Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-12-21
PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE.

Spirited debate was occasioned in the Sen
ate on the 18th by the Introduction of bill
by Mir Tillman authorizing the interstate
commerce commission to fix maximum rates
Mr.. Foraker declared that the bill proved
that its author believed the present law
sufficient to correct all transportation evils
except excessive rates! Mr. Tillman re-
sponded that he had thought the present
laws adequate until the investigation be-
gun by Judson and Harmon into the Santa
Fe case had ended in a miserable fiasco
The Panama canal emergency appropria ton
bill was received from the House, and
after considerable discussion, during which
the high salaries paid employees was criti-
ciSed, it was referred to the appropriation
committee by vote of 40 to 90 The death
of the late Senator Mitchell Of Oregon was
not mentioned during the session and the
crasure of his name from the rolls follows
At 80 p. M. the Senate went into executive
session and at o:1O p. m. adjourned until
Tuesday.
The Serate passed bill authorizing the
Rock Island, Arkansas & Louisville railroad
TO construct bridges across the Ouachita
and other streams in Arkansas. Adjourned
at / 20 p.
In the Senate on the 18th Mr. Allison
presented the report of the committee on
appropriations on the Panama canal bill,
giving no. ice that he would call it up for
considcra ton on the 18th communica-
ton from Secretary Shaw saying that only
a few small campaign contributions had
been made by national banks was read.
At 12:45 p. m. the Senate went into eX-
ecutive session and at 1 % p m. adjourned.
The Senate on the 14th discussed the
Panama canal emergency appropriation bill,
but did not come to vote. A separate
bill regulating the issuance of bonds for
the canal and placing them on the same
basis as other government bonds was
passed without debate. pure food bill
was reported by Mr.. Hepburn. Mr.. Elkins
made Il statement from the committee
interstate commerce expressing the opinion
that the committee would report rate bill
within q reasonable time. At 4:57 p. m.
the Senate adjourned.
The Senate, on the 10Th, adopted q resO-
luton of Mr.. Stone requesting the post
master general for information as to wheth-
college periodicals are admitted to the
mails as Second-claSS matter and whether a
preference is shown some such periodicals
over other similar publications. Mr.. Gal
Iinger reported the merchant marine bill
The Panama canal bill was laid before the
Senate and Mr.. Bacon presented an amend
ment requiring quarterly reports giving lists
of officers and employees Of the commission
above the grades of laborer and the salaries
paid them After debate by MeSsrs. Till
man, SpoOner, Money, Hale, CuIberson and
Allison an agreement for q vote tomorrow
was reached and the Senate at sos D. m.
adjourned.
The emergency bill appropriating 1000
GOO for the Panama canal was passed by
the Senate on the 10th, after q debate
which practically excluded all other bust
ness. A substitute offered by Mr.. Hale for
Mr.. BaconS amendment, specifically requir-
ing that Congress shall be supplied with
regular estimates of all salaries except
those paid to laborers, was accepted. Mr..
Hale made the authorized announcement
that Secretary Bishops duties as press
agent would be abolished. At 4:30 p. m.
the Senate went into executive session, and
at 4:53 p. m. adjourned.