Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-17
~ -. - S &C.,
u "a
s 5 CONGRESS !.
e IS
S&2S2yS23SsNDSs2yN5

III Inc House MONDAY IOFIy -lVe ll3POT-
tant bills. covering a wide range of sub
jects, were passed. The Senate spent
most of its time on a single amendment
to the railroad rate bill, and ended by
adopting substitute instead. The provis-
ion under discussion was Senator Fora
ker's prohibition of the granting of re-
bates, passes, drawbacks, special passen-
ger rates, or determinations in accommo-
dationS to railroad patrons paying equal
rates. Senator Culberson finally secured
the adoption of the following substitute
That no carrier engaged in interstate
commerce shall directly or indirectly Issue
or give any free ticket. free pass, or free
transportation to any person except to the
officers, agents. employees and attorneys
exclusively in the service of the carrier
issuing the same. or to ministers of re-
ligion, inmates of hospitals, eleemosynary
or charitable institutions. Any carrier
violating this provision shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall for
each Offense pay to the United States a
penalty of not less than 500 nor more
than $4,000"
The House devoted Tuesday TO the ma
the reading for amendment of the first
fifteen pages. Several topics were dis
cussed including the difficulty of obtain
ing enlisted men in the navy, the location
of the naval training station on the great
lakes, the cost of smokeless powder, and
finally the unnecessary expenditure OF
100000 a year for chains for ships. This
last matter was under consideration when
the House adjourned. Aside from a few
minutes devoted to the reception of the
Allison amendments to the railroad rate
bill and half hour given to routine bust
ness, the Senate devoted its entire ses-
sion to the Intellectual consideration of
the Elkins amendment prohibiting com
mon carriers from engaging in mining
coal or in the production of other com
modities in competition with shippers, and
adjourned in a state of great confusion as
to the exact subject before it.
Nearly the entire time of the House
was taken up Wednesday by two PROPOSE
tions-frst, whether the Navy Depart
ment should go into the open market and
purchase anchors, chains and cordage, or
continue to manufacture these articles,
ing coal from Atlantic and gulf ports to
the Philippine Islands, in American bot
toms, should he limited to So or So per
ton. Mr.. GIosvenor's substitute amend
ment giving the Secretary of the Navy
the right TO purchase in free markets
should it be demonstrated that this could
be done more cheaply, was adopted, 80 to
76. The reading of the naval bill was
continued until adjournment. The Sen
ate spent the greater part of the day
again in the consideration of the question
of divorcing the production of coal and
other commodities from their transpOrta-
ton, and closed that branch of its work
by adopting a modified provision formally
offered by Senator Elkins, but originally
suggested by Senator McLaurin.
The Senate Thursday completed the
consideration of the second section of the
railroad rate bill, and just before adj
journment listened to the reading of sec
tons 3 and 4. The following amend
ments to the bill were agreed upon: Re
storing the Imprisonment penalty of the |
act of 1887; imposing a penalty of fine |
and Imprisonment against shippers who |
secure rebates from transportation com
panies giving government business the |
preference over all other traffic in time of
war The naval appropriation bill again
was before the House, and an amendment |
adopted providing that shells and projec- |
tiles for the navy. after June 80, 1906, |
shall be purchased in the open market. |
Amendments designed to enlarge the navy |
yards at Washington and Pensacola were
defeated.
After passing 800 pension bills the |
House devoted most of the rest of Fri |
days session to consideration of a point |
of order against a new steel floating dock, |
provided for in the naval appropriation |
bill The chair finally held the point of
order well taken. The Senate, by a vote
of % to 81, practically a party ballot,
disposed adversely of Senator Baileyss |
amendment applying to in
lerstate commerce commission orders, as
covered by the railroad rate bill. Senator
Rayner's amendment, combining court re-
view to constitutional questions, was also
voted down.
The rate bill occupied the entire time
of the Senate Saturday. Senator Tillman
made statement detailing his and Sena
tor Bailey's negotiations with the Presi-
dent on the subject. This was followed
by a speech by Mr.. Bailey, vigorously at
lacking the President. Senator Carter
entered vigorous defense, and Mr.. Lodge
controverted some of the utterances of
Mr.. Tillman. The discussion of the Ali.
son amendment was completed, and the
amendment accepted. The House was moi
III session.
National Capital Notes.
Viscount Aoki, recently appointed first
ambassador of Japan to the United
States has heen presented formally tC