Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1905-03-01
WORK OF CONGRESS

r1.7.-z7s-7z77r''o1
WORK OF CONGRESS
The Senate and House Regularly at
Work-What They are Doing.
Mr.. Webb's Fight For Free Cotton.
Congressman Webb Tuesday made
strenuous and all but successful ef-
Tor. 20 so amend the Philippine tariff
bill as to remove the duty Oh Cotton.
! Oh the first v6ots, the majority lined
up III 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 seo
.ond vote would be taken, owing to the
fact that there had been 80 mulch COM
fusion in the chamber: The amend
ment was then voted down by the
small majority OF. 80 to 95, and mo-
ton to recommit the bill, made by MIR.
Cooper, ranking minority member Of
the ways and means committee; fail
ed to effect any material change in
the Republican majority. When Mr..
Webb was advocating the adoption Of
his amendment, Mr.. Payne took issue
with him, whereupon the North Caro-
lima member asked the Republican floor
leader il he did not know that remoY-
al Of duty on, cotton would aid the
Republican, mill owners 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 means 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 ef the Indian ap.
propriation 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 lie 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-
ness for Judge Swayne was examined.
Mr.. Elkihs, 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 time, and especially in view Of
the fact that only one side Of the
question has SO far been presented to
the committee.
-, Mr.. Carmack, a member Of the COM
miItee, on Interstate commerce, ex-
cused himself from speaking for the
committee, on the ground that "such
joyous harmony exists there as to OBJ
Ialiterate party lines" He said he could
lsassure the Senate that all Of the COM
Dlittee 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 II may go
further, and say, and the chairman
of the committee will correct me If
T am wrong, that I am authorized to
inform the Senate that all the mem-
| bers recognize in the President tho
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 i'm
parchment trial was resumed, Mr.. Hale
presented an order for vote in the
S1ayne case at 4 p. m. Saturday, and
asked that it go over He said ne
would insist upon the liberal enforce
nent of the rule governing the closing
arguments in the case.
Mr.. Palmer replied that the House
managers would desire at least six
hours fer the presentation OF the
case for the prosecution. He said that
each. of the managers would desire tc
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
it's 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
he 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 trla
might be terminated by the end OF
the present week He added that un-
less such an arrangement could be
consummated 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 busl.
ness of the Senate, he regarded the trla
as constitutional function OF great
Importance, and therefore desiring Of
most careful consideration. He sug.
gested longer daily sessions OF the Sen
| ate
Consideration OF the bill for the gov.
ernment of the Panama Canal zonf
|