The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-25
| DAY IN CONGRESS
Kashington's Farewell Ad-
dress Rad in Senate
,SOT OBSERVED III HOUSE
Senate Committee Discusses AID
rich Currency Bill
Much Opposition TO Railroad Bond
Ecature-Wiu Benefit Only Two
Roads in the South-District o4 Col
umbia Street Railway Bill Passed
House After Long Discussion

Washington, February 22.-In the
presence OF many senator's en- both
sides of the chamber and a large
gathering in the galleries, Senator
Portor j. McCumker, OF North Dako-
la, today read the Farewell Address
Of Washington. Immediately after the
senate had been called to order and
the chaplain, Rev. Edward Everett
Hale, had opened the proceedings with
prayer, Vice-president Fairbanks in
vited Mr. McCumber tof the reading
desk In clear and well enunciated
tones the senator from North Dakota
read the famous address, receiving
close attention from both senator's
and visitors.
The house took no formal notice Of
Washington's birthday anniversary,
but it formed TIC subject of Chaplain
Couden's prayer.
The railroad bond feature OF the
Aldrich currency bill was discussed
informally today by the senate COM
mittee on finance. Senator Daniels an
nounced that he W0s working on an
amendment intended to broaden the
scope of the bond feature so as tC
permit the use Of securities of Ger
tain railroads in the south. Under
bill as it was reported from the COM
mittee, the Louisville ana Nashville
and the Illinois Central are the only
roads in the south whose securities
may be used rs basis for emergency
circulation, as these roads are the
only ones that have met the require
ments in regard to the payment of in
terest on all classes Of bonds The
committee is not in favor Of limiting
railroad securities to those lines on
which the physical valuation hlI been
determined by the interSGale commerce
commission for the reason that such
restrictions would require years or
work to gain the necessary informa-
ton. An amendment to the bill has
been adopted providing that the bonds
of railroads which regularly make re-
ports to the commission under the
provision of the recent railroad act
shall be the only railroad securities
that may be accepted hr tie treasury
as a basis for -; l.r.'i'n. The com
mittee generally believes this provision
sufficient to safeguard the stability OF
rational bank notes issued upon bonds
other than those is@uc1 by authority
of the federal. state. county and NUM-
cipal governments.
HOUSE.
Washington's birthday In the house
of representatives was commemorated
by lively debate on the negro Ques-
ton. 1t arose out Of n effort OF Mr..
Heflin, of Alabama, to amend the Dis
trict of Columbia street railway track
age bill by requiring separate cars for
whites and negroes. For over an hour
and half the subject was fought ov-
er with the result that the amendment
was overwhelmingly defeated. The bill
was passed. 1t provides universal
transfers on the basis of cash fares or
six tickets for % cents. 1t also pro-
vides for street railway facilities from
all parts of Washington 70 the new
union station.
Previously in the day the house was
greatly amused by Mr.. Campbell. OF
Kansas. relating an experience last
Sunday in the house Office building
when a number of children skated
down the corridor entered his room
and greatly annoyed him. His remarks
grew out of an active debate on the
resolution to appoint a number or
policemen for the building and Mr..
Currier, in charge of the measure,
hearing the episode Of the child
ren got Mr.. Campbell to stand up and
tell the house about it in order TO
demonstrate the necessity for the
number of men recommended.
At ABS the house adjourned until
Monday.