Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-02-21
WORK OF
CONGRESS-


The Senate was not in session Friday.
The session of the House was devoted al
most entirely to consideration of the om-
nibus war claims bill, which was passed
after considerable discussion. 1t carries
a total appropriation of $4,000. Mr..
Macon of Arkansas in the course Of the
debate defended the Senate against what
lie said were aspersions cast upon that
body by Mr.. Payne of New York, when
he predicted that the Senate would load
the bill down with a number of unmerito-
rious claims. A number of private claims
bills also were passed, and the House adj
journed until Monday.
Senator Aldrich, chairman of the com.
mittee on finance. opened the debate in
the Senate on his bill to provide an emer-
gency currency. In the galleries was a
large audience, among others j. Pierpont
Morgan. Senator Foraker made reply to
the Presidents statement concerning the
use of the appointing power for political
purposes and had letters read showing the
Presidents attitude in one case. Sena-
tor Depew defended the course of the
Secretary of the Treasury in depositing
public funds in New York banks. The
criminal code bill was again considered.
A fiery speech by Mr.. Leake of New Jer-
sey, in which he outlined his opposition
to William j. Bryan as a candidate for
the presidency, relieved somewhat tho
monotony of debate In the House. His
remarks were greeted with Kisses from
the Democratic side of the House. The
Indian appropriation bill was amended
SO that the commissioner of Indian aft
fairs, before he carries out the policy of
abandoning nonreservation schools, shall
investigate the question fully and report
to the House. Another amendment re-
stored the appropriations for the Indian
schools at Fort Lewis, Colo; Carson
City, New, and Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Consideration of the Indian bill was not
concluded when the House adjourned.
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Debate on the Aldrich currency bill in
the Senate Tuesday was followed with
interest by many bankers in the galleries.
The discussion was directed chiefly to-
ward the provision for railroad bonds as
a basis for emergency circulation, a wide
difference of opinion being developed con-
corning the method that shout be adopt
ed in determining the valuation to be
given such bonds as we'll as opposition
to the use of such security under any
terms. The bill was finally read through
and amendments Incorporated,
it being understood that the entire bill
is to be subject to amendment hereafter.
Interest in the proceedings of the House
attached to a criticism of the President
by Mr.. Tawney, chairman of the commit
tee on appropriations, for having, as Mr..
Tawney charged, appointed the inland
waterways commission without authority
of law. The debate was on the urgent
deficiency bill and grew out of a Senate
amendment to pay John IL. Bankhead,
now Senator from Alabama, for his SER
vices on the commission. The House
refused to accept the amendment. In
a vigorous speech Mr.. Harrison Of New
York condemned Secretary Of State Root
for his manner Of handling the negotia-
tions with Russia regarding passports
to Russian Jewish citizens of the United
States, while Mr.. Lowden of Illinois de-
Tended the Secretary. The Indian appro-
priation bill was amended in several inn
portant particulars. Another Of the lasSs
supply measures, the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill, was
reported.
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Senator NdyncE OF NATyi4uu SPOAt -
length in the Senate Wednesday on the
currency bill. The Senate. devoted two
hours to considering the criminal code
bill. The tariff question and the Presi-
dents message were the principal themes
Of discussion in the House. In the course
of the concluding debate on the Indian
appropriation bill the proceedings were
enlivened by Messrs. Hamill and Leake
of New Jersey, both Democrats, discuss
ing the virtues and faults of William J.
Bryan. Mr.. Leake reasserted his charge
that Mr.. Bryan did not represent the
principles for which Democracy stood.
The Senate Thursday discussed the law
governing the reserves of national banks,
that subject being brought up by Senator
Rayner. The criminal code bill also was
a subject Of discussion, Senator Clay and
others securing the substitution of the old
law instead of the proposed revised sec
lions, which will effectually prevent intox-
icating liquors being sent through the
mails into dry States or counties. Gem
eral debate on the legislative appropria-
ton bill was brought to a close in the
House. Several speeches were made on
the issues of the day, the most notable
being by Champ Clark of Missouri. Other
speakers were Rainey, Illinois; Tirrell,
Massachusetts: Gillett, Massachusetts,,
and Hammond, Indiana. all of whom dis
cussed various phases of the tariff ques-
tion.
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