The Tupelo journal., 1907-03-08
IN CONGRESS
Ihief Engineer John r. Stevens

the White House Tuesday that all bids
for constructing the Panama Canal by
contract have been rejected, and that
an entire reorganization of the canal
work will be made.
AS it passed the Senate Tuesday, the
sundry civil appropriation bill carries
$3.50, 900 for continuing the coal-testing
plant of st. Louis and 500, 600 for the
tests on structural iron and other
building materials. The House bill car
ried $500, 900 for the coal tests and
nothing for the structural tests. The
increases were put in in the Senate at
the instance Of Senator Stone.
Secretary Treasury Shaw Tuesday
formally transmitted to Congress the
oklahoma Constitutional Convention
requesting an additional appropriation
of $135, 240 to complete the work of the
convention and pay the expenses OF
the first election. The Secretary does
not recommend the appropriation OF
this amount, simply passing the matter
up to Congress for proper action"
This is the usual procedure.
The Illinois and Missouri Senators
will protest vigorously against the
acceptance by the Senate conferees of
the House reduction of the St. Louis
Cairo appropriation. Stone of Missouri
If he could get cooperation probably
would participate in a desperate fight
against the whole bill rather than ac-
cept the $250,000 pittance for the
Mississippi. There seems to be no
Likelihood that he will have such CO.
operation and that the $250,000 pro.
position will go through.
Only Murdoch of Kansas, among the
Republicans, and eighteen Democrats,
not a sufficient number, stood up
Teusday to demand a roll call In the
House upon the proposition of accept.
ing the Senate amendment to the
Post-Office appropriation bill, known
as the Murdoch amendment, which
would accomplish a $4,000 reduc-
ton in railroad mail pay. By a rising
vote of 1876 to &c, the motion of Re-
preventative Overstreet to disagree to
the Senate amendment and send the
bill to conference was adopted.
The question of ship subsidy
secured a marked impetus In the
house, which ADOPTED a rule that will
probably insure passage by the house
of the Littauer substitute for the SEN
ate bill, and result before the final ad-
journment in positive legislation.
The conference report on the Indian
appropriation bill was adopted, as was
the conference report on the bill pro-
viding for the allotment and distribu-
ton of Indian tribal funds.
The post office bill was passed in an
hour and fifteen minutes. Amendments
adding $1,3SS,759 for the extension Of
the pneumatic mail service and re-
curing postal cars to be lighted with
electricity were adopted.
Mr.. Lodge secured the passage Of
the Philippine agricultural bank bill.
The senate also passed a bill grant
ing a service pension to army nurses.
Those who are disqualified to earn a
livelihood, and have reached the age
of 62 years, are to receive $12 q
month; at 70 years, SIS, and at rs, $50
The senate laid on the table an
amendment to the Lodge Philippine
bank bill by Mr.. Culberson, disclaim.
ing any intention on the part of the
United States to remain permanently
in the Philippines, but asserting that
whenever a stable government shall
be established the United States will
withdraw.
By a vote of 40 to 10, the senate
ratified the Santo Domingo treaty.
This was one more vote in the affirm
alive than was required.
The senate passed the agricultural
appropriation bill, carrying $21, $780,
900; the pension appropriation bin.
carrying $145, 0e0, 900, and the bill au-
thorizing the establishment of an ag>
ricultural bank in the Philippine is
lands.
A dispatch from Washington says:
When Leslie NJ. Shaw, secretary of
the treasury, leaves President Roose-
velt's cabinet, he will go to New York
and at once assume the duties of the
newly organised Carnegie Trust Co.
of New York city.
James Bryce, ambassador from Eng
land, was formally presented to Pres
ident Roosevelt by Secretary Root.
Ambassador Bryce made a short ad-
dress regarding his appointment, In
which he said King Edward wanted
the present cordial relations between
England and the United States
strengthened.
laid on the table an amendment to the
Lodge Philippine bank bill by Mr.. Gull
berson, disclaiming any intention on
the part Of the United States to re-
main permanently in the Philippines,
but asserting that whenever a stable
government shall be established the
United States will withdraw. The
amendment was Identical in language
with a resolution presented in Febru-
airy, 1899, by Mr.. Bacon. At that time
there was a tie vote On the proposition,
and 1t was defeated by tie vice presi-
dent casting his vote In the negative.
The principal fight over the agricul-
tural appropriation bill took place on
the Beveridge amendment requiring
the packers to pay the cost Of admin
istering the meat inspection law. This
amendment was defeated on a point of
order. Mr.. Beverage secured the
adoption of an amendment which re-
uuires the date of canning and inspec-
ton to appear on the label of the can
containing meat products.