Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-05-09
Lower House of Congress
Votes for Agricultural
Investigation.
IN COMMITTEES HANDS
Senate Gives Railroads Till
1909 to Get Out of Coal
Mining Business.

Washington. May 9.-The agricultul
al department is to be investigated
The house today empowered the com
mittee on expenditures to conduct sue,
an examination.
Resumes Consideration.
Washington. May 9-The senate
was prompt in resuming consideration
OF the Elkfns coal amendment to the
railroad bill prohibiting interstate rail
roads from engaging in the production
OF coal or other commodities. The
vice president introduced and annOunc-
ed the amendment of Dryden TO the Ell
kins provision 10 be in order
That amendment extends to July,
1911. the time when the provision shall
go into effect. Several senators made
objection TO this and suggested il was
too remote Dryden altered the date
to July. 1909. The roll call resulted in
the adoption of the amendment. a 70
%
Democrats Have Aid.
Most of the negative vote was cast
by the democrats. but they were sup
ported by Burkett Clapp, Dolliver.
licans. Clark of Montana, and Cralke
of Kansas, democrats voted with the
republicans.
The action of the senate in accepting
the Dryden provision was promptly fol
lowed by motion. by Hopkins TO refer
the entire coal production subject TO
The committee on interstate commerce.
Washington. May 9.-The president
transmitted to congress a letter from
Secretary Taft, recommending the ap-
preparation of an additional 100000 10
meet conditions at San Francisco. Sec
retary Taft's letter shows that of the
81 500 900 appropriated. 81. .4O5.333 has
been expended. or contracts have been
made which will consume this sum.
Expenditures are divided among the
various departments as follows: Quar-
termaster's department. s1.741, ,G64;
substances. s329.435: medical. s3oi.-
539: signal corps. $4,000; mileage,
S14.695.
Senate in n Muddie.
Washington. May @ Aside from
few minutes devoted TO the reception
of the Allison amendment 10 the rate
bill and a half hour given TO routine
business. the senate devoted its en-
tire session Yesterday to the Intellectual
consideration of the Elkins amend
ment prohibiting common carriers
from engaging in mining coal or in
the production of other commodities
in competition with shippers. and adj
tournament at O'Clock in a state of
great confusion as TO the exact subject
hn
the fact that a number of substitutes
for the original amendment were Of
fered.
Senator Morgan's bill providing for
a sea level canal for the isthmus, ex-
cept through the Culebra cut, where he
proposes locks, was ordered laid on the
table by the senate committee on inter
oceanic canals.
Proceedings of House.
The house devoted the day to the
naval appropriation bill and accom- |
plished the reading for amendment of
the first 15 pages. During the time
several topics incident to the measure
were discussed, including the difficult
ty of obtaining enlisted men for the
navy. the location of a naval training
smokeless powder, and finally the un-
necessary expenditure of 100000 a
year for chains for ships. This latter
matter was under consideration when
the house adjourned. Representatives.
Loud of Michigan and GrOsvenor of
Ohio offered amendments providing
that the purchase of such supplies as
chains anchors. cordage. ETC., shall
hereafter be by competitive bid pro-
cess.
The house committee on foreign af-
fairs added an amendment TO the dip
lomatic and consular appropriation bill.
providing that no part of moneys ap-
prOpriated shall be paid to any ambas-
Sador or minister who receives any
other salary from the government
This will affect Governor Magoon of
the canal zone, who is also minister TO
Panama.
Many Railway Accidents.
Washington. May 9.-Campbell of
Kansas introduced a resolution in the
house directing an inquiry into the
causes of the many fatal railway ac- .
cidents within the past four years, the {
gathering of statistics and suggestions.
which will result in greater safety.