Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-09
59TH CONGRESS-
House Takes Up Naval
Appropriation Bill.
Lamar Of Florida Makes Sharp
Criticism Of Hepburn Bill.
Senate DIsposes Of the Indian Ap'
preparation Bill.

Washington, Feb. S-A new high rec
ora of private pension bills was made
by the House today when 12o bills
were passed in an hour and half.
The naval appropriation bill, carry
ing $95, 100000, was taken up and under
the order of general debate speeches
were made by Mr.. Lamar of Florida on
the railroad rate bill. Mr.. Higgins Of
Connecticut favored the creation of the
White mountain and Appalachian for
est reserv and Mr. Mondell Of Wyo1l-
ing on the Limitations Of Federal Au-
thority," and the withdrawal OF coal
lands from entry. Tie House at 5.05
adjourned.
The House passed a bill today giving
to licensed masters. mates. engineers
and pilots of vessels the right to act
in their respective capacities for IS
hours without posting their licenses
as provided by existing law.
A scathing criticism OF the so-calcid
HEPBURN bill relating to the Inter
stac Comemrce Commission was made
today in the House by Rep. Lamar OF
Florida, who took occasion to say tha-
there should be written into the Hep
burn bill provision empowering the
Interstate Commerce Commission to
take the initiative in righting wrong
in railroad rates. where wrong IS
done.
He said the Republican party would
have sat in the House for 90 years more
without touching the railroad rate
question if President Roosevelt had not
thrown the issue under them like q
bomb. The Hepburn rate bill did not
go half far enough and was full Oh
defects, said Mr.. Lamar. Incidentally
Mr. Lamar reviewed the recent i'm
peachyncnt trial Of Judge Charles
Swayne. by the Senate and said thar
notwithstanding his acquitt2l, We
have nevertheless a rascally judge in
Florida
REPRESENTATIVE Foss of Illinois, chair
man of the House naval committee, in
making the opening speech on the nav
al appropriation bill today stated that
the bill carried 4 smaller appropriation
for the navy than any other naval bill
in the past four years and said he be-
lieved that it would be found accepta-
Bile to Congress and to the people. He
pointed out a number of provisions in
the bill which he frankly admitted
might be regarded as new legislation
but he contended that the condition OF
the navy warranted their recommended
ton by the committee.
Firty thousand dollars, Mr.. Foss said
was appropriated for the establishment
OF corps OF dental surgeons. which he
said was even more imperatively need
ed in the navy than in the army.
The bill recommends an increase ir
the Marine Corps to $500 men, the aban-
Comment of the rank of brigadier gen.
eral and the creation of the rank OF
major general. the present briadgiel
general to be promoted to the higher
grade. because, as Mr.. FoSs said, Gen
eral Elliott was a fighting man and de-
served the additional grade"
Further, the bill provides for 1900 ad-
ditional men for the navy, the esti-
mates for the developments calling fol
5000; but the committee had thought il
| wise, in view Of the slowness of enlist
! ments, to reduce the number to the
present recommendations.