Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-03-21

Washington, March 10.-The senate
passed a number of bills relating TO
Alaska. but failed to act on the
measure authorizing the election OF
delegates in congress from that ter,
ritory. Senator Plat of Connecticut
opposed the bill and, because of his
opposition and his desire for time be.
/ fore decision, it was not pressed. The
Alaska bills passed included those
for the Improvement of roads, main
i tenance of schools appointment of ad-
ditional judges and the extension OF
the coal laws TO the territory. Sew
eral other bills were passed including
one increasing to 800 the pension OF
( ex-soldlers who have become totally
blind on account of service.
Washington. March 11-With the
exception of a half-hour devoted to
the consideration of routine business
the senate spent the entire day in
executive session, devoting most of
the time to the nomination of General
Wood TO be a major general. The
house INDUCED itself in seven hours
of explanation, accusation and vitup-
erative denunciatiOn and then ordered,
with only two negative votes, an in
vestigation of the postal affairs, so far
as the members of the house are con-
I cerned, by a special committee of
seven members to be appointed by the
+ speaker, which likewise is to examine
/ into the origin of the Bristow report
so far as il concerns members of the
house. The demand of the minority
for a sweeping investigation of every
branch of the postoffice department
was not granted. The test on this
question came on a vote which result
ed IA to 125, strict party vote. The
climax was reached when Representa-
tive William Alden Smith of Michi-
gan condemned every executive de
. partment of the government for its
arrogant treatment of the only branch
/ CT the government in direct touch with
the people. When he shouted out
the name of Speaker Cannon for pres
ident of the United States, the house
Numbered its acquiescence. Members
rose to their feet and fairly shrieked
their assent, and democrats waved
whatever was in their hands. Repub-
licans pounded their desks and the
packed galleries took up the enthus-
iasm and echoed the applause. When
the speaker bent low over his desk
and welded his gavel vigorously for
order his raps only served as an
impetus for fresh outbreaks of en-
thusiasm. Meanwhile Mr.. Smiths
time ran out and when he endeavored
to continue, in opposition to the rul-
ing of the speaker, he was urged on by
cries of members on both sides, but
without avail.
A parliamentary struggle between
the republicans and democrats came
late in the day. The recommendation
of the committee that the Hay resOlu,
ton lie on the table was brushed aside
unanimously. The democratic demand
for a full investigation finally came to
vote in the shape of an appeal from
a decision of the chair and was defeat
ed IA to 125. a strict party vote A
resolution for an investigation of the
NbAANNNAOn VI AACnuGAN WIFI the Ut
partment, offered by Mr. Mccall OF
Massachusetts, was then agreed to,
only Representatives Lind. democrat
OF Minnesota, and Gillespie, democrat
of Texas. opposing it.
Mr.. Burleson of Texas, discussing
the BristOw report, said that the post
Office department "reeked with rotten
ness and was stepped in corruption.
and eliminated that the postmaster
general was responsible for the re
port Mr. Clayton of Alabama fol
lowed with unsparing criticism Of
Postmaster General Payne, to whom
he referred as that distinguished
imbecile who happens 10 be post
master general of the United States"
Further along, speaking of the Tul-
loch charges. Mr.. Clayton said of the
postmaster general, that distinguish.
ed specimen of assininity" who had
characterized the Tulloch charges as
hot air" The inquiry had been pur-
sued, he vehemently declared, not by
virtue of the efforts of Postmaster
General Payne and President ROOse-
welt but in response to a demand or
the press. He closed with a bitter
personal attack upon the postmaster
general.
Mr.. Jenkins of Wisconsin, one OF
those accused in Bristow's report,
wrought himself up TO a high state OF
indignation and demanded that the
light be turned on. He said he was
in favor of removing Bristow from
office before the sun goes down.
Washington, March 12-There was
an echo of the Indianola, Mississippi,
postofice case in the senate, when
Senator McLaurin rose to question
of personal privilege to explain
newspaper report to the effect that
the authorities of that place arrest
peddlers of pictures of President
Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington,