Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-02-22
WORK OF CONGRESS.
A SYNOPSIS of the Proceedings in the
Senate and House During the
Past Week.
In the Senate.

The Senate on February 13 passed the bill
giving the government the right to appeal
to the supreme court for a construction of
the constitutionality of any law involved
in a criminal suit The District Of Column
bia appropriation BILL carrying nearly SILL,
600. 900, was passed The bill establishing
an agricultural bank in the Philippines was
taken up, and the Philippine tariff bill,
which passed the House at the last session.
was interposed as an amendment by Sen
ator McCreary. No action resulted on
either the bill or the amendment. The con-
ference report on the immigration bill was
received and read. but action was deferred.
A message from President Roosevelt urging
consideration of legislation affecting the
public lands was received and read The
first night session of the Senate during the
present session was held to consider private
pension bills.
An attempt in the Senate on February II
to force action on the conference report
on the immigration bill. carrying an amend
ment designed to settle the Japanese con
troversy, resulted in a fllibuster movement
headed by Senators Bacon and Tillman. a
truce was finally declared until February
Is. The agricultural appropriation bill gave
rise to. considerable discussion on the pro-
posed increase in the salary of the chief OF
the forestry bureau. No action was taken.
Senator Knox made an address in defense
of the right of Senator Smoot to his seat
In the Senate on February Is an agree
ment to vote February 16 on the conference
report the immigra ton bill, which in
cludes the provision intended to settle the
CallfOrnla-JaD dneSe question, aICef an enllTe
day of discussion was made.
The administration plan to settle the Cali
forna- japanese situation was approved by
the Senate February 16 in the adoption of
the conference report the immigra ton
bill This report contains provision which
authorizes the President to exclude Japa-
nese laborers from the United States at his
discretion.
AS the result of more than five hours con-
sidera ton of the agricultural appropriation
bill on February Is, the Senate increased
from $500 to 5000 the salary of Clifford
Ptnchot. chief of the bureau of forestry.
Practically no progress was made on the
bill.
In the Senate Senator Reed Shoots ad-
dress in defense of his position as senator
was the feature of the session February 10
He was supported by Senator Dillingham; Of
Vermont in a speech analytical of the evil
dence submitted. The Senate spent several
hours in further consideration of the for
estry provisions in the agricultural appro-
priation bill, with the result that several
amendments were agreed to which restrict
the operations of the bureau in several re-
spects. The section of the bill had not
been completed when a recess was taken
for the evening session; At the night ses
sion several bills which were not of gen
eral Importance were passed.
In the House
The House on February 13 considered the
naval appropriation bill. The appropria-
ton for a steel floating d1y dock to cost
not exceeding 81 100000 was stricken out
rois. After completing fOrty-five pages of
the naval bill the House adjourned
The naval appropriation bill occupied the
entire time of the House on February IA,
and it was almost completed. The single
remaining section is that increasing the
naval establishment.
The naval appropriation bill, carrying
$96,OOO,O0O was passed by the House on
February 10. An amendment to strike out
the provision for an additional battle ship
was defeated by 4 vote of la to 146. The
lot hi
and an agreement made that general debate
should cease at l. o'clock noon February 10
The conference report on the diploma tir
and consular bill was adopted
The postotfice appropriation bill was
taken up by the House February IS, but
general debate was not concluded. During
the morning hour number of bills were
passed, among them being measures per-
Uniting the special delivery of letters carry
ing ordinary stamps and limiting to Janu-
airy /, 1909, the operation of acts to REIN.
burse the governors of states and terri
tories for expenses incurred in aiding the
United States to raise troops in the war
with Spain.
Under Il suspension of the rules the Horsa
on February Is adopted the conference re-
port on the immigration bin by a vote of 1877
to l0l. The House refused to suspend the
interstate aud foreign commerce committee
as substitute for the so-called La Toilette
blil limiting employment on railroads to
sixteen hours. the Democrats voting solidly
against tie substitute. Mr. OverStrcat Of
Indiana asked that general debate tcrmfn-
ate on the postotiice appropriation bill at i
O'Clock February 49, A resolution was
adopted authorizing the clerk to insert n
provision i'll the bill looking to the reduction
OF the compensation to railroads for carry
ing mails to take effect July l.
In the House. after passing number of
bills under unanimous consent the Housa
resumed consideration of the postofice an
preparation bill February 10 Speeches
We're made by Messrs. Gillespie of Texas.
Murphy of Missouri Robinson of Arkansas,
Padgett IF Tennessee, Lloyd of Missouri
Steenerson of Minnesota. Finley of South
Carolina and Stafford of Wisconsin. Mi
Macon of Arkansas made Il point of order
against the paragraphs increasing the pay
OF Oh, clerks IN first and second class post
oHlces and carriers in the city delivery
st,rI spirited passage of words en-
sued between Mr.. Macon and Mr. Fstt
gerald of New York wherein The la+t >
gave notice that he would see that a po:nt
or order was made against the section pro
yiding for the increase for rural carriers
Mr. Macon refused to abandon his pos;tion
ana the chair sustained the points OF order