The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-01
currency Bill Passed After .
Long Filibuster.
AT THE LAST MINUTE.
Employers Liability and Public
Buildings Got Through.
ROll Call Demanded in House
on Notion to Adjourn.


sion OF the Sixtieth congress came to a
spectacular end ten minutes before
midnight Saturday night The last
legislative dayof the session wasm mark
ed by squirt of action wnicn, con-
tinued little bit farther, might have
put Dig crimp in the relative s'do
nothing programme which the lead
ers set out to fulfill some months ago
After adopting the currency confer
ence report the senate went ahead and
passed the bill providing compensa-
ton for injuries to civil employees Of
the government engaged in hazardous
work. Several amendments adopted
Dy the senate were accepted by the
Roosevelt percentage in the contest
with congress over the progressive
policies of the administration went up
several points.
through was the public buildings bill.
which was held back to the last mo-
ment for the purpose of keeping men,
bers here until the currency bill be-
dent Roosevelt, read to the house at
1920, told Of the signing of both the
currency and public buildings bills,
and wild tumult of applause fol-
lowed.
Spectacular End.
The end was spectacular. With that
freedom from dignity that always
characterizes the breaking up time in
the house of representatives the re-
cesses between the receiving of mes
sages from the senate and the presi-
dent were given over to wild hilarity.
| There were singing contests between
the members on the floor and the
| newspaper men in the press gallery.
| Every member on the floor had an
American flag. They waved the flags
and sang all the old melodies and a lot
OF songs Of brand new construction set
to the old tunes.
| At times the scenes on the floor
| were suggestive Of the exciting mo-.
ments at national political convention.
A procession Of members, old and
young, moved into the house from the
corridor, the leader bearing aloft q
broom to which. was attached a litho-
4 graph of Uncle Joe" Cannon. All had
hags: The procession moved to the
space fronting the speakers desk and
there all sang the praises of the speak
| er. A little later a rival procession
moved down the center aisle to mix
| the broom that headed this procession
| was big picture of William ]. Bryan.
| The Republicans and Democrats tried
| to outyell each other and a mighty
contest Immediately was precipitated
to determine which picture could be
raised the highest.
The tallest man on each side seized
the respective brooms. Then the tall
| LII 6dTcnIeIQ OF pennsylvania Gra DDe0
| the Cannon broom and jumped on the
reporters table. A Democrat next
| tried to stand on a revolving seat chair
placed on the clerks desk and fell
| Joe's" lap. The Cannon forces then
| won the contest by shooting the Cam
non broom into the press gallery
where the correspondents seized it and
| lifted it to the chamber ceiling.
FYlibustered to the Last.
rr,,
in filibustering in the house, but they
were good natured about it. They even
demanded a roll call on the resolution
to adjourn at 1880 o'clock.
retary Garfield, Assistant Secretary
Bacon and Secretary Loeb, arrived at
the capitol at 8:55 and went directly
to his room. The senate had passed
the government employers liability BILL
and no legislative business of impor-
tance remained. The senatoes, worn
out by. the flibuster. were few in num-
ber when the night session COM
journment order, rapidly disappeared.
Senator Aldrich and a number of
other senators called upon the presi-
dent. Senator La Toilette came in as
Mr.. AIdrich was leaving.
st am sorry could not hear your
speech" said the president, with a
pleasing smile, as he grasped the Wis
consin senator's hand. Senator Aid
colleagues enjoyed the proceedings
Representative Wilson of Chicago
was presented by the president with
the pen he used in signing the emer-
gency currency BILL
Aside from the regular supply bills
making appropriations for the support
of the government during the next
fiscal year, the achievements and fail
ures of congress during the session
may be summarized as follows:
What Congress Has Done:
Enacted an emergency currency law
Prohibited child labor in the District
of Columbia.
Prohibited race track gambling in
the District of Columbia.
Increased widows existing pensions
from IS to $12 month.
Granted pensions of $12 month to
practically all widows of Mexican and
civil war soldiers.
Authorized expenditures of $50, 600, 900
for public buildings.
Authorized general appropriations
amounting to nearly a billion dollars
report on revision of financial and
| banking laws of the country.
| Reclassified the consular service.
| Passed employers liability law to
| take place of the one declared uncen-
stitutional by the supreme court of the
| United States
| Permitted free operation of foreign
vessels in trade with Philippines.
| Passed administration bill authorize
| ing employees to sue the government
| for personal injuries sustained while in
| the line of duty.
Established a range for breeding
American buffalo.
Started the machinery for tariff re-
vision by the appointment OF an inves-
/ IT, <z<,vra ravx,fc al ri