The National tribune., 1906-05-31
THE SPIRIT OF CONGRESS.
Seme OF the Mere Notable Pro.
ceedings Of the Week.
Senate.

Monday, May 21.-The Senate got
busy and passed number Of bills,
among them the Legislative. Executive
and Judicial Appropriation bin, carry
ing $29,S15,?59, an increase OF only
s59,345 over the amount reported to the
Senate from the House. Mr.. Culiom
had charge of the bill in the absence of
Mr.. Allison. Chairman of the Committee
on Appropriations.
The Senate was lazy and listless in
appearance. The attendance was small,
and nobody seemed inclined to enter
upon debate of any of the items carried
in the bill.
One item in the bill increases the SAL
aries of the Sergeant-at-Armsa and Door
keeper of the Senate from si.500 each
to $1,000 each. The allowance for re-
porting Senate debates is increased from
$25, ,000 to $4,000.
1t also passed five other bills of minor
Importance.
In the House the minority leader
John Sharp Williams, made his usual
points of no quorum, but met his Water
loo, as the Speaker resorted to his pre-
rogative to count a quorum. There was
a little good-natured sparring over ii
between the two leaders. but the Demo
Gratis did not seem inclined to support
Mr.. Williams very strongly, as they are
anxious to get up some bills they are
interested in, and Mr.. Williamss tao
tics are very likely to be used against
them if they become too obnoxious in
the matter of demanding quorum.
The Railroad-rate regulation bill was
received from the Senate almost imme-
diately upon the convenng of the
House. 1t created no demonstration
and went automatically to the Speakers
table, where it will lie until the Com
mittee on Interstate and Foreign Com
merce agrees upon program of action
Among the bills passed was one au-
thorizing the appointment of an addi-
| tional Federal Judge for the Southern
| District of New York, Incorporating the
Archaeological Institute of America, and
amending the currency laws so as tC
give the Secretary of the Treasury au.
| thority TO issue gold certificates of tht
| denominations of IS and SO. The low
| est gold certificate under existing Law
| is $40.
The House passed bill amending ar
| act to define and fix the standard Of
| value. The law of March IA, 1900, pro.
vided, among other things. for a reserve
fund in gold of s150.000.000. The Law
| as it now stands practically provides
| that s100.000,000 of this reserve funC
shall be 'n coin. and virtually restrict:
| the bullion of the reserve fund to $50.
| 100000. The amendment covered by
| the bill permits the holding of a les!
amount of coin and an increased amoun
| of bullion in the reserve fund. Under
| the amendment, of the s150.000 900
| 800, 100000 may be bullion (bars).
| One of the bills passed provides for {
division of the funds and the lands o.
the Usage Indians, quite the riches
body of people of the same size in the
world. There are 1900 of them. abou
| equally divided between full and half
| breeds. There is in the Treasury S..
| 000,0 900 to their credit, giving them al
| average of about s4.500 apiece. Besides
| this. they hold 100000 acres. some
thing over 500 acres to every membel
4 of the tribe.
| The House also passed number o
| other minor bills.