Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-26
SENATE PASSES THREE BILLS
Agricultural, Pension and Postofiee
Measures Disposed Of
MEAT INSPECTION AMENDMENT FAILS
Attempt to Tax Packers win the Cost
of Executing the Law Goes
Out on n Point OF
order.

/ uNt appropriation Olil carrying N@ANsvVNtVVVt
the pension appropriation bill carrying s145,-
| 10000, and the bill authorizing the estab-
lishment of an agricultural bank in the
| Philippine islands.
The principal fight today over the agri-
cultural bill took place on the Beveridge
amendment requiring the packers to pay
the cost Of administering the meat inspec-
ton law. This amendment was defeated
on a point OF order. Mr.. Beveridge secured
the adoption of an amendment which re-
quires the date of canning and inspection
! to appear on the label of the can contain
ing meat products.
The postofice bill was passed in an hour
and fifteen minutes. Amendments adding
S1,3SS $50 for the extension OF the pneumatic
| mail service and requiring postal cars to
be lighted with electricity were adopted.
Mr.. Lodge secured the passage OF the
Philippine agricultural bank bill. An
amendment offered by Senator Culberson
declaring the intention of the United
States to abandon the islands as soon as
a stable Independent government should be
established. was defeated
The senate also passed bill granting a
service pension to army nurses. Those who
are disqualified to earn a livelihood and
have reached the age of 50 years are to
ANttiNt slE q HlOtNit' at " years sAo anu
at 70 years $40
Agricultural Bill Taken Up.
When the agricultural bill was taken
up the Fulton amendment providing
that no forest reserves shall hereafter be
created or enlarged without an act OF con-
gress in the states of Oregon. Washington,
Idaho. Montana, Colorado and Wyoming
was adopted without debate. The amend
ment adding 100000 for the improvements
in forest reserves was also adopted with
out debate.
Senator Beveridge offered an amendment
providing that hereafter the date of inspec-
ton and canning must be placed on the
label of meat product This was agreed
| to without discussion. Mr.. BeAeridge then
offered his amendment placing the cost of
meat inspection on the packers and took
| the floor to address the senate on its ne
cessity. Mr.. Warren gave notice that at
the proper time he should make a point
| of order against this amendment. Mr..
Beveridge made the point that the only op-
position to his amendment came from the
packers and that they, being the bene-
| fciaries of the act, should be compelled
/ to pay the cost.
INTERPRETING an endorsement of the
amendment Senator Gallinger remarked
that he hoped that If Mr.. Beverage was
defeated today on a point of order he
would bring the question before the som
| ate in a special bill early in the next con-
gress. And we will fight this matter to
| the finish and see whether the American
| people are to be taxed with an expense
| which belongs to the packers
The Beveridge amendment placing the
| cost of meat inspection on the packers was
ruled out on a point of order. The vice
president remarked that there was not a
senator present who would not have to
concede that 1t was as general leRisla-
| ton obnoxious to the rules of the senate.
The vice president invited an appeal from
his decision. but none was made.
An amendment was agreed to at the sug-
gestion of Mr.. Hepburn which will permit
| settlers on public lands in irrigation areas
to pay up and receive title to their lands
after residence of five years without wait
ing the present prescribed time, which Is
ten years. The bill was then passed.
Philippine Bank Bill Passed.
BY a vote of 4S to "A the senate today
passed the Lodge agricultural Philippine
bank bill. The senate first laid on the table
an amendment by Mr.. Culberson discIaim-
ing any intention on the part of the United
! States to remain permanently in the Phil
ippines, but asserting that whenever d
stable. independent government shall be
! established the United States will with
draw. The amendment is Identical in Ian
guage with a resolution presented in Feb
/ ruary 1892 by Mr.. Bacon. At that time
there was a tie vote on the proposition,
and it was defeated by the vice president
casting his vote in the negative.
Mr.. McCreary pressed the Philippine tarifi
bill as an amendment to the bank bill, but
on motion of Mr.. Lodge II was laid on the
table by a vote of a to IL.
The Philippine bank bill was amended al
the suggestion OF Mr.. Culberson by a re-
quirement that the bank may not hold
lands which 1t has acquired on mortgage
foreclosure longer than ten years.
Postal Bill is Passed.
The senate today passed the postoffic'
appropriation bill carrying approximately
$40, 100000.
The bill was amended to provide for thu
establishment of pneumatic tube service II
Brooklyn Baltimore. Cincinnati. Kansas
City, Pittsburg and San Francisco. To-
which $1.SSS, 759 was appropriated.
Mr. IaFollette secured the adoption o
an amendment requiring that all posta
cars be equipped with electric lights b!
January, 1908. He also secured the adoption
of provision requiring the average dali!
weight of mails to be divided by the who'll
number of the days OF the week instead o
by six days, in arriving at the amount L
be paid for railway mail transportation.
The claim was made that the adoption
OF this amendment will accomplish an an
nual saving of 100000.
Dominican Treaty RatiAed.
BY a vote OF 40 to 10 the senate tonigh
ratified the Santo Domingo treaty. Thi
was one more vote in the Affirmative tina
was required.
The ratification OF the treaty follows
I debate in executive session. during whic
Mr.. Bacon OF Georgia condemned tn
} treaty as worse than that negotiated 4
1905, which is now supplanted. The 100
treaty authorized the United States I
examine into the debts and pay what wa
Justly due. The pending treaty, said Nj
Bacon, provides for the scaling down q
the Dominican debts to about so per cen
of their face value. with the exception o
the claim OF the San Domingo Improve
ment company, controlled by America
|