The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-03-03

Washington, March 1.-During the
day the Senate considered and passed
three supply bills aggregating an ap-
preparation of over 1857, 200, 900 and
at night took a fourth bill. CARRYING
over $67,00o,00o. The session being
at eleven a. m, and after a recess
lasting from to s, continued well
into the night.
The appropriation measures passed
during the day session were:
The postoffice bill. carrying $751;
526,S43; the pension bill carrying
3S,000,000, and the river and har-
Dor bill, carrying in immediate ap-
preparations and continuing contracts
$3S.350,S99. The river and horbor bill
was increased by $4,000, among the
increases being Winyah Bay. $4,000;
Charleston, S. c., $4,000; Cumber-
land river, Tenn, $4,000.
During consideration of the post
Office bill, Mr.. Clay took exception to
the increase TO the appropriation for
pneumatic tube service to S1,500000,
saying that the postmaster generals
estimate called for only 100000. He
said that the plan was to extend the
service to cities Of 100000 and added
that already cities of 100000 were
beginning to ask for the service He
also asserted that the expenditures
on behalf Of the postoffice department
were now practically equal to the en-
tire expenses of the government four
teen years ago.
Mr.. Comas proposed an amendment
giving preference to soldiers of the
war of the rebellion in the matter of
the transfer of railway clerks to the
regular clerical service. Makes it SOL
diers of the civil war" suggested Mr..
Bacon, adding 'it is more courteous
The change was made and the
amendment agreed to.
The Senate agreed to conference re-
ports on the military academy ami
agriculture department appropriation
bills.
The report on the agricultural ap-
preparation bill showed that the Sem
ate conferees had receded from the
Senate amendment requiring bi-mon-
thly reports on the cotton crop Mr.
Bacon read a telegram from Presi-
dent Jordan of the Southern Cotton
Growers Association, urging the inn
portance of more frequent reports.
and himself dwelt upon the wisdom of
the amendment He said however.
that he appreciated the pertinacious
and unyielding opposition OF the House
and that the Senate could not do
otherwise than yield. He attributed
! this opposition to the agricultural de-
partment. saying that subordinates
and not the head of that department
had haunted the capitof to defeat the
legislation. He remarked that it was
the duty of executive officials to ex-
ecute the laws and that IL they could
not do so they should be required to
retire from Office.
No one. he continued, except stock
gamblers could be benefited by keep
ing the condition of the cotton crop
In the dark It stands to reason. he
said that a person who may have cx-
elusive information as to fluctuations
in the condition Of the crop in the long
intervals between monthly reports
would have chance to make millions
| of dollars" / don't charge" he add
ed, that any one in or out of the de-
partment has profited by such infor-
nation, and I know that the secre-
tary would burn his arm off before
he would be guilty Of such an act"
He added that IL was remarkable
/ that facts concerning the report had
/ leaked out and instanced the circum-
stances that on one occasion they had
been known in New York and Sayan.
nah an hour I'm advance OF the ap.
pearance of the report.
! During consideration of the con-
! ference report on the military acad-
emy appropriation bill. Mr.. Bradley
criticised the addition OF the names
of General Hawley and General OsIes
Haus on the retired list of the army
The Philippine import tariff bill
| was passed and also several bills ol
-