The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-05
CONGRESS HAS
BIG WEEK AHEAD
Debate on Railway Rate Bill Will
Continue for Several Days to
Come in the House.
STATEHOOD IN THE SENATE
OPPOSITION is STRONG AND
ALERT.

Chairman Hepburn, I'm charge of the
railroad rate bill in the national house
| Of representatives, is unable to see the
end of discussion Of that measure. I'm
der the special order it has the right
of way until disposed Of. The very
first day of the debate, which began
last Tuesday, developed the desire of
many members to make speeches. An
extra hour was added TO each day and
still the list of applicants for time grew
larger Mr.. Hepburn has a long list of
Republicans who are anxious To be
heard, and Mr. Adamson, controlling
the time on the minority side, saws
there are fifty Democrats who wish to
be heard in favor Of the measure.
Speaker Cannon is inclined to let the
debate run and estimates that it will
be Wednesday or Thursday before the
last speech is delivered and the vote
recorded on the measure.
Pension Bill Comes Next.
AS soon as this is accomplished the
pension appropriation bill, reported
from committee last week, will be
taken up. This bill carries a total of
$40, 245,5 500 to pay the pensions of vet
Grams for the year. It is generally dis
posed of in the shortest Of time of any
of the annual supply measures, but this
this year it contains provisions which
actually make a statute of the D-esi-
dents order of last year making age
an evidence of disability.
There is said to be decided opposition
to enacting this executive order into
law. AS the provision is without Ques-
ton new legislation" and subject to
a point Of order under the rules Of the
house, it is not unlikely that a rule
will be brought in when the bill is
+oIx ID not he
amendment shall be in order.
The fortifcation bill will be reported
to the house from the appropriations
committee today. It viii be considered
as soon as the pension bill is out Of
the way. This bill is a short measure
and carries this year between. $4,000, 900
and 81 600, 900. There are said to be no
matters of legislation incorporated in
it which will cause serious discussion.
Shipping Bill in Senate.
The friends IN the senate of the ship
ping bill are hopeful Of securing some
time during the week an agreement to
vote on that measure, and the under
standing is that so soon as it is dis
posed of the statehood bill will sue
coed it as the unfinished business.
There are no more set speeches on the
shipping bill in sight, but the expecta-
ton is that the running debate which
has characterized the recent cOnsidera-
ton of the bill will be continued for
some days.
Senator Gallinger, who as the chair
man of the merchant marine commit
tee, has charge of the bill, says he will
be satisfied with the setting Of any
time within reason for the taking of a
vote, knowing that with a unanimous
agreement to vote once arrived at there
will be no doubt that a vote will be
secured. The bill will be amended
somewhat before a vote is taken.
Statehood Fight.
Much interest is manifested in the
approaching contest in the senate over
the statehood question. Senator Bev-
eridge, who will again have charge of
the bill. is hopeful of securing a COM
parativeIy early vote, but many of his
colleagues fail to agree with him on
that point The supporters Of the bill
are very strenuous in its advocacy and
their opponents are just as deter
mined It is not generally expected
that either side will yield until there
is more definite information as to the
probable result of a vote than can now
be secured. The critical point of con-
troversy will be the Foraker amend
ment giving the Arizona people the
privilege of voting on the question of
admission. 1t is understood that the
Democratic senators viii be almost a
unit in support of this amendment and
that it will also secure a number of
Republican votes. Just how many Re
publican supporters there may be is
not known and until there is definite