Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-02-22
WORK OF CONGRESS.
A Synopsis of the Proceedings il the
Senate and House During the
Past Week
In the Senate.

The Senate on February IL passed the
army appropriation bill carrying $S1,GOOO00
The amendment TO permit the government
to accept reduced rates on army supplies
and officers and enlisted men to accept re-
duCcd transportation was defeated by 4
point of order. An amendment increasing
by 20 per cent. the pay of officers and on
listed men also was defeated by point OF
order. Amendments were accepted to build
monuments to revolutionary officers, as fol
lows: To Gen. John Stark, an equestrian
statue at Manchester, n. H., $4,000; a
statue to Gen. Nathaniel Green at GuilfOrd
Courthouse, n. c., $4,000; a statue to Gen.
James Schrivner at Midway, Ga, $1,000.
Senator Carter secured the adoption of an
amendment placing William II. Crook on
the retired list as a major. Mr.. Crook
served as Il private through the Civil war
and ever since has been employed as
clerk at the white house Senator Berry
presented an argument for the expulsion OF
Senator Smoot on the ground that the Nor
mon church advocates the doctrine of poly
gamy, and held that the Senate could eX-
cIude any senator by Il majority vote.
special message was received from the
President urging the enactment of bill to
grant white persons who have intermarrlcd
to dispose of improvements on lands from
which they have been diSpOsSeSsed. Adj
journed until next day.
The Senate on February 10 occupied the
day in argument the bill granting the
government the right to take an appeal on
points of law in criminal cases. No action
was taken OH the measure. Senator Nelson
gave notice that he would move its CON
sderatiOn February 10. Senator Lodge IN
dicated that he should press the Philippine
agricultural bank bill February -. The
District of Columbia appropriation bill,
carrying So 724, $50, an increase of $GS7,
over the amount as passed by the House,
was reported, and notice has been given
that the bill will be put on it's passage Feb
ruary 10. The new Santo Domingo treaty
was received from the President.
The Senate on February 10 passed the bill
no i,plt tn
to the supreme court for Il construction of
the constitutionality of any law involved
in criminal suit. The District of Colum'
bia appropriation bill, carrying nearly Sill
OOO 600. was passed. The bill establishing
an agricultural bank in the philippines was
taken up and the Philippine tariff biz.
witch PASSED the House at the last session
was !uterpOscd as an amendment by Sen
atOr McCreary. No action resulted on
either the bill or the amendment. Tho con
ference report on the immigration bill was
received and read. but action was deferred.
A message from President Roosevelt urging
consideration Of legislation affecting the
public lands was received and read. The
first night session of the Senate during the
present session was held to consider private
pension bills.
An attempt in the Senate on February II
to force action on the conference report
on the immigration bill. carrying an amend
mcnt designed to settle the Japanese con
tr0verSy. resulted in a fillibUSter movement
headed by Senators Bacon and Tillman. y
truce was finally declared until February
10 The agricultural appropriation bill gave
rise to considerable discussion on the pro
posed increase in the salary of the chief Of
the forestry bureau. No action was taken.
Senator Knox made an address in defense
of the right of Senator SmOOt to his seat.
In the Senate on February II an agree
ment to vote February Is on the conference
report on the immigration bill. which in
cludes the provision intended to settle the
observation-disclosures question, after an entire
day of discussion was made.
The administration plan to settle the Cali
fornia-Japanese situation was approved by
the Senate February 1G in the adoption OF
the conference report on the immigration
bill. This report contains q provision which
authorizes the President to exclude Japa-
nese laborers from the United States at his
discretion.
In the House.
PILLS relating to the District of Columbia
were considered in the House on February
IL In committee of the whole the House
went on record in favor Of fiat Accent
street railway fare, with provision for
eight tickets for - cents, in the District Of
Columbia. but in the House the amendment
was declared defeated. Thereupon the
point of no quorum was mace, ana the
House at $40 p. III. adjourned. During the
session the Indian appropriation bill was
sent to conference, the House managers
being sherman of New YORK, Lacey OF Iowa
and Stephens Of Texas.
After the passage of number Of bills
under unanimous consent, the House on
February L, ii committee of The whole,
{
While the bill was under consideration Mr.
SIavden of Texas made an address in which
he declared the rumOTed danger Of war
with Japan as ridiculous. The army ap-
preparation bill, the Notifications apprO-
nriatiOn bill and the omnibus lighthouse
bill were sent to conference. At $40 =.
tn the House adjourned, having completed
twenty pages of the naval bill.
The House on February 10 considered the
naval appropriation bill The apprUpra-
ton for a steel floating dry dock to cost
not exceeding S1.40000g was stricken out
on a point of order by Mr.. Mann of Hi
rOis. After completing fOrty-five pages OF
the naval bill the House adjourned.
/ The naval appropriation bill occupied the
and 1t was almost Completed. The single
remaining section is that increasing the
: naval establishment.
The naval appropriation BILL carrying
S9G.o0O,UDO was passed by the House on
February -. An amendment to strike ont
the provision for an additional battle ship
was defeated by vote Of ia to 146 The
and an agreement made that general debate
should cease at l. o'clock noon February 10.
The conference report on the diplomatic
and consular bill was adopted
The postoffice appropriation bill was
taken up by the House February 16, but
general debate was not concluded. During
the morning hour a number of bills We're
hitting the special delivery of letters carry
ing ordinary stamps and limiting to Janu-
airy l, 1909, the operation of acts to REIN
burse the governors of states and terri
tories for expenses incurred in aiding the
United States to raise troops in the war
with Spain.