The Cairo bulletin., 1905-12-07
BRAINS IN BOTH
HOUSES At WORK
Several Hundred Bills Intro.
duced in the Senate
A CANAL PRESS AGENT
WITH A SALARY OF $4,000 PER
YEAR CAUSES CONSIDERABLE
DISCUSSION IN THE LOW
Err HOUSE.

washington, Dec. 6.-Ihe senate
began business in earnest today. The
session was of only a little more than
Two hours duration, but in that time
several hundred bills and resolutions
were introduced and referred to com
mittees.
There were resolutions dealing with
The question of the national regulation
Iof insurance companies, Incorporation
)f interstate railroad companies and
contribution Of funds to political part.
les by national banks.
Foraker presented his railroad rate
regulation bill; Gallinger his merchant
marine subsidy bill; Lodge a bin pro
Viding for a maximum and minimum
tariff rate schedule in the interest OF
reciprocity; Culberson, bill making
It penal offense to use money of in
surance companies in politics.
The nearest approach to contro-
yersy arose over a resolution present
ed by Newlands directing the inter-
state commerce commission to draw
up national incorporation act for
railroads. Spooner criticised the pro-
ceedings as unworthy Of the senate.
Objections were made to the con
sideration of a resolution offered by
fillman Tor the investigation of the
subject of national bank contributions
for campaign purposes and the reso
luton went over for a day.
With an opportunity for unlimited
debate On the subject of the Panama
canal, the house exhausted its oratory
IN that subject in a session of four and
| three quarters hours today. The
bill appropriating SIG 500 900 for canal
work which was the subject of the
discussion will be read for amend.
ment and placed on final passage to-
morrow. The feature of the debate
was criticism INDUCED in by both
Republican and Democrats regarding
he lncompleteness of the statement or
expenditures and estimates furnished
)y the canal commission
Hepburn, in charge of The bin made
some effort to show that while detail
ed estimates might be more satisfac
tory at the same time members of
The house were not in a position to
pass critical judgment on estimates
for such a work prepared by expert
engineers who hold responsible posi-
tions and had been selected entirely
because of their fitness. Cochran of
New York, took a decided exception
10 this attitude on the part of Hep
burn, applied II as affecting all mat
ters of appropriation and arraigned It
as decidedly wrong attitude of the
legislatures. To enforce his argument
he read the sentiment Of the president
his message for economy and the
scrutiny of appropriations The so
called press agent" of the canal com
niscicn was criticized by several
speakers, and the lack of definite in
'ormation as to the existence of such
a position, was shown. The place was
declared 10 carry slary of $40 GOO q
year and some curiosity was manifest.
ID TO know what were it's duties. Sen
ltor Culberson's bill relating to cam.
1aign contributions makes It a felony
'or an insurance company or any other
corporation TO contribute money or
anything of value toward the election
IF president or vice president of the
United States. Il is likewise made a
ebony fer any person knowingly 10
Use for such campaign purposes any
money contributed by a corporation.
The bill prescribes a penalty of not
'ess than two years nor more than
twenty years imprisonment.