Free press., 1906-04-07
houses If the conferees agree upon


it.
Early in the session Representative
Miller, of Kansas, introduced bill to
Increase the pension of an old Kan
sas veteran, a namesake of his, living
at Alma. Mr.. Miller made special eff
forts to get action on the bill, which
provided for an increase of his pen
sion from So to S24 a month. At last
he succeeded in getting a favorable
report on the bill, and word reached
him that the applicant had died.
1T simply shows" said the Kansas
congressman, how important it is TO
act quickly in these cases of old veter-
ans, if legislation is to do them any
good
In a communication to the house
Secretary Root asks for $4,000, to
enable this government to participate
in the second international peace con-
gress. In his letter Secretary Root
says no time has been set for the con-
ference, but it may be held next fall.
The legislation prompted by the re
cent wreck of the steamship Valencia
off the Straits Cf Fuca has been au-
thorized to be reported favorably by
the house committee on interstate and
foreign commerce. The bill reported
has passed the senate. 1t appropri-
ates 5000, ,0G0 for an ocean-going life
saving tug and for the establishment
of life station at Neah bay.
The Foster bill to permit Chinese
students, merchants and travellers to
enter this country was the subject Of
a hearing today by the house commit
tee on foreign affairs. Witnesses told
of the decay of American business
since the boycott, the Standard Oil
Company being among the sufferers.
The Lacey bill, prohibiting the use
of automatic shotguns in the terri
tories of the United States. which bin
was designed for the protection of
game, was laid on the table by the
committee on territories, thus render
ing further action on the bill in-
probable.
The boundary line between Texas
and Mexico, which has been the sub
ject of treaty negotiations since 1S4S,
will be considered by the senate COM
nl:ttee on foreign relations on
Wednesday next.
Saturday March 81.
Washington. = The senate listened
to speeches on the railroad rate bill
by Messrs. Clay, Carmack and New
lands, and then debated and passed
bill which provides for the reorgani-
Zation of the medical department OF
officers to take the place of contract
surgeons.
AIi the senators who spoke on the
rate bill indicated a purpose to sup
port it, but Mr. Clay expressed the
hope that it would be so amended
as to afford a limited court review
of the orders of the interstate com
merce commission
Mr.. Hale criticised the military
medical bill as showing a tendency to
increase the army, which he said was
not desirable in time of peace.
During the rate bill discussion Mr.,
Elains raised the question as to
whether the bill confers authority to
pass on rates between communities
and said that Mr.. Dolliver had taken
tue pOSl1Ou InaC 1t OOoS not conner
this authority. He. like Mr.. Aldrich,
asserted that the friends of the bill
do not agree in its Interpretation.
Mr.. Ellkins declared that he was the
best friend the bill has and that his
only reason for desiring to have the
bill amended is to make it strong He
declares that he is even a better
friend of the measure than either Mr..
DOlliver, Mr.. Nelson or Mr. Tillman.
Mr.. Clay took he position that con
gress had the power to fix a standard
| of rates giving just compensation;
that both the carrier and the shipper
should have authority to go into the
courts to determine the question of
just compensation; that the power to
issue injunctions should ] e hedged
about with all proper restrictions, and
that carriers should be confined to
! their own business
Municipal Ownership Won.
New Haven, Conn, April 2.-The