The Bourbon news., 1905-02-24
The FIFTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
Second Session.

Washington, Feb 1S.-The senate
passed the bill appropriating $780,
300 for the District of Columbia and
he diplomatic and consular appropria-
ion bill carrying $2156,000. The dip
lOmatic bill received the attention of
he senate for only II minutes and
was passed without discussion. A
special feature of the day was the ac.
ceptance of the statue of Frances E.
Willard, the distinguished temperance
advocate, which has been placed in
Statuary hall in the national capitol
by the state of Illinois. The senate
terminated its controversy with the
house over the amendment construe-
ing the provision in the Dingley law
relative to the drawback on imported
wheat by receding from the amend
ment inserted in the agricultural APP
preparation bill as it passed the SEN
ate.
In order to facilitate action at this
session on the statehood bill the
house passed a resolution sending thaS
measure as amended by the senate di-
rectly into conference without an op-
portunity being afforded to debate it.
With the exception of Mr.. McLachland
party lines were strictly drawn. Aft
er several hours discussion the naval
appropriation bill was laid aside and
the house entered upon exercises ap-
propriate to the reception and accept
ance of the statue of Frances E. Will
lard, presented by the state of Illinois.
Washington, Feb. 21.-Whether the
senate cOnferees on the statehood bill
will fLA NJ fhof H0f0
joint statehood for Arizona and New
Mexico, or the party that fought for
the retention of that provision was de-
bated at length in the senate, but no
decision was reached. The usual man.
ner is to name as conferees the two
ranking majority members and the
ranking minority member of the COM
mittee having the bill in charge. In
the present case it was cOntended by
Senators German and Teller that the
conferees, if so named, would not rep
resent the sentiment for the bill as
passed by the senate.
The house, after seven hour ses-
sion, passed the naval appropriation
bill, carrying a total of $99,914, ,359.
The provision for two battleships, as
reported by the committee on naval
jority and minority were badly diVid-
ed over the proposition, at least 40
members of the latter going over to
the republicans, while about an equal
number of republicans voted in Oppo-
Sition.
Several important changes in tho
bill were made. The proposed in.
crease of 1,200 men and officers for
the marine corps was stricken out. as
was also the provision authorizing the
construction of collier somewhere
else than at the Mare Island navy
yard in California. In order to do the
work better an item of $175,O00 was
inserted for the proper equipment Of
the Mare Island yard. Several times
during the debate the assassination OF
Grand Duke Serigus was referred to.
the subject being brought up by Mr..
Baker IN. ", who condemned the &C.
tiOn of President Roosevelt in send
ing a message of coincidence to Russia
expressing the sentiment that the gov
ernment and American people viewed
the act with adherence
Washington, Feb. 22.-The senate
passed the military academy appro-
priation bill and began consideration
VI Tue IHuldn appfOpTldllOn-D Dill. early
in the day, in response to a question,
Mr.. ElkinS, chairman of the commit
tee on interstate commerce. express
ed the opinion that it would be inn
possible to secure railroad rate legiS-
lation during the present session Of
congress. The senate took up the
Isthmian canal bill.
The house passed the Philippine
tariff bill, practically as it came from
the committee, with but little discus
sion. There was no especial Opposi-
tion to it, although amendments COM
ing from the democratic side designed
to put certain products on the free
list met with defeat. An effort to pro-
hibit the importation of opium into
the islands except for medicinal pur-
poses also failed. Immediately after
the Philippine tariff bill was disposed
of the house took up the river and
harbor appropriation bill, but it was
soon laid aside, and several measures
were passed, the most important of
which was the authorization given the
secretary of war to return to the sew
eral states union and confederate bat