Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-11
WADSWORTH GETS OVATION
Members Of All Parties Join in Showing
Him Token of Appreciation.
FAREWELL AFTER TWELVE YEARS SERVICE
senate TO Vote on the twentieth on
the smOOt Case-OpiniOn Prevails
He VIII BE Allowed 40
Retain His seat.
tFrom a stan correspondent.l

the house of representatives has gone Wln
with applause. but on these occasions the
outbreak usually has been confined to one
side or the other. The outbreak whlcn |
greeted Representative James w. Wads-
worth on wednesday last, when he de-
livered his ''valedictory' was unique IN
that every man on the foor democrats as
well as republicans, without a single ex-
ception, Joined In the remarkable demon
stration.
1t was at the conclusion of the consider
alton Of the agricultural appropriation biil'
a measure of which Mr.. Wadsworth has
had charge every year for the past twelve
sessions, that he addressed the house upon
the subject Of the meat inspection clauses
of the bill Of last year. His object was TO
show to his associates by the testimony OF
the authorities Of the Department of Agri-
culture that the measure as framed by
Mr.. Wadsworth and his committee last
spring had accomplished exactly what the
administration, Senator Beveridge and the
people wanted. 1t has provided a COM
plete and perfect inspection Of meat food
products and has restored the confidence
of the consumer in the cleanliness and
purity Of the meats which he purchases
Mr.. Wadsworth probably will not again
have occasion to address the house during
l the four weeks which he will remain
member. His closing speech was well
considered. digniied defense OF the COM
mittee over which he has presided so well
| for twelve years and such met with
the cordial and hearty approval Of every
man on the floor. 1t was a remarkable
ovation to an outgoing member; an ap-
| probation of a man who has the good will
Of every one of his associates.
Nothing demonstrates the growth Of the
United States better than the enormous in
crease in the annual appropriations for the
Department OF Agriculture during the last
twelve years. the period covered by Mr..
Wadsworths ncumbency of the chairman
ship of the committee on agriculture. The
total amount carried by the bill in the first
year Of his service as chairman was ap-
proximately three and a quarter millions.
while the budget for the fiscal year OF
1908 In all amounts to upwards of twelve
millions. or nearly 400 per cent increase
In twelve years.
Vote on smoot Case.
On the Goth of the current month the
United States senate will take final action
on the case of Senator Reed smoot of
Utah. and on that date It is expected that
the senate will give the Utah senator a
clear title to the seat which he has oc-
lcupied for four years. Never before in the
history of the United States senate has
I there been a similar casa Senator Smoot
took the oath of ONCE during the special
session of the senate in 1903. A protest was
filed and the committee on privileges and
elections decided to enquire into his right
to retain his seat. They examined a num-
ber OF witnesses during the following De-
cember and "closed the case for the pros
ecution'' a day or two before Christmas
Chairman Burrows gave Mr.. Smoot until
he Of a.
pare and present his side. Senator Bur-
rows announced that the committee was
determined to secure vote by the senate
during the then current session. But no
attempt has since been made to get an ex-
preston OF the senate itself upon the points
at issue until last week when Senator Bur
rows asked that February 20 be fixed as
the date for the final vote.
Law FavOrs ConEresnmen.
BEGINNING March the salary Of senator
will be 1880 year and al the same time
, the members OF the house of representa-
tives will draw 5000. or 81 800 each more
than senators. This peculiar condition
arises from the clause In the appropria-
tion bill which provides that each member,
not chairman OF cor mittee, may draw
s125 each month for cler cal assistance. In
the senate each senator has the privilege
I, OF appointing q secretary, VINO Is paid,
upon signing the pay roll. by the disburs-
ing oficer of the upper house. Up to the
present time, and for the last ten years,
representatives have been permitted 10
draw 800 each month after signing a GER
tiacate in which he declared that he had
paid or had agreed to pay that sum for
, clerical help. Under the new law no such
certificate is required, and II a member
can get a clerk for SIS or $50 per month
and many OF them don't pay even that
muchl-he Is from SIS to 800 per month
ahead. II is estimated that fully 10 per
; cent OF the membership OF the house have
so little TO do that they require no clerks
but no one IL expected to refrain from
drawing $3.50 each year for that reason
The item for clerical assistance went
through without much discussion-none al
all in the senate-and II probably will
result in an amendment to the law in the
near future which will require the names
OF all congressional clerks to be placed
on the roll. just like messengers, commit
) tee clerks and doorkeepers.
Battleship for a Target
Efforts have been made during the last
few weeks to induce the committee on
naval AFFAIRS 10 adopA a new invention ir
the way of explosive shells. Briefly, the
invention might be described as an aerial
shell loaded with dynamite. The idea 1.
TO send charge OF the highest known
explosive against the protected side OF ar
> armored vessel and explode II on the out.
side. II is claimed by the inventor thai
, the explosion of a large charge OF dyna.
mite against armor plate. no matter how
thick. would result In shattering the pro
tective belt. as well the side OF tn,
vessel itself.
The committee on naval affairs has beer
asked to authorize an experiment with tn,
battleship Texas as a target It is ARGUED
that II the invention is not all that 4
claimed for Il comparatively little damag,
will result. On the other hand. II the new
shell Is as effective claimed It will
demonstrate the comparative uselessnesi
OF vessels OF the Texas type.
The Texas was one OF the first battle
I ships built for the new navy. It Is abou
eighteen years old and has been hoo
> doc" since It's keel was laid. More acct
dents have happened on and TO the Texai
than have occurred in connection with am
other vessel In the navy. No onicer care.
for an assignment 70 its quarter deck, an,
4