Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-12-14
The WEEK IN CONGRESS


senate was In session only twenty
minutes. Senators Aldrich (Rhode
lsland), Knox (Pennsylvania), War.
ner (Missouri), and Frazier (Ten-
nessee), took the oath of Office. Sen.
ators Allison and Morgan were ap.
pointed by Vice President Fairbanks
as committee to notify the presi.
dent that congress was ready to re-
ceive any communication he desired
to make.
House. The preliminary steps to
organization were taken by the house
Joseph G. Cannon OF Illinois was re-
elected speaker, the members Of the
house took the oath of office; the of
ficers and floor employees of the body
were reelected. The rules of the last
congress were adopted. In a brief
speech against the adoption of the
rules the minority leader, Mr.. Will
liams of Mississippi, touched on the
interest Of the country in tariff legis-
lation, end told of the new republican
ideas" which were being waited to
Washington on breezes from every
part of the country" These, he said,
might be properly legislated for
should the minority of the majority"
stand with the democratic members
in opposing the adoption of the old
rules and forming new ones, which
would permit consideration of such
Legislation as popular opinion might
dictate.
Washington, Dec. 6.--Senate-The
senate was in session for almost three
hours today and gave practically all
Of its time to listening to the read
ing of the presidents annual mes
sage. There was large. attendance
If senators and the galleries were
well filled, most Of the time with rep
.esentatives of the general public.
The document received close atten-
ion from both classes.
House-President Roosevelt's mes
sage to congress received the atren-
ion of the house for two and half
hours today. Its reading was listen
I'd to with marked attention and at
is conclusion the document was ap-
plauded Preliminary steps were
aiken toward appropriating the need
cd emergency funds for the Panama
canal. A resolution was read express.
ing the sympathy of the American
people for the distressed Russian
Jews. Referred to committee on for.
eign affairs.
Washington, Dec. 6.-Senate.-The
senate began business in earnest to,
day. The session was of only little
more than two hours duration, but in
that time several hundred bills anG
resolutions were introduced and re
ferred to committees. There were
resolutions dealing with the question
Of the national regulation of insur
ance companies, the incorporation OF
Interstate railroad companies and the
contribution of funds to political par
les by national banks. Mr.. Forake'
presented his railroad rate regulation
dill; Mr.. Gallinger his merchant mar
ne subsidy bill; Mr. Lodge a bin pro
giding for maximum ana MINIMUM
.ariff rate schedule in the interest o.
"eciprocity, and Mr. Culbersoh a bill
making it penal offense to use the
money of insurance companies ii
politics.
House.-With an opportunity fo
unlimited debate on the subject of thi
Panama canal, the house exhausres
It's oratory on that subject in a ses
sion Of four and three-quarters hour,
today. The bill appropriating SIG,
100000 for canal work, which wa;
subject of discussion, will be reac
Tor amendment and placed on it,
final passage tomorrow. The feature
OF the debate was the criticism in
dulged in by both republicans ant
democrats regarding the incomplete
ness of the statement furnished by
the canal commission.
Washington, Dec. 7-Senate The
subject of the campaign contribu-
tons by insurance companies occu
of the senate today. 1t came up in
connection with Mr.. Tillman's resolu
ton calling for an investigation OF
national banks aid in politics, anc
was exploited by the South Caroline
senator in a speech Of some length
The address dealt with the presi
dents recommendations for the pun.
ishment of bribery in elections, with
Senator Platt's testimony before the
New York investigating committee,
and with various other pertinent
matters. 1t was couched in char
acteristic language and attracted con.
siderable attention. The resolution
directing the secretary of the treas.
ury to report whether the reports Of
the national bank examiners show
that the banks have made campaign
contributions in recent years was
adopted at the close of Mr.. Tillmans
remarks.
House.--An appropriation of S11,.
100000 was voted today toward the
construction of the Panama canal.
The amount was a compromise be-
tween the $16,500,000 carried in the
bill under consideration ami an esti-
mate of something over s16,O00,000
recommended by Mr.. Williams, the
democratic leader, to carry on the
work until the middle of January.
M. Hepburn, in charge Of the bill,
suggested that something over SILL.
100000 would carry on the work un.
til March. There was no intention
manifest to delay the work, the only
argument for cutting down the orig
inal estimate being that closer scrut-