Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-02-23
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS-

ashlngton, rep. 19.--Senate--ln
presenting petitions against Senator
Reed Smoot, signed by thousands Of
women of California and Colorado.
Messrs, Perkins and Patterson took
occasion today to define their posi-
tons on the protests against the Utah
senator. The former said that relig-
ious views should not be considered
in passing upon the qualifications of
senator and that his honesty and
the attributes that command conf
dence and respect should be consid-
cred above everything else. Mr..
patterson thought there were great
constitution questions to be con-
sidered and said that these would
govern his vote. Discussion of the
pure food bill occupied practically all
Of the day. The speakers were Mr..
Hepburn, who has charge of the bin,
Senator Foraker, who presented
number of amendments desired by
liquor interests, Mr.. Money in favor
of his substitute, and MIR. McCumber.
House--Three bills were passed
under suspension of the rules. The
first makes gambling unlawful in the
territories of the United States, in
Guiding Arizona, New Mexico, Okla
homa, Indian Territory and ALASKA.
The bill was directed particularly at
Arizona and New Mexico where, it
was stated, gambling was licensed.
The second provides additional work
for the census bureau by requiring
statistics to be taken on insurance,
fisheries, electrical Industries, savings
bank and crimes. The third appro-
PIRATES $4,000 for the purchase of
800 acres of coal land on the island
of Batan, one of the Philippine archi-
pelago.
Washington, Feb. 21.-Senate.--
After fifteen years of more or less
serious consideration of the subject
the senate passed pure food bill
by the decisive vote of G3 to 4. The
vote was taken after a day devoted
almost exclusively to debate Of a des-
ultory character on the measure
Several efforts were made to amend
the bill and the committee accepted
a,number of suggestions, but only
those thus accepted were incorporat-
ed in the bill as passed.
Eouse.-Chairman Hull, CT the mil.
itary affairs committee, in presenting
the army appropriation bill to the
house today, urged the necessity of
complete preparedness as to our army
and navy, for trouble in the orient.
He declared that any nation not pre-
pared to defend its position in China,
might IS well haul down its flag
and quit the Pacific. Incidentally,
Mr. Hull pronounced Minister Rock
hill at Peking, guilty Of indiscreticn
in indicating to Chinese officials that
the United States intended returning
the sc20,000,000 Boxer indemnity
paid Statements of this kind. he
said, would be taken by the Chinese
as an Indication that the United
States was afraid rather than liberal
Washington, Feb. 22.-S Senate
Senator Knox today introduced his
interstate commerce bill. 1t broadens
the house bill and contains a pro-
vision fc, review by the courts of the
orders of the interstate commerce
commission.
Because of the exceptional inter-
est in the, subject, the bill was &C
corded the unusual privilege Of a
reading at length for the information
Of senator's on the day of introduc.
ton. Close attention was given to
the reading Of the bill. In a brief
statement Mr.. Knox said that he did
not hope to have the committee on
interstate commerce do more than
consider the bill as affording light on
the question of court review of the
findings Of the interstate commerce
commission
House.-The house of representa-
tives refused to adjourn in celebra-
ton of Washington's birthday and
it's members participated in a gener-
al field day of debate on the army ap-
preparation bill. The speeches took
a wide range. First the system of
promoting and retiring army officers
was attacked by Mr. Prince Of H.
linois. An exhaustive discussion Of
ship subsidy was made by Mr.. Gil
bert Of Kentucky. Mr.. Clark Of
Florida made a speech against the
house organization and was replied
to by Mr.. Grosvenor Of Ohio. Mr..
Keller of Ohio commended the army
bill. but condemned the general STAFF
system.
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