The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-24
HOUSE REFUSED TO
TAKE ANY ACTION
Baker Wanted to Honor the
Russian Dead
RAILROAD RATES DISCUSSED
Mr.. Pearre of Maryland Is Seized With
Nervous Commissions, Necessitat-
ing a Brief Recess.
The Senate.
RAILROAD RATES DISCUSSED

Washington, January 2S.-The session of
the House today was devoted entirely to
consideration of bills relating to the Dis
triet of Columbia. There was an echo Of
the disturbances in st. Petersburg yester-
day when Mr.. Baker of New York
moved that an adjournment be taken out
of respect to those who were killed in
the clash with the Russian troops
The only affirmative vote was recorded
by Mr. Baker himself. A little later the
proceedings were interrupted by Mr..
Pearre of Maryland, being seized with a
nervous CONFUSION, necessitating a brief
recess. He soon rallied and was conveyed
to his home
The proposition to control the railroads
in the matter of rates was discussed at
length by Mr.. Burgess of Texas, and
brihy by Mr. Hepburn of Iowa.
Burgess Discusses Rates.
Under latitude of general debate Mr..
Burgess of Texas discussed at length the
question of rates charged by the rail-
roads. He compared the utterances of
President Roosevelt in his messages to the
fifty-seventh and ffty-eighth Congresses
on the subject, and said that it was a
notable fact that not until after the cleo
ton did President Roosevelt in his last
message come out clearly for legislation
which would meet the present condition
of affairs. The President In the message,
however, he said, had with ability and
marked clearness discussed the duty of
the government and pointed out that the
Presidents position admitted of no sort
of question.
Summing his remarks, Mr.. Burgess said
that an opportunity was now presented
for members of the House to rise above
party ana vote for legislation which will
restrict the railroads. The matter he said
resolved itself into the question, Are
you with Roosevelt, or are you with the
railroads."
He was loudly applauded when he
pledged the President the support of the
democrats In the effort to control the
railroads.
Criticising the House for it's refusal to
adjourn in respect to the memory of the
persons killed in st. Petersburg yesterday
Mr.. Baker, New York, said he could not
see how the House could be Indifferent ia
such a condition of affairs. The House, he
said had devoted the day to the little
paltry, petty. district squabbles in the
city of Washington" while 1t had ignored
what he termed the Russian horror, "a
crime so unprovoked, so wanton and sc
shameless and cruel. that the whole civil
lied world stands aghast." He hoped the
House would take immediate opportunity
tic put itself on recoru las expressing Its
horror and the horror OIL the American
people at the fearful outrage"
Takes Issue With Burgess.
Mr.. Hepburn, Iowa, took issue with Mr.
Burgess regarding a portion of his re-
marks on railroad control. He first con-
graduated Mr.. Burgess for pledgins
democratic support to such measure
but said that all through Mr.. Burgess re-
marks there had been an attempt to
make a partisan question out OF 1t. Mr.
Hepburn vigorously asserted that every
shred of legislation now on the statute
books regarding the control of railroads
came from republicans and republican
bodies He charged that the democrats
or one occasion had two years In which
TO amend law, but that no recommends
| ton of any kind or character was made
| by their committee on interstate com
mcrce.
Mr.. Littlefield of Maine said Congress
must do one of two things-reduce APP
propriatons or increase the revenues
| He would be glad, he added, to follow
any reasonable suggestion of the commit
tee on appropriations and called atten-
ton to the fact that the decrease In ap-
preparations must be very much larger
than at present Indicated by the bills re-
ported if there were to be funds in the
| treasury to meet them.
| Mr.. Littlefield addressing himself tt
| the House leadership generally, said ht
dislilSed to increase revenue because Il
increased taxation, and said he wanted
to be told why 1t was desirable to de-
crease appropriations. No reply, how
ever was forthcoming.
Laughter and applause followed a crit
icism by Mr.. Lind of Minnesota of ar
item of $4,000 in the District of Columbia
appropriation bill. which he said was II
connection with the care of forty horses
when he expressed surprise that there
was no provision for a horse stenographer
Consideration of the bill had not beer
concluded when 1t was laid aside. anC
! the House concurred in the Senate amend
ment to the omnibus claims bill and sen
1t to conference.
At sos p m. the House adjourned
until tomorrow.
THE SENATE.
Il