Free press., 1907-02-09
The DOIHGS OF CONGRESS
Items of Interest From the Nation
al Capital.
More Important Happenings in Sen.
ate and House During the
Past Week.

Washington, D. c. A Compromise
OF the proposed reduction in railway
mail pay was agreed upon Thursday
between representatives OF various
railroads which have mail contracts
and the house committee on postof-
fices and post roads. The PROPOSE
ton to compromise and waive a hear
ing was made through Representative
Hedge of Iowa. The bill provided for
a five per cent reduction on all con-
tracts over routes averaging $4,000
pounds per day; a ten per cent re-
duction on all routes averaging from
1890 to $4,000 pounds per day; and
flat rate of $1S per ton per mile per
year on all routes averaging more
than $4,000 pounds a day. Through
Mr.. Hedge the railway men agreed to
accept this cut providing that the
fiat rate on routes over 80 900 pounds
day be increased to $40 a ton.
The committee agreed to increase
the rate from SIS to $19 and this was
accepted.
In addition to reducing the price
per ton which railways are to be paid
for hauling mail, which will amount
TO at least $3,000,000, the committee
has approved a cut of 81 900 900 in
the amount to be paid to railways for
the rent of mail cars. The commit
tee also decided that the weight of
mail bags must not hereafter be added
to the weight of mail. in computing
the amount carried.
Increase for Mail Carriers.
Washington, d. c. Senators paid
tribute Friday to the memory of the
late Senator Arthur Pue German of
Maryland. Previous to this order
many bills of minor Importance were
passed, including the salaries of city
mail carriers, making the first years
salary $500 with an annual increase
OF 500 until maximum of $1,000 has
been reached. Another bill passed
increases the pension of all Indian
war survivors from So to $40 per
month.
Discussed Rivers and Harbors.
Washington, D. c.. = Appropria,
tions for rivers and harbors again oc-
cup1ed the attention OF the house Fri
Gay. The speeches dealt largely with
the proposed canal from Chicago TO
st Louis. and the deepening of the
Mississippi river from st. Louis to
the gulf to IA feet Mr.. Clark of
Missouri delivered a characteristic
speech in behalf of the Missippi river
project.
Think It Needs Investigating.
Washington. = A subcommittee OF
five members of the house committee
on interstate and foreign commerce
Thursday decided by unanimous vote
to recommend to the full committee
that favorable report be made on the
Livingston resolution, providing for
an invGStigation of the New York
cotton exchange by the department OF
Commerce and Labor.
Will Distribute Seeds As Usual.
Washington. The agricultural
appropriation bill occupied most of
the day, in the house and as usual,
when the amendment striking out the
free distribution of seeds was re-
ported the members from the farming
districts outvoted those from the
cities, reversed a ruling of the chail
by vote of 136 to IS, and restored
the paragraph as has been the law for
years.
Craftsmanship for Curtis.
Washington, D. C. = Senator Bur.
kett of Nebraska Thursday re-
signed as chairman of the commit
tee on Indian depredations and was
at once appointed chairman of the
committee on Pacific railroads. Sen
ator Curtis of Kansas was made
chairman of the committee on Indian
depredations
Forty-One New Officers.
Washington Secretary Taft |
Thursday approved the recommends |
tion of the general staff for the ap-
pointment as second lieutenant of IL |
candidates from the ranks of enlisted |
men of the army who have success. |
fully passed the examinations at Fort |
Leavenworth.
On the Trail OF the Paper Trust.
Washington, D. c. -Representa- |
tive Johp Sharp Williams of Nissis-
sippi, introduced a bill in the house |
Wednesday for an investigation by |
the department of commerce and la
Dor of the so-caned paper trust
Hale Lectured the Senate.
Washington. The Senate session
Tuesday began with lecture from
Senator Hale, who contended that too
much talking and not enough work
was being done.
Will Vote on Snoot Case.
Washington. Besides fixing Feb
ruary 20 as the day to vote on the
declaration that Senator Reed Smoot
of Utah is not entitled to his seat.
a bill appropriating $4,000
900 to confine the Colorado river tn
its banks and another placinI, the
OF the Panama railway
under the isthmain canal commission
tho conofo 1