Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1906-12-22
WHAT CONGRESS is DOING
Principal Items of interest of the
Past Week.
The Presidents Porto Rican Message =
House knocks Out Simplihed spell
iue-Other Items.

sent Special heSSdSS 70 SOuSLSSS
Tuesday, regarding Porto Rican af-
fairs, telling OF his recent visit to
the island and recommend that full
American citizenship be accorded
Porto Rieans. 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 Arccibo TO Ponce; the
scenery was wonderfully beautiful.
espec.a among the mountains of
the interior, which constitute a verit-
able Switzerland. | could not en-
bark at San Juan because the harbor
has not been dredgcd out and can
not receive an American battleship.
| do not think this fact creditable to
Eation, and l earnestly hope that
immediate provision will be made fo-
dredging San Juan harbor.
There is a matter TO which l wish
TO call your attention, and that is the
desirability of comforting full Ameri-
lean citizenship upon the people OF
Porto Rico. / most earnestly nope
that this will be done. can not see
how any harm can possibly result
from it and it seems to me matter
of right and justice to the people of
Porto Rico. They are loyal, they
are glad to be under our flag, they
are making rapid progress along the
path of orderly liberty. Surely we
should show our appreciation of them,
our pride in what they have done.
and our pleasure in extending recogni-
by granting them full American citi-
Zenship.
No 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. Ry
vote of 142 to % the following was
adopted as a substitute to the item
reported by the appropriations COM
mittee in the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill:
No money appropriated in this act
shall lie used in connection with
printing documents authorized by law
or ordered by congress or either
branch thereof unless the same shall
conform to the photography recognized
and used by generally accepted die
tionaries Of the English language"
For hours Wednesday, the debate on
simplified spelling held the attention
OF the house and a score or more men,
bers took part in the discussion.
six Special Messages.
Washington, ID. G. - Six special
messages are to be sent to 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; message
transmitting Secretary Metcalfs re-
port on the alleged discrimination
against the Japanese in San Francis
co; n special message on Panama;
message on the public land question;
transmitting Secretary Taft's report
on CUBA, and reply to the senate
resolution calling for information re-
garding the discharge without honor
of the soldiers of the Twanty-fifth reg
tAenJ or cOiofSQ infantry.
After the Lumber Trust.
WASHINGTON. - The resolution Of
fered by Representative Miller of Kan
sas providing for an investigation OF
the lumber trust was adopted by the
house Thursday. There was practi-
calIy no opposition to It, Represen-
tative Mann of Illinois and others
wanted to know if the lumbermen who
were summoned as witnesses would
thereby obtain immunity from prose-
cution. Mr.. Miller stated that he had
been assured they would not. The
, resolution was then adopted. Under
it there will be an investigation by the
department of commerce and labor to
determine il a lumber trust exists in
violation of the antitrust law.
To Increase Service Pensions.
washington, II. G. - Senator Nc
Cumber, chairman of the committee
on pension. is planning to press for
carly consideration by the senate the
house general service pension bill
as amended by the senate committee.
Tho amendments provide that any sur
vivor Of tho Civil war who has served
for 81 days has been honorably dis
charged and who shall have reached
the age Of CO years. shall receive a
pension of $12 per month, to be in
creased to $15 a month when he shall
have reached the age OF 20 years, and
to $50 e month after he has reached
the age Of % years.
To Ai,cnd ysate Law.
Washington, ID. c. - Representa-
tive Garrett tTcnn) Friday introduced
a bill amendatory of the railroad rate
law permitting publishers of newspa-
pers and periodicals TO accept trans
portati0n from railroad companies for
advertising
ArlhassaaOrs Nominated.
Washington, ID. c. = The prest.-
dent Wednesday sent the following
nominations Lo tho senate: Ambassa-
doris extraordinary and plenipotenti-
AIRY: Helry White, Rhode Island, to
France; Lloyd c. Grisccm, Pennsyl-
vania to Italy; John w. Riddle. Min
nesota, TO Russia; Irving B. Dudley,
California 10 Brazil
10 E&termInnte Fever Ticks.