The Washington herald., 1907-03-02

The House bill amending the act relat-
ing to denatured alcohol passed the Sen
ale yesterday by G. to I, Senator Pettus
voting in the negative.
The result was reached after two hours
of debate on the Finance Committees
amendment. which required Il govern
ment storekeeper TO be present during the
entire period Of distination Of spirits. It's
opponents claimed it would have involved
SO much expense as TO make the opera
ton OF the law impracticable in its rela-
ton to small disuIlers in agricultural
communities. The amendment was re-
jected by a vote of 16 yeas. all Republi-
cans. to A nays.
The following Republicans voted against
the amendment: Beveridge. Burnham,
Buckley, Burkett. Brandegee, Carter.
Clapp. Du Pont. Depew. Dillingham;, Frye.
Fulton Gamble. Hansbrough, Knox, Long.
McCumber. Willard. Biulkcy. Penrose.
Piles. Proctor, Smith, Sutherland. and
Warner
The object OF the bill is to relax the
government inspection to permit the man
ufacture of spirits for denaturing uses in
small quantities for the purpose of intro
duclng the use of the denatured product
into agricultural and industrial commu-
mites as now prevails in Germany. It
was intended to satisfy the complaints of
Western farmers, who claimed that the
act passed last year was so framed as TO
deny 10 them the benefits which the leg
islation as originally planned was de-
signed 10 confer.
Before adjourning last night the House
coneurred in the Senate amendments TO
the bill, and it now goes to the President.
Discussion of Pensions.
Senator Buckley precipitated an inter
esting debate by calling up a bill author
izing a pension Of S100 a month to Mrs.
Edith a. Hawley. wife of the late Sen
ator HawIey Of Connecticut, who was a
brigadior general on the retired list. On
motion Of Mr. Buckley the amount was
reduced TO $50 a month. The bill. which
was finally passed. was opposed by Sen
ator McCumber. He said the measure
had been reported adversely by unani-
nous vote OF the Pensions Committee be-
cause il had been shown that Mrs Haw-
ley had an independent income. Mrs.
Hawley's estate, according TO her own
statement. WAS $4,000 yielding $500
year Mrs Hawley resides abroad. it
was said. Under the pension laws Airs.
HaWley had no pensiOnable status
Senator Gallinger explained that, al
though Gen. Hawley was put upon the
retired list in his last illness, by act Of
Congress. he lived only long enough TO
draw enc months retired nav
Senator Scott attacked Mr. AICCumbeT
who, he said. had opposed the pensions
Tor army nurses and had voted 10 report
faTUrably a bill TO pay so a month TO the
widow of Stonewau Jackson.
Senator McCumber sharply resented
the attack by saying that ii was shown
that Mrs. Jackson was penniIess, and was
pensioned as the widow of an officer in
the Mexican war. He said he opposed
pensioning army nurses who served six
months at So. while soldiers who served
four years received only ST.
Reference was made TO the fact that
AIRS. Sheridan drew $500 a year. AMI
Mrs. Logan, 5000 Senator Galllnger
saiG he considered the debate on the bill
a poor tribute 10 the memory Of Gen.
Hawley. Senator Smoot explained that
Mrs. Hawley's property interests referred
10 consisted of a newspaper plant and. ."
he said, Eve all know how precarious
is an investment in such a business"
senator Blackburn and Senator Pettus
Democrats, and colleagues of the late
Senator HawIey on the Military Affairs
Committee, defended the bill. as did Sen
ator SpooneT.
A splendid tribute TO the services and
honesty of the late Gen. Hawley was
paid by Senator Aldrich. The bill was
then passed without division
General Business Transacted.
resolution directing the Interstate
Commerce Commission TO investigate and
report to the Senate at the earliest pos
sible date on the alleged practices Of the
I'VE leading express companies Of the
United States in carrying fruits. vege-
tables, and oysters in violation Of their
articles Of incorporation and to the detri-
ment of the business Of jobbers in such
articles was introduced by Senator Burk-
EFT. He proposed II at the instance Of the
recent convention of the Western Fruit
J0bbers' Association at Kansas City.
Senator Kcan called attention to the fact
that some of the express companies
named were not Incorporated. At his re-
quest the resolution went over until TO-
day.
Senator Clarke. Of Arkansas, introduced
e resolution for a commission of three
Senators to visit Hot Springs and report
on the conduct of the Hot Springs SAM
taTium as TO the issue Of water rights
and licensing Of physicians. The resolu-
ton was referred to committee.
The Aldrich resolution was passed, au-
thOTlZing the Finance Committee 10 sit I'm
the vacation of Congress and take testi-
mony regarding customs, internal revenue,
and other fiscal subjects.
After q brief executive session, the Sen
ate adjourned TO II o'clock to-day.