New-York tribune., 1905-02-24
SENATE RUSHING WORK.
PANAMA BILL P4SSED
Testimony in Sscayne Trial Ended
Bills Reported.
EFRoM TIE rRInrxE nrREAr.

Washington Feb. 23.-Extraordinarv energy
vas displayed by the Senate to-day. both in
committee and the floor The Committee on
Naval Affairs repoIted the Naval bill carrying
q total appropriation Of s100.336.sT9. after an
hours consideration. The only important
changes from the House measure consisted Of
the appropriation Of S305 600 for the increase Of
the marine corps. provision that collier should
be constructed on the Pacific Coast and the
changing Of the name Of the Brooklyn Navy
Yard 10 the New-York Navy Yard
The Philippine Committee considered and re-
ported the Philippine Tariff BILL which virtually
afirTns the tariff schedules prepared by the
Philippine Commission to be assessed on imports
into the archipelago. The only important
change from the House measure consisted of
redrafting Of the section covering the sale of
opium in the Philippines. Three years are
granted for the abolition Of the trade in this
drug. within which period the Philippine gov
eminent must assume control of the industry
The sale of opium to native Filipinos is pro-
hibited After the Philippine government shall
assume control of the opium trade it may be i'm
ported and sold only by the government. and
then only for medicinal purposes.
The Senate passed the Panama Canal Zore
BILL as amended, and then turned its attention
10 the Swayne impeachment case, devoting
seven hours TO the proceedings. adjourning as
& court Of Impeachment at 10 2. m
The bill for the government Of the Panama
o. Canal zone is House measure. 1t was amend
ed in several important respects by the Senate,
notably in eliminating the provision for abo!-
ishing the Canal Commission. The bill will
now go TO conference, if the amendments are
not accepted by the House It is temporary
in character. expiring at the end OF the first
regular session OF the next Congress 1t vests
in the President authority TO appoint a person
or persons 10 govern the canal zone, and the
President has further authority TO direct the
manner Of such control. Annual or more fire.
ouent reports from the Governor of the zone
and those in charge of the canal provided
for, are also estimates of expenditures and
appropriations for all work on the canal and it
is provided that. after the present fiscal year.
no money shall be expended except by direct
appropriation All rentals and other income
from the Panama Railroad TO he credited
10 The Treasury canal fund and the President
is authorized TO deposit 81, 10000 in an Amer
lean bank having fiscal agent the Isthmus
Il Panama for the purpose Of facilitating busi-
ness. Authority IS given TO acquire by pur-
onsse or condemnation, tie remaining 1886
shares Of the stock Of the Panama Railroad
Company for the benefit Of the government.
The last Of the testimony in the interest of
Judge SWayne was presented. The Senate also
IN the closing argument.
Witnesses called for the defence were DR. J.
Willard Crosson. the Swayne family physician
al Guyencourt Del. who testified as to the
judges failure 10 maintain a residence there;
y A. Blount, Of Pensacola, and F. W. Marsh
clerk OF Judge Swaynes court. who were ques-
t.'1ed concerning the contempt cases. and also
the point Of residence The last witness in
half Of Judge Swayne was his son, Henry G.
0ayne lawyer Of philadelphia, who testi-
1c5 - 10 his fathers residence in Florida.
mass OF documentary evidence was then
Introduced in behalf Of Judge Swayne This
amounts paid for several years past to all the
circuit and district judges of the United States
IS expenses while holding court outside their
own districts The House managers resisted
the introduction Of these statements on the
ground Of irrelevancy. In arguing the point
Nj Olmsted characterized the effort as "a
cowardly iDsinuation against honorable judges
whose expense accounts before the
court f" Mr Higgins contended that the $40 a
day for expenses was intended TO be an allow
ance regardless Of the amount expended.
The Senate had difficulty IN securing a quorum
a. lts nrst nlght sitting OF the session, called
for the purpose OF proceeding with the SWayne
Impeachment case The session was called for
O'Clock, but il was impossible to begin bust
ness until % minutes later, when, fOTty-siX Sen
ators having responded 10 the rOllcall, a
was taken the admission of the tabuIated
statement showing the payments made TO fed
eral judges on account of expenses. The vote
was adverse 10 the proposition, being 10 20 Sc.
After offering a few other documents, Mr. Hig-
fence. Only TWO witnesses were called in rebuff
tai. They were E T. Davis and George W.
Pryor, both Of Pensacola. Their testimony re-
lated 70 the Dayis-Belden contempt cases. and
was brief few papers were presented as evil
cence by the prosecution. and when the last had
been received At 500 p m. A1r. Palmer an
nounced the termination of the presentation Of
testimony.
That's our case" said Mr.. Palmer and he
had scarcely taken his seat when Mr.. Thurston
addressed the chair. He made proposition to
submit the case without argument IF agreea-
be 20 the learned managers of the House"
Hr- Palmer's response was promptly made in
the negative, because he said, some Of the testi-
mony needed explanation TO be understood.
Hence" he said. ''it is not agreeable
Proceed with the argument" commanded Mr..
Plat from the chair.
NJ. OImsted accordingly took the floor for the
prosecution. The duty Of opening the discus
sion had been assigned 70 him. He dwelt on the
sccpe sof the jurisdiction of Congress in i'm
peachrnent proceedings and outlined the acts
that may he punished by impeachment He
contended that acts for which official may be
irnpeached are not necessarily official in char
scter. He charged Judge Swayne with crimes
outside his Office. and also said he had been
guilty OF high crimes and Misdeneanors relat-
ing 10 MS office and urged his conviction.
Mr. Oinsted concluded al 1918 .. m. and the
Senate adjourned Immediately, 10 meet at IL
= m tomorrow.