Free press., 1907-01-19
TIE DOIHGS OF CONGRESS-
Items of Interest From the Nation
al Capital.
Mcre Important Happenings in Sen.
ate and House During the
Past Week.

Past Week.
Washington - The bill making ap-
preparations for the legislative. exec
utiye and judicial expense of the COY
ernment was reported to the senate
Thursday. 1t carries $50, ,S55, ,S34. a
net increase of S225, ,45O over the
amount as passed by the house.
Al propositions for the raising OF
salaries of members of congress and
members of the cabinet including tho
provision inserted by the house in
creasing the pay of cabinet members.
the vice president and speaker of the
house TO $4,000 a year were rejected.
1t is expected, however that an
amendment VIII be offered on the
floor of the senate TO restore these
items ard also to raise the salaries
of members of congress.
Among the principal item of in
crease are those of $4,000 additional
TO pay the expenses of investigating
trade conditions abroad; for investi-
cation and reports by the census Of
flee on cotton and manufacturing sta
tistics S125,0O) additional.
Washington. - The president Sat-
u1day sent TO congress a message urg-
ing some action by congress toward
remedying tie situation caused by the
break in the Colorado river four
miles below the international boun-
dary line in Mexico, and which theat-
ems the property in the Imperial val
ley of California.
The presidents message contains a
long review of the situation, and saws
taat prompt action must be taken
otherwise conditions will become so
extreme as 10 be impracticable of
remedy. Probably with an expendt
ture of $2.0GO,O0O he says the river
can be restored to its former channel
and held there Indefinitely. The ques-
tion of what sum, if any, should be
paid to the Southern Pacific Railroad
company for work done since the break
of November / is one for future con-
sideration.
Against Hepburn-DoIIiVer Bill.
Washington. - The house commit
tee on judiciary decided Friday by
vote of 8 to not to consider the
Hepburn-Dolliver bill making liquor
carried in interstate commerce sub
ject to the laws of any state it enters.
The members who voted against con
sidering the bill were Representative
Parker, New Jersey; Alexander, New
York; Nevin, Ohio; Brantley, Geor-
gia; Jenkins Wisconsin. Those who
supported the bill were Representa-
tives Littlefield, Maine; Pierce, Mary
land; Tirrell, Massachusetts; Dear
mond, Missouri; Smith, Kentucky;
Clayton, Alabama; Henry. Texas.
A Defense of Reed Smoot.
Washington The first speech
in defense OF the right of Reed Smoot
to a seat in the Senate was delivered
Friday by Senator Hopkins of Illinois.
Mr.. Hopkins took the position that
senators were not federal officers TO
the extent that the Senate could pass
upon their qualifications and eligibi-
lity or conld impeach them for high
crimes or misdemeanOrs. If a sena-
tor was To be punished it E:ust be
done by the state or federal courts.
Only federal officers, he maintained,
were impeachable. and this impeach-
ment must be done for acts commit
ted as such federal officers.
Wcrk F4ianned For Congress.
Washington. - Some of the time
of the senate and most of the time OF
the house during the present week
will be devoted to the discussion of
appropriation bills. The senate will
conclude its consideration of the legis-
lative executive ~nd judicial appropri-
alton bill and may reach the Indian
bill The house VIII finish its work on
the Notifications bill and will in turn
take uD the bill making appropriations
for the District of Columbia and the
diplomatic and consular service.
RIO Lieut.. General Hereafter.
washington. In the course of
the debate in the house in committee
of the whole Thursday on the army
appropriation bill Mr. Hull of Iowa.
chairman of the military affairs COM
mittee Immediately moved to insert
the following: Provided that moth
ing in this provision shall affect the
retired list" Without debate the
provision was adopted. ayes 81, nayes
none
tuberculosis Hospital for Navy.
Washington. d. c., - The army
appropriation bill passed by the house
Thursday included an amendment
opening the hospital at Fort Bayard,
n. NJ, for the treatment of tuberculo-
sis to the officers and men. of the
navy and marine corps.
Pension Day in the House.
Washington. ID. c. - The house
Friday adjourned until Monday af-
ter breaking all records SO far as pen
sion legislation is concerned, OF 700
private pension bills which were on
the calendar 62S were passed in one
hour and 35 minutes.
Senate Passes House Bill.
Washington. = The senate Thurs
dow Dacced n hOuSa hill axfoDdfng rho