The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-14
Ways and Means end Commerce
Committees Clash.
Over Question of Which Shall
Handle Insurance.
THE CANAL BOND BILL.
Passes the Senate Without
Debate as Amended.
Places Bonds on Equality With
Other q. s. Securities.

UCner a. y. Securities
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE contest
between the ways and means commit
tee and the Interstate and foreign COM
merce commission for control of fnsur-
ance legislation was continued in the
house today. Mr.. Payne took the foos
to show that the power to tax was the
only way in which congress could get
control over insurance and the ways
and means committee had Jurisdiction
over the taxing power.
A review Of judicial opinion was made
by Mr.. Payne to substantiate his pcsf-
ton that insurance was not interstate
commerce. He contended that in the
lace of the unanimous opinion of the
supreme court the only explanation
touching insurance that would be held
TO be good would be to tax it.
Mr.. Mann (Ill.) said he saw great diff
ncuIty in regulating insurance through
the taxing power but he did believe
regulation might be secured under the
| commerce clause of the constitution.
Regulation through prohibiting mail
facilities to insurance companies which
did not comply with prescribed reguIa-
tiOn was suggested by Mr. Davis
| (Minn.)
AS a precedent for the future Mr..
Hepburn said he saw great importance
in the manner in which the question
should be decided. The supreme court
view, he said, was not the view of him
self nor of considerable number Of
members Of the house nor of the Amer
! lean Bar association. 1.-THE recomnenda-
| ton of the bar association, of the en-
actment by congress of legislation for
the regulation of insurance, was placed
in the record by Mr.. Bartlett (Ga.)
Conditions regarding commerce were
/ Infinitely different than when the de-
cisions in questions were rendered.
BY adopting the resolution regarding
| reference, taken with the statement OF
| Mr.. Payne that the taxing power was
1 the only jurisdiction over insurance, Mr..
! Hepburn said the house would be SIM
/ ply proclaimlng its lack Of jurisdi 3tlou.
Fartlcuiarly was this so when, as he
| said, he had been informed the majori-
/ ty of the ways and means committee
! agreed with its chairman.
In the Senate,
Washington, Dec Am the senate
| today ar. Aldrich reported from The
| committee on finance q substitute FIR
| the Teller Panama canal bond bill IN
! presenting the report he said that the
| bill has the effect of giving the two per
cent canal bonds the same privilege and
rights accorded to other two per cent
bonds and asked for its immediate con-
sideration. Mr.. Pettus at first object
1 ed to consideration but a few minutes
later withdrew his objection and the
| bill passed without debate.
/ MI. ElklLS asked ana ODtdEI=4 luE
consent of the senate to make a verbal
] report from the committee on Interstate
/ commerce concerning the progress Of
/ the committees investigation Of the
railroad rate question. He said that
! the committee had found it impossible
to report a bill ten days after conven-
| ing of the congress as directed by inc
resolution ordering the inquiry.
I'VE cannot report today" he said,
''but I am justified in saying that It IS
the belief of the members that later the
committee will be able to present
measure" He added that the commit
tee had been in session from april to
June and again since No yembsr 2l last,
and was giving all the time possible to
1 the question.
The emergency canal appropriation
bill was then taken up. After the
! amendment had been agreed to hlr.
Teller discussed canal matters in gen
eraI He did not believe that the canal
will be the success its friends expect.
Bills and Resolutions.
Washington. Dec. 1.-THE granting
! of patents on medicines and drugs eE-
/ cept for definite process of manuEac-
/ ture is prohibited in d bill introduced
today by Representative Mann (ill-l
/ The bill received favorable mention oL
! the house at the last session The bill
| places the patents of German citlzeIlS
! on the same basis in this country as
American patentees are treated in Ger
/ many.
A resolution providing for a thor
/ ough investigation of the situation ana
/ conditions at the naval academy was
introduced today by Representative
/ Loud (Mich.).
! The fourth federal judge for Alaska
! is provided for in a bill introduced to-
/ day by Representative Jones (Wash)-
Senator Hepburn today introduced
1 a bill providing for the reimbursement
| of states for lands taken for forestry
reservation purposes.
! The senate committee on commerce
| today. agreed to report favorably the
! bill recommended by the merchant
marine commission for the promotion
/ of American commerce, Familiarity
known as the sship subsidy BILL
A whipping post for the District of
! Columbia viii be established if con-
/ gress should enact a measure which
Representative Adams (Pa.) has in
/ troduced. Mr.. Adams talked to the
president today about the bill and at
] the conclusion of his interview quoted
the president as being heartily in favor
! Of the passage of the measure.
Presidential Appointments.
Washington, Dec. 14.-The president
today sent the following nominations to
| the senate:
! Chief justice of the supreme court Of
! New Mexico, William ]. Mills, New
Mexico.
Associate justices of the supreme
/ court of New Mexico, Frank w Par
ker, New Mexico; John r. AIcFie, New
Mexico.