Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1907-01-30
D0INCS OF CONGRESS
What Our National Lawmakers Ara
Doing From Day to Day

to increase the salaries of Senators,
Members and Territorial Delegates
to $1,000 annually, and those of the
Vice President, the Speaker of the
House and members OF the Presi-
dent s cabinet to $4,000. This ac-
ton was taken by a vote Of So to
q and followed a discussion of near
ly three hours. An amendment con-
anlng the increase to cabinet officers
and the presiding officers Of the
Senate and House, was voted down,
as was also a proposition to postpone
the increase until 1913.
Senator Beveridge of indiana, be-
gan an extended address setting forth
the child labor conditions Of the
country, in support Of his pending
bill prohibiting Interstate commerce
In articles which are the product Of
from 3 o'clock until 4:30 and gave
notice that he would conclude his
address Thursday.
President R~oosevelt's message in
support Of the ship subsidy was re-
ceived and read by both houses Of
Congress.
After the reading in the House,
the message was referred to the COM
mlttee on merchant marine and fish
cries, from which a mail subsidy
measure has just been reported, in
the Senate the message vas sent to
the committee on commerce.
The President calls attention to
the great ~desirability Of enactment Of
legislation to help American ship
ping and American trade by eucour-
aging the building and running of
lines Of large and swift steamers to
South America and the Orient.
For An Increase of the Navy.
An appropriation Of about $685.
100000 is provided for in the naval
appropriation bill agreed upon by the
House committee on naval affairs.
The bill provides for an additional
battleship Of the type agreed upon i'll
the naval appropriation bill Of last
year. 1t also makes provision for two
torepdo boat destroyers and sppro-
pirates 100000 for submarine.
This So, $1,000 is additional to the
51,000,000 for submarines provided
in the bill last year, which has not
yet been expended. Provision is
made for about 5000 additional sail
ors and 900 additional marines.
The new battleship provided for
in the bill is to be a sister ship of the
monster authorized by Congress last
year, which The bill requires should
"be a frst-class battleship, carrying
as heavy armor and as powerful ar
mament as any known vessel Of its
class. to have the highest practicable
speed and greatest practicable radius
Of action.' The cost Of the new bat
tleship is estimated at $4,000 ,00G.
ThvAbolish Pension Agencies.
1SSsouse voted to abolish all
pension agencies throughout the
country, Is in number, and centra-
lie the payment Of pensions in the
city Of Washington. This ection was
taken on the pesion appropriation
bill after spirited opposition on the
part of those having pension agencies
In their States.
By a vote Of So to ia an amend
ment offered by Mr.. Dalzell, Of
Pennsylvania, restoring the number
of agencies to IS as at present, was
defeated, and Then an amendment
offered by Mr.. Gardner, of Miehi-
gan, consolidating all the agencies in
one was adopted without division.
The pension appropriation bill car
rying $13S,000,0 900 in round numbers
was passed.
A message from the President was
read relative to insurance, and at
2:30, out Of respect to the memory Of
the late Senator Alger, Of Michi-
gan, the House adjourned.
A Brief Session.
The Senate was in session Satur-
day only for a little more than an
hour, the early adjournment being
taken to permit attendance on the
funeral Of the late Senator Alger. A
few bills Of minor Importance were
passed, but most of the time Of the
sitting was devoted to the further dis
cussion Of Senator Hale's resolution
providing for an inquiry into the per-
sonal interest manifested by naval
officers in the navy personnel bill.
The resolution was ultimately refer
red to the committee on naval affairs.
The Chald Labor Law.
Senator Beveridge occupied the at
tention Of the Senate throughout the
day with a continuation Of his argu-
ment in pehalf Of his child labor bill.
He had but reached the legal and con-
stitutional phases Of the question
after speaking for more than four
hours and arrangement was made
whereby he will continue. In taking
the position that as to power. Con-
gress could exercise any power it saw
ts on Interstate commerce, Mr.. Bev-
erldge met a fussilade Of questions
by his colleagues and his progress in
argument wa slow. While he said
the power to regulate was absolute
ne maintained that the question OF
policy would always restrain any
hurtful regulations.