Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-03-01
WORK OF CONGRESS
The Senate and House Regularly at
Work-What They are Doing.
Mr.. Webb's Fight For Free Cotton.


a strenuous and all but successful eff
fort to so amend the Philippine tariff
bill as to remove the duty on cotton.
On the first vote, the majority lined
up in support of the North Carolina
member, but Mr.. Scott, OF Kansas,
who was in the chair, rescued the sit
uation for the committee having charge
Of the bill by announcing that a sec
Ond vote would be taken, owing to the
fact that there had been so much con-
fusion in the chamber. The amend
ment was then voted down by the
small majority of SO to 95, and mo-
ton to recommit the bill, made by MI.
Cooper, ranking minority member OF
the ways and means committee, fail
ed to effect any material change in
the Republican majority. When MI.
Webb was advocating the adoption of
his amendment, Mr.. Payne o issue
with him, ~whereupon the North Caro-
lima member asked the Republican floor
leader if he did not know that remov-
al of duty on cotton would aid the
Republican mill of Fall River.
Mr., Payne said he did not know that
it would, to which Mr.. Webb replied
that it was the duty of the chairman
Of the ways and e committee to
know a fact SO potent.
Rate Bill to Go Over.
The Senate Tuesday passed the Mill
tarY Academy appropriation bill and
began consideration of the Indian ap-
preparation bill. Early in the day, in
response to a question, Mr.. Elkins,
chairman of the committee of inter-
State commerce, expressed the opinion
that it would be impossible to secure
railroad rate legislation during the
present session of Congress. The Sen
ate toOk up the isthmian canal bill,
and agreed to meet an hour earlier to-
morrow, in order to advance the bill.
Ex-senator Higgins finished his pre-
liminary statement in opening the de-
Tense for Judge Swayne, and one wit
ness for Judge SWayne was examined.
Mr.. Elkins, in his statement, regard
ing the railway rate bill, said: mo
decision as to an effort to pass the
bill this session has been reached, but
with the limited time at their dis
posal, it would seem that there is very
little prospect of that result before
adjournment. with only ten days of
the session left and with much other
imperative business to be performed.
1t would hardly seem probable that
the most important economic question
Of the day could be disposed of in SO
short a time, and especially in view of
the fact that only n side of the
question has so far been presented to
the committee"
Mr.. Carmack, a member of the COM
mittee on Interstate commerce, eX-
cused himself from speaking for the
committee, on the ground that "such
joyous harmony exists there as to OBJ
literate party lines" He said he could
assure the Senate that all of the COM
mittee are actuated by a keen desire
to execute at the earliest possible
moment the promises made by the
President of the United States, and
through the medium of the Democratic
platform, and to add that it is the
intention Of the whole committee to be
guided in this matter by the Presi-
dent. Indeed" he added, 81 may go
further, and say, and the chairman
of the committee will correct me if
l am wrong, that 1 am authorized to
inform the Senate that all the mem
bers recognize in the President the
foremost disciple and ablest lieutenant
Of William J. Bryan" The state
ment caused a general burst of laugh
ter, and the incident closed.
When the hearing in the Swayne in
parchment trial was resumed, Mr.. Hale
presented an order for a vote in the
Swayne case at 4 p. m Saturday, and
asked that it go over. He said he
would insist upon the liberal enforce
ment of the rule governing the closing
arguments in the case.
Mr.. Palmer replied that the House
managers would desire at least six
hours for the presentation Of the
case for the prosecution. He said that
each of the managers would desire to
be heard.
Senate Gets Busy.
The Senate Wednesday considered at
some length the bill providing a civil
government for the Panama Canal
zone. The question of the governments
ownership of the Panama Railroad and
its relationship to the general question
of government ownership of railroads
was debated freely.
A number of witnesses were exam
ined on behalf of Judge Swayne in the
impeachment proceeding against him.
Washington's Farewell was read by
Mr.. Perkins at the beginning of the
session.
Mr.. Hale re-introduced in somewhat
different form his resolution to bring
the Swayne impeachment trial to a
close next Saturday, saying that he
hoped. in view of information received,
ne would not be compelled to again
call it up. This information, he said,
was to the effect that an arrangement
was being perfected whereby the trial
might be terminated by the end of
the present week. He added that I'M
less such an arrangement could be
co1summated he would find some way
of bringing the matter to the attention
of the Senate so as to get a vote. He
said that in order TO get action upon
the appropriation bills it was abso-
lutely necessary to promptly dispose of
the trial.
Mr.. Bacon objected to undue expe-
dition in disposing Of the Swayne mat
ter, saying that while he agreed with
Mr.. Hale as to the Importance Of press
ing consideration of the regular bust
ness of the Senate, he regarded the trial
as a constitutional function of great
Importance, and therefore desiring of
most careful consideration. He sug-
gested longer daily sessions of the SEN
ate