Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-01-24
WORK OF CONGRESS.
Senate.

9SAolSs
The recent issue Of bonds by the secretary
of the treasury was the occasion Of an ami
Ina ted debate in the Senate on the 18th.
The discussion was precipitated by an in
qulry 10y Senator CulbcrSOu and was partlcl-
pated In by Senators Aldrich. Tillnan and
Bailey. 1t resulted in an agreement 10 post
pone further controversy until statement
can be received from Secretary Cortclyou.
Mr.. Tillman's resolutions directing the
finance committee to inquire into the opera
tons Of the treasury department was re
ferTcd. with his consent, to that commit
tee. The unfinished business in the form or
a bill to cOdfy the criminal laws Of the
United States was placed before the Senate
ana the reading of the bill was begun: AT
322 the Senate adjourned until the l4th.
The recent federal bond issue was again
the subject for discussion in the Senate on
the 14th, being brought forward for resO-
luton offered by Senator Culberson calling
on the secretary for additional information
concerning the reasons that Induced MIN
to award bonds 10 national banks instead
of to individuals who offered higher price.
Mr.. AIdrich insisted that the resolution
should not 5e adopted until after Secretary
COrtrlyOu reply to a resolution formerly
adopted by the Senate was received, but
promised 20 aid in securing additional in
formation. Mr. CulbersOn's resolution went
over under the rules. Senator Tillman Of
fcred resolution osmbodyng a new series
Of inquiries concerning the financial situa-
ton After an executive session the Sen
ate adjourned at p. m. until! the 10th.
The Senate did not receive reply on the
18th from the secretary of the treasury to
its resolution calling for information con-
corning the financial situation and in Its
absence Senator Aldrich asScnted to the
passage Of Senator Culberson S resolution
on the same subject. a joint resolution
reducing from $2iOOO,Oo0 to $11,OO0,O0O the
war indemnity of the United States from
China was passed. The remainder of the
session was devoted to the discussion of the
penal code bill. The Senate adjourned at
30 p. IN.
The Senate calendar was clear of nearly
every bill upon It on the 10th, and the bill
70 revise the criminal laws of the United
adjournment. which was taken at 80
O'Clock, until Monday.
House.
Vigorous defense of states rights in deal
Ing with violations of civil rights or with
special state elections where troops have
been called into service served to enlven
the debate in the House on the 18th, in con-
nection with the bill to codify the penal
laws of the United States A number Of
strenuousy sought by amendment to re
serve TO the states themselves the discretion
as to the qualifications of voters, and Of
persons to serve on jures, and to limit the
powers Of federal judges on certain cases;
but every attempt failed. The Republicans
presented a solid front, and the votes all
were on party lines The bill was still I'M
der consideration when, at SOP p. M, the
House adjourned until the 18th
The amount of the fine and the length Of
the term of Imprisonment to be melted or +
TO officers and directors of corporations for
violating the law with respect to money
contributions for political purposes fur
nished material for debate in the House
on the 18th, in connection with the con-
sideration of the penal code bill. All amend
ments to increase the penalty were voted
down.
The committee on revision of the laws
finally consented on the 18th to ALLOW
amendments to the bill codifying the penal
laws of the United States, and as a result
the measure was changed in some important
particulars. When the House at $50 p. m.
adjourned there were pending a number OF
important amendments. The portions of the
bill which attracted the most attention were
those covering the giving and accepting of
brides by senators and members aad the
sale Of Endorsements or support for APP
pointive public offices.
complete change of front was exhibited
by the majority in the House on the 10th
In the consideration of the bill to codify
and revise the penal laws
The pacific spirit displayed by the COM
mittee on revision of laws toward the close
of yesterdays session, when it appeared
as though the several amendments strength
ening certain provisions of the bill regard
ing corruption in the appointment Of per-
sons to public offices would be adopted, had
vanished today, and instead every inch or
ground was fought over to keep amend
ments out of the bill.
When adjournment was taken at 4N6
o'clock only six additional pages had been
disposed of and but one or two verbal
amendments by the committee had been in
serted