFreary, who said
Republican pledges had been broken.
| Mccrrary declared that Their had been
more Wa-teful extravaganza during the
past two administrations. ana especially
under thu present administration. than
lever before
He accused The Republicans Of obstruct-
ling the passage al the department build
| ingS hill in Washington.
The latter statement IfOar objected to.
| Dolii>,r spoke uf the charges Of corrup-
ton which the Democrats Were making.
III tneSc. he said. had been found Oh
| I:risioW'S report. which was Il great trib-
ute t. The integrity of the department.
| He did not consider it one of the tunc-
lions OF Congress to take charge of the
interior affairs of the departments.
He said that there was nothing in the
whole matter Of which III" Republican
party red be ashamed. DolIiyrr said that
the report rejecting upon Numbers of the
House had not been sent 70 Congress 10
injure anyone.
Money said that the holding of the re-
port on charges concerning members of
Congress" was :, distinct charge. and ask
ed Doliiver who was responsible for il.
Deliver replied that nc had been in
formed that the heading had been traced
to 4 proof reader il the government print
ing Office.
Money declared it absurd to charge the
line to . printer and said it WAS cool!y
men6;icious and had been used to divert
attention from the charges against the
department to Congress.
Hepburn said that Congress could not
properly conduct such an inquiry as was
demanded merely for the purpose of hold
ing n department up to ridiCule.
Tho conference report on the agriculture
al appropriation was agreed to and after
n brief executive session the Senate. at
ia T. NJ. adjourned.