The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-02-28
WORK OF
CONGRESS


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AS the result of more than FIVE hours
consideration of the agricultural appro-
priation bill Monday. the Senate in
creased from $1,000 to 5000 the salary
of Clifford Pinchot. chief of the bureau
of forestry. Practically no progress was
made on the bill. Under a suspension of
the rules the House adopted the confer
erce report on the immigration bill by a
vote of 1877 to 1O1. The House refused
to suspend the rules and pass the bill rec
commended by the interstate and foreign
commerce committee as a substitute for
the so-called La Toilette bill limiting en-
ployment on railroads to sixten hours, the
Democrats voting solidly against the sub
stitute. Mr.. Overstreet of Indiana asked
that general debate terminate on the post
Office appropriation bill at O'Clock Tues
day afternoon. 4 resolution was adopted
authorizing the clerk to insert a provis-
ion in the bill looking to the reduction of
the compensation to railroads for carrying
mails to take effect July i.
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Senator Reed Shoots address in de-
Tense of his position as Senator was the
feature of the Senate session Tuesday. lie
was supported by Senator Dillingham; of
Vermont in a speech analytical of the
evidence submitted. The Senate spent
several hours in further consideration of
the forestry provisions in the agricultural
appropriation bill, with the result that
several amendments were agreed TO which
restrict the operations of the bureau in
several respects. The section of the bill
had not been completed when a recess was
taken for the evening session. At the
night session several bills which were not
of general Importance were passed. After
passing number of bills under unani-
nous consent the House resumed consider
alton of the postoffice appropriation bill.
Speeches were made BY Messrs. Gillespie
of Texas, Murphy of Missouri, Robinson
of Arkansas, Padgett of Tennessee, Lloyd
Of Missouri, Stevenson of Minnesota,
Finley of South Carolina and Stafford of
Wisconsin. Mr.. Macon of Arkansas made
point of order against the paragraphs
increasing the pay of clerks in first and
second class postoffices and carriers in
the city delivery service. A spirited pass
age of words ensued between NJ. Macon
and Mr.. Fitzgerald of New York, wherein
the latter gave notice that he would see
that a point of order was made against
the section providing for the increase for
rural carriers. Mr.. Macon refused to
abandon his position and the chair sus-
tanned the points of order.
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The Senate Wednesday, by a vote of
% to AZ, rejected the resolution declaring
Reed Smoot not entitled to a seat as a
Senator from the State of Utah Previ-
ously. by a vote of 40 TO 22, on motion
of Senator Hopkins. an amendment was
adopted providing that two-thirds of the
Senator's present must vote TO unseat
Senator Smoot in order to make the order
effective. The Senate then took up SEN
ator Aldrich's financial bill. which was
debated for an hour. when adjournment
was taken until evening. At the night
session the naval and rivers and harbors
appropriation bills were passed. The post
Office appropriation bill was passed by the
House. All the provisions relating to in
creased pay affecting 90 per cent of the
postal employees were restored TO the bill.
The Senate completed the reading OF
the agricultural bill Thursday after most
of the day had been spent in debate on
the forestry system and the grazing land
provision. Smarting under what they con-
sidered unfair treatment, the. Democrats
resorted to a systematic series of objec-
lions against provisions in the sundry
civil bill in the House. They compelled
the Republicans to maintain 100 members
for quorum of the committee of the
whole and forced the reading of the bill
in full, for the first time at this session OF
Congress, wasting nearly three hours
time. Several times, on demand, quo
rum was counted at the night session. and
many of the members appeared in evening
dress. At 10 AZ p. m. the committee rose,
having completed ninety-six pages of the
bill. and Immediately thereafter adj
journed.
The agricultural appropriation bin took
up most OF the time of the Senate at both
the day and night sessions Friday. The
grazing amendment was stricken out of
the bill on point of order raised by Mr..
Aldrich. The conference report On the
legislative, executive and judicial appro-
priation bill was agreed to. The conferees
on the Indian appropriation bill reported,
and Mr.. Clapp gave notice that he would
call it up Saturday. The military acad-
envy appropriation bill was reported and
passed. 1t carries $1.914, 1888. an increase
Of S33, 400 over the amount appropriated
by the House. The House devoted prae-
tically its entire session TO consideration
of the sundry civil appropriation bill. The
work of special agents of the Depart
ment of the Interior was severely criti-
cised as working unnecessary hardship to
settlers in the debate on an amendment
intended to limit their work TO inyestiga-
tons to cases where there is ground to
suspect fraud, which was adopted The
conference report on the omnibus light
house bill was adopted. and the measure
now goes to the President In committee
of the whole $50 Senate private pension
bills were passed in thirty minutes The
sundry civil bill still held the floor when
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