The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-02-09
Rate Measure Passes House
Almost Unanimously
STATISTICS TO Be GUARDED
Bill Passed Makes Penalty Severe for
DVulglng Government Information
or Using Figures for Per-
sonaI Profit.

Washington. February S.-Just enough
morning business was allowed In the
House preceding the vote on the Hepburn
railroad rate bill today to permit delayed
members to reach their seats before the
roll call, ordered the night before. began.
Three hundred and forty-six members
voted for the bill. Seven, all republicans,
voted against It. Applause greeted the
announcement of the result by the Speak
er, and the House which had given its
undivided attention to the question of
government rate-making for seven days
turned it's attention to other matters.
The pension appropriation bill carrying
s1S9, 100000 for pensions and $1,245,O00 for
pension administration. was taken up,
debated and passed without amendment.
The feature of the bill aside from the
appropriation made, is a provision making
a statute law of the famous order of the
President declaring age conclusive evil
dence of inability. number of bills
were passed with the close of the day,
including one providing penalty of $1,000
and ten years Imprisonment for the pre-
mature revelation of government informa-
tion which might have a bearing on the
market price of commodities the same
penalty being provided against govern
ment employees who speak on commodities
regarding which the government furnishes
statistics.
Galleries Were Crowded.
Anticipating the roll call on the rate
BILL there was a large attendance Of
members and the galleries were crowded.
After the roll call the announcement
OF the passage of the bill was received
with a ripple of applause Speaker Can
non stated the vote to be 346 yeas and
nays. Those voting against the bill were
all republicans. They were Littlefield OF
Maine, Mccall and Weeks of Massachu-
sets. Perkins and Southwick and Vreland
of New York. and Sibley of Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Sullivan, of Massachusetts voted
present sif1fTd Vas not paired There were
twenty-eight members paired but these
pairs were generally political ones. None
of them was made on the bill and conse-
quently did not indicate opposition
Pension Bill Taken Up.
The pension appropriation bill was taken
up in the committee of the whole, with
Mr.. Madden of Illinois in the chair Cen
eral debate on the bill was limited to
three hours and Mr.. Gardner of Michigan
in the charge of the bill took the floor
Decided objection to pensioning million
aires was made by Mr.. Gaines of Tennes-
see. There was, he was told by Mr..
Gardner, no way to prevent it.
Presenting the democratic view of the
committee, Mr.. Sullivan of Massachusetts
indorsed the amendment. making a
statute of special order No. 49," He
had always regarded this order as IL
legal However he regarded the object
to be accomplished as desirable. 1t would
save in surgeons examination fees, ST.
100000. He also favored the reduction
of the eighteen pension agencies to six,
as recommended by the commissioner.
This matter was left for presidential
action.
comprehensive pension speech was
delivered by Mr.. Garrett of Tennessee.
Mr.. Barrett advocated higher pensions
for Mexican war veterans. The total for
this roll in 1905 was, he said, 1863 912. 1t
would be a most graceful act he de-
clared to increase the pensions to 500
a month. This would entail an added
annual cost of but $415O0O. He paid an
eloquent tribute to the services of these
veterans. An eulogy TO veterans of all
wars was made by Mr.. Keifer of Ohio.
The bill was read and passed without
objection 1t carries $139, 100000 for pen
siohs and $1,245oO0 for the pension admin
istration. resolution was agreed to
calling on the secretary of the interior
for information regarding charges of dr-
reg1larites in the Kingfisher, Oklahoma,
land ONCE.
Bills were passed as follows;
To open for settlement 505.o00 acres
of land in the Kiowa. Comanche and
Apache reservation in Oklahoma for the
establishment and sale of town sites
In this same reservation.
Guards Government Figures.
At the suggestion of Mr. Clayton of
Alabama, a bill was passed to prevent
officials and employees of the government
from divulging information on crop sta
tistics premature and making ii criminal
for such persons to speculate in products.
The penalty for violating It's provisions
Is fixed at $1,000 and Imprisonment for
ten years
Mr.. Lacy of Colorado secured the pas
sage Of bill authorizing the commits
sioner of the general land office to quiz
claim the title conveyed to the United
States for land in forest reservations
At s o'clock the House adjourned un-
Ill tomorrow at noon.
THE SENATE.
g-ThPrp a