The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1907-02-20
DOINGS OF CONGRESS
What Our National Lawmakers Are
Doing From Day to Day
Filibuster in the Senate.

| The sudden development Of full.
| fedged filibuster resulted in the Sen.
| ate when an attempt was made tc
| force the adoption of the conference
| agreement on the immigration bill.
This report carries provision IN
tended to aid in the settlement of the
acknowledgements problem, and
speedy action was decided by admin
istration Senators.
Expressing sympathy with this
object, yet regarding the report with
| suspicion on other points, Messrs.
hBacon and Tillman first endeavored
to, have action delayed that they
might study the. report. When this
was refused the filibuster began. Mr..
Beacon held the floor for two hours
and half. MI. Tillman remarked
that he was preparing to make H.
day fight on the floor against the re-
port, because he objected to being
run over as with All automobile. Mr..
Bacon objected that the report
changed existing law in respects
which he believed, on hurried exami-
nation, would deprive Southern
States from obtaining even the meag-
re labor supply from abroad which
was available under the present i'm
migration laws.
A truce was declared at the sug.
gestion of Senator Spooner, and the
report will again come up for con-
sideration. Administration Senators
interested in the adoption Of the re-
port we're alarmed by apparent De-
mocratic hostilities.
Disclaim Party Policy.
All Of the Democratic leaders wheE
questioned as to their attitude dis
claimed the adoption Of a party pol
icy in regard to the report and the
Senators making the objection insist
ed that they were actuated wholly
by resentment of what they thought
was an attempt to force immediate
action. They said that their state
ments that they had not had an op-
portunity to examine the report were
sincere, and that there were no ul-
terror motives involved. Senator
Blackburn, chairman Of the Demo
cratic steering committee, was in the
Brownsville hearing when the report
was called up. He said there had
been no discussion Of the report and
that he felt sure that there was no
disposition to flibuster against it be-
yond carrying it over.v
Senators Bacon and Tillman made
similar statements. They agreed that
the restriction Of immigration pro-
vided in what is Familiarity known as
the "Japanese coolie clause is of
great importaee. They would not
say what their attitude would be, nor
whether they favored party confer
ence concerning it. 1t was made
plain however, that they would con-
slider the report over night and then,
if the question proved to be one On
which it was advisable to hold con-
ference the party will be called to
gether.
The Smoot Case Again.
The session was begun with an ex-
tended address by Senator Knox, of
Pennsylvania in defense Of the right
of Reed Smoot TO his seat as Senator
from Utah. Mr.. Knox received fronc
his colleagues may congratulations
on his speech.
The agricultural appropriation bill
was taken up for consideration.
The credentials Of Robert L. Tay-
lor elected to the Senate from Ten
nessee, were, presented by Senator
Carmack, whom be succeeds.
Naval Bill in the House.
The naval appropriation bill occu-
pied the entire time Of the House.
The single remaining section is that
increasing the naval establishment.
It was allowed to go over, when 1t
is expected an effort will be made to
reduce the number of battleships pro-
vided for in the bill.
In connection with the restrictions
put upon the power of the Secretary
Of The Navy to order repairs upon
vessel, provision was inserted re-
curing that none of the restrictions
shall be constructed to interfere with
the repairs Of vessels damaged IN
foreign waters or on the high seas
when necessary to enable them to get
home. The bill was still under con-
sideration when the House adjourn
ed.
Increase Of the Navy.
The proceedings of the House on
the naval appropriation bill were de-
voted largely to the consideration OF
the question Of the increase of the
navy, with especitl reference to the
necessity Of two battleships Of the
Drcadnaught type. The effort to re-
duce the number was defeated after
a long debate. The proceedings were
opened by motion made by Mr.:
p,r+on of 0bio to olinoinota one of