The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-02-20
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 bin, which was passed
after considerable discussion. 1t carries
a total appropriation of $315,O00. Mr..
Macon of Arkansas in the course of the
debate defended the Senate against what
he 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 ad
journed until Monday.
sass... -
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
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 defrad"d tbe course of the
CtSItbuly VI tht i tdHAIy III dSpooltihE
public funds in Me- 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 some"hat the
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 af-
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.
.-. -:--:- 4aas i.sr. afrt
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
basis for emergency circulation, a wide
difference of opinion being developed con-
cerIing the method that should be adopt
ed in determining the valuation to be
given such bonds as well as opposition
to the use of such security under any
terms. The bill was finally read through
and committee 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 ont of Senate
amendment to pay John III. 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
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 large
supply measures, the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill, was
reported. .-"F
Senator Rayner of Maryland spoke az
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.
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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
tions, which will effectualfy prevent intox-
icating liquors being sent through the
mails into dry" States or counties. Cen
eral debate on the legislative appropria-
tion bill was brought to a close in the
House. Several speeches were msde 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