Valentine Democrat., 1907-02-14
WORK OF
CONGRESS-
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The Senate suspended business at 2 80
iclock Friday, according to a special CT
der for eulogies for Senator German Of
Maryland. Previous to this order many
bills of minor Importance were passed,
including one increasing the salaries of
city mail carriers, making the first years.
salary 5000, with an annual increase OF
500 until a maximum of $1,000 has
been reached. Other bills passed increase
the pension of all Indian war survivors
from $S to $40 per month and grant the
city of st. Louis an extension of time for
one year to construct bridge across the
mississippi.
The Senate devoted most of Saturday
to the reading Of the Indian appropria-
ton bill for the adoption of committed
amendments. The Senate adjourned at
3 30 o'clock out Of respect to the mem
ory of the late Representative William n.
Flack of New York. Two hours were
spent by the House in further considera-
ton of the river and harbor appropriation
bill, after which eulOgies were delivered
OF the life of the late Senator German of
Maryland. Out of respect to the men,
ory of the late Representative William
Il. F'lack of New York, whose death was
announced the House at 4 :05 adjourned
until Monday.
The Senate occupied the first two hours
Monday in perfecting the House bill per-
mitting the government to take an ap-
peal on points of law in criminal cases
similar to that against the meat packers
Senator's Hepburn and Newlands spoke on
the Carter resolution aimed at the recent
order of the Secretary of the Interior
| preventing the issuance of land patents
until after an examination on the ground
| by special agent. and Senator Bacon
made trief statement intended to show
| that Senator Beveridge had been in error
| rega, ding the operation of the child labor
law in Georgia. The House passed the
McCumber service pension bill, the ON
nibus lighthouse bill and the omnibus
revenue cutter bill. By vote of 10 to
So the Senate amendments to the urgent
deficiency bill. loaning the jamestown ex-
position S1,0O000O, were concurred in
Resolutions were passed calling for an in
vestigation by the Secretary of Commerce
and Labor of cotton exchanges and fluclu-
ations in cotton prices, giving a privileged
status to the bill codifying and consoli-
dating the patent and copyright laws, and
directing a report by the Secretary of tho
Interior of the number Of existing patents
granted to officers and employees Of the
Cni~ed States. Bills providing for the
protection of game in Alaska and author
izing a refund of certain taxes collected
ulder the war revenue act of 1SoS were
also PASSED
The Senate spent the entire day Tues
bill. The army appropriation bill, carry
ing $S1 100000, an increase of $4,000.
600 over the amount voted by the House,
was reported and will be taken up as
soon as the Indian bill is disposed of. The
Senate committee amendments include
S1,372,227 for barracks and quarters,
S6,221, ,160 for promoting and extending
the efficiency of the artillery corps, and a
provision to exempt officers and men and
their families from the provisions of the
rate bill and allowing them to accept free
or reduced rates of transportation. Sena- !
tor Hepburn introduced a resolution in
structing the Secretary of the Interior to
issue patents on all lands and mining ap- |
plications where the law is complied with |
and no protest is filed. Senator Kit |
tredge reported the copyright bill and Sen
ator Smoot gave notice of a minority re.
pert favoring the House provision giving |
manufacturers the right to adapt musical
compositions to automatic musical instru. !
lnents. General debate on the rivers and |
haxbors appropriation bin was terminated !
in the House at 3 o'clock, when the read. |
ing of the bill was begun under the FIVE |
minute rule. The reading of twenty pages !
of the bill was completed before adjourn. |
ment.
The Indian appropriation bill was again
the sole topic of discussion by the Senats
Wednesday. The day was spent in dis
cussion of the proposition to repeal the
restrictions on the alienation of surplus
Indian lands in the Indian Territory. Ths I
Senate agreed TO House amendments to !
q Senate bill providing S650,0OO for fuul
new revenue cutters. The advocates OF
14-foot waterway from Chicago to st.
Louis and the gulf met defeat when tho
House, in committee OF the whole on the
river and harbor appropriation bill, voted
to stand by the recommendation of the
committee in opposition to the project.
Mr.. Dalzell of Pennsylvania presided,
Speaker Cannon being indisposed. Afrer
completing seventy-two pages of the rivers
and harbors bill the House adjourned.
-:
The Indian appropriation bill received
rough handling in the Senate Thursday.
most Of the amendments of the commit
tee, and especially those suggested by
the special committee, which went to the
Indian territory last summer, being re-
jected. The provision allowing full blood
Indians of the Indian Territory to sell
their surplus lands was defeated by vote
of 81 to %. A bill providing that no
homestead entry shall be Cancelled because
of the failure of the entryman to reside
on the land during the months of Decem.
Der, January, February and March was
passed. The House completed and passed
the river and harbor appropriation bill,
oo rry;no mora than SS3 600 0O0 s hiK