The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1906-12-20
WHAT OONGRESS IS DOlNG
Principal Items Of interest Of the
Past Week.
The Frosident's Porto Hican message .
Housa knocks Out eimpiiAed SPELL
iurrother ftems.

Washington President Roosevelt
sent a special message 10 congress
Tuesday, regarding Porto Rican af-
fairs, telling OF his recent visit to
the island and recommending that full
American citizenship be accorded
Porto Ricans. The message in part
Is as follows;
On November 81 / visited the is-
land OF Porto Rico, landing at Ponce.
crossing by the old Spanish road by
Cayey to San Juan. and returning
next morning over the new American
road from ArecibO to Ponce; the
scenery was wonderfully beautiful.
especially among the mountains Of
the interior, which constitute a verit-
able Switzerland. I could not en-
bark az San Juan because the harbor
has not been dredged out and can
not receive an American battleship.
/ do not think this fact creditable to
a nation, and l earnestly hope that
Immediate provision will be made for
dredging San Juan harbor.
There Is a matter to which ! wish
to call your attention, and that Is the
desirabihty OF comforting full Ameri.
lean citizenship upon the people Of
Porto Rico, / most earnestly hope
that this viii be done. / can not see
how any harm a possibly result
from it and Il seems to me a matter
Of right and justice 20 the people Of
Porto Rico. They are loyal. they
are glad { o be under our flag. they
are making rapid progress along the
path OF orderly liberty. Surely we
should show our appreciation OF them.
cur pride in what they have done.
and our pleasure IN extending recogni-
ton for what has thus been done.
by granting them full American citi.
zcnship.
Ma More Reformed Spelling.
Washington. - The house OF rep
resentatives Wednesday went on rec.
orn in opposition TO the new spelling
as recommended BY the president. ny
a vote Of f42 TO rs The follow ing was
adopted rs a substitute TO the item
reported by the appropriations com.
mittee in the Legislative, executive aud
judicial appropriation bill:
mo money appropriated IN this nc,
shall be used Ia connection with
printing documents authorized by law
or ordered by congress or either
branch thereof unless the same shall
conform 10 the photography recognized
and used by generally accepted die
t~ionaries Of the EaElisa language
For hours Wednesday. the debate on
simplined spelling held the attention
Of the house ard a score or nor mem
bers took part In the discussion.
SIX special Messages.
Washington. ID. G. Six special
messages are 10 be sent 10 congress
next week by President Roosevelt
They include one on the naval per
sonnet bill, which contemplates the
more rapid retirement and promotion
OF the officers Of the navy: a message
transmitting Secretary MetcaIrs re
I port on the alleged discrimination
I against the japanese IN San Francis
co. q special message on Panama;
message on the public land question
transmitting Secretary Taft's report
on Cuba, and a reply TO the senate
resolution calling for information re-
garding the discharge without homo
Of the soldiers Of the Twenty-hith reg
iment OF colored infantry
After the Lumber Trusf.
Washington. The resolution Of
tered by Representative Miller OF kan
sas providing for an Investigation oI
the lumber trust was adopted by th'
house Thursday. There was practi
fcally no opposition 20 H. Ropresen
tativc Mann OF Illinois and other
wanted to know n the mmbermen WHIT
we're summoned aa Witnesses wOui,
thereby obtain Immunity from prose
cutlon Mr., Miller stated that be ha,
been assured they would not. TIL
resolution was then adopted Uude.
Il there win be an investigation by thi
department OF commerce and labor q
determine n a lumber trust exists II
violation OF the antitrust law.
To Incrsaso services Pensions.
Washington, ID g. - Senator Nc
Cumber. chairman Of the oommitte.
on pension. Is planning 70 press 90
sarly consideration by the senate pa
house general services pension bil
as amended by the senate eommittes
The amendments provide that any Aul
yivor OF the Ciyl war who has serve.
for 30 days has been honorahiy dii
charged and who shall have reache
the age OF 81 years. shall receive
pension Of SO per month, 10 BE- Il
creased to SIS a month when he shaI
have reached the age OF 20 years, an
10 $50 u month after he has reaehe
The age Of IS years.
Ia Amend Rate law.
Washington, ID. G, - Represent
tive Garrett CTenn) Friday Introduce
3 bin amendatory OF the railroad rat
law permitting publishers OF neEspl
pers and periodicals. to accept tran.
portation from railroad companies 70
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