The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-03-19
WORK OF
CONGRESS


Cotton as a basis for the issuance OF
treasury notes in times of money strin-
gency was the chief feature of a speech
in the Senate Tuesday on the pending
currency bill by Senator McLaurin OF
Mississippi. Senator Gallinger secured
an agreement to vote on the ocean mail
ship subsidy bill March 20. After pass
ing several bills on the calendar the Sen
ate adjourned. Consideration of the post
office appropriation bill was resumed in
the House. \ speech by Mr.. Hamilton of
Michigan upholding the right of the fed
eral government to control corporations
and sustaining the President in his atti-
tude toward them, was the feature Of the
days proceedings. Small of North Caro-
lima and Finley of South Carolina attack
ed the proposition to increase the pay
for ocean mail service on the ground
that it was a subterfuge for a ship sub
sidy.
4 message from the Presidents and re
ports from the committee on military af-
fairs on the Brownsville ARRAY consumed
the time of the Senate during the early
part of the session Wednesday,. A brief
debate brought out a statement by Sena-
tor Warren, chairman of the committee
on military affairs. that a bill will soon
be introduced for the reinstatement of the
discharged colored soldiers of the Tween.
ty-fifth Regiment under certain condi
tions. The Aldrich bill was discussed by
Senator Clarke of Arkansas, who declared
that he would vote for neither the Aldricb
nor the Bailey substitute. After the pas
sage of several bills on the calendar the
senate adjourned. Persistent assaults on
the postofice appropriation bill in thu
House resulted in the ampliication OF
that measure in many importan. parts
despite the protests of Chairman Over
street and the committee. The letter car
riers finally won their fight for $1.20G
salaries. The House also allowed an adj
ditional $4,000 for clerks in third class
Offices and $4,000 additional for cor
tract stations. There were incorporated
in the bill a provision prohibiting the
transmission through the mails of intoxi-
eating liquors, which was later modified
to include cocaine and its derivatives. Al
together the appropriations carried by the
bill were increased $1,225,OO0.
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Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, Thurs
day strongly Endorsed the .Aldrich cur
rency bill in the Senate and declared that
it would be serviceable as an emergency
measure. Senator Paynter of Kentucky
opposed the bill. Referring to Senator
Depew's recen. remarks about might rid
ers'' and barn burning in Kentucky. Sen
ators Paynter and McCreary of that
State condemned such lawlessness and
denounced the tobacco trust. The post
office appropriation bill had rough sailing
in the House. The attacks We're begun
on the section relating to the pneumatic
tube service, which was changed so that
extensions of such service should not be
confined TO the cities named. but should
be made wherever the Postmaster General
may think best. The House was a unit
for Withholding a portion of the pay t.
railroads for transportation of mails I'M
til a correct system of weighing should
be established. \. vigorous but Intellectual
fght was made ON Il proposition to in
crease by 100000 the appropriation
for paying the expenses of railway mail
clerks while travelling on business of the
department.
Senator Bacon of Georgia in the Senate
Friday spoke of executive eneroachments
on the legislative W of the govern
ment and read freely from newspaper re.
ports TO show that legislation is being
mapped out in the White House at con
ferences at which Congressman are not
even present. The bill providing for the
shipment OF material intended for the
Panama canal in American ships was
passed. Senator Simmons of North Caro-.
lima spoke in favor cf the ocean mail ship
pirg bill. Carrying the largest appropria.
tion in ali its history-S222. 190.3 92-the
postofice appropriation bill the same day
passed the House. This is $1,425.00C
more than was reported by the committee.
Chairman Oyerstreet opposed the PROPOSE
ton to increase the pay Of letter carriers,
but that action was confirmed. 1856 TO 1876
The appropriation for tho rural delivery
service was increased 100000.
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The Senate was not in session Satur.
day. Members of Tie House were az
forded an opportunity. under license OF
general debate. to express their views on
topics of the day. Among other subjects
politics. the recent financial panic. the
tariff and the Sherman antitrust law
were discussed while the pension appro-
p~riation bill technically was under con-
sideration. Among the speakers were Mr..
Hamlin of Missouri. who placed on the
shoulders of the Republicans the RESPONSE
bility for the recent panic; Mr.. Langley
of Kentucky, who wanted pensions grant
ed certain persons in Kentucky who aided
in suppressing the rebellion. and Mr..
Hughes of New Jersey. who desired the
Sherman antitrust law amended so as
to work less hardship on labor organiza-
tions.