Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-09
WORK OF
CONGRESS

"VNN VI
& CONGRESS ME- {: j
o-~.>~.o~
The Senate was not in session Satur-
day. But little progress was made in the
House in considering the agricultural BILL
The discussion dwelt mainly upon the pro-
posed establishment of federal standards
of cotton grades and federal inspection OF
grains. Consideration of the bill had not
been concluded when the House Ijourned
-
The passage of a large number of bills
of minor Importance and an extended
discussion of a measure to authorize the
damming of the Snake River. Washing
ton, occupied the entire time of the SEN
ate Monday. The session was brought to
a sudden close by lack of a quorum
Charges of a serious nature against Gift
ford Pinchot. chief of the forestry bu-
reau, were made in the House by Messrs
Smith of California and Mondell of Wyo-
ming, during the consideration of the ag-
DIll- MI Slullu
accused him of entering into a secret I'M
Outstanding with the City of Los Angeles
with the view to securing the city valua-
bic water rights in the Owens River Val
ley as against the interests of private
parties having prior claims. Mr.. Mon
dell denounced him for, as he charged, il
legally paying the expenses of forest Off
Gals in attending conventions in the
West. The bill was under discussion all
day.
Nearly the entire session of the Senate
Tuesday was consumed in consideration
of bill to permit the building of a dam
on the Snake river, Washington, and an
adjournment was only reached after Mr..
Hepburn of Idaho announced that he
would not permit vote to be taken.
During the discussion of the bill Senator
Teller made a speech against executive
encroachment. Several bills of minor
Importance were passed. After having
undergone many changes, the paragraph
of the agricultural appropriation bill re-
lating to the bureau of forestry, was
finally passed by the House. Messrs.
Mondell of Wyoming and Smith of Cali
fornia continued their attacks on the bu-
reau, supported by Messrs. Bonynge of
Colorado and Cushman of Washington.
These embraced charges that the bureau
had created timber monopolies in favor of
large corporations, illegally assumed jur-
isdiction over water rights belonging TO
the Western States, and juggled with fig
ures in order to obtain large appropria-
lions from Congress. The appropriation
for the investigation of soils was in
creased.
The passage of a bill authorizing the
construction of a dam across the Snake
River in the State of Washington, and
the consideration of a measure for adju-
dicating the claims of States against the
government account of the disposition of
the proceeds of public lands, occupied
nearly the entire session of the Senate
Wednesday. Debate of the agricultural
appropriation bill in the House was de-
void of the charges and imputations
which marked its consideration on Mon
day and Tuesday. More progress was
made with the measure than on any pre-
vious day. The discussion dwelt on
proposition for an increased appropria
ton for the farmers bulletins, which,
however, was refused, and the subject of
inquiries into road building, etc, by the
department, the trend OF opinion being
that such work should be encouraged.
The session was opened with a bitter at
tack on Attorney General Bonaparte by
Mr. Clark of Florida, who denounced him
as being no lawyer, and unfit to hold his
Office. The occasion for the utterance
was the reporting out of committee of a
resolution by Mr.. Clark calling for
statement of the expense connected with
peonage Investigations and prosecutions.
That the resolution was simply further
and unnecessary attack on the Attorney
General by Mr.. Clark was the declara-
ton of Mr. Caulfield of Missouri, who led
the opposition. The reAolution was ia
bled.
-
The session of the Senate Thursday
was largely consumed by discussion of
bill to reorganize the public school sys-
tenn in the District of Columbia by plac-
ing it under the control of director ap-
pointed by the national commissioner of
education The bill relating 20 the set
ClemGnL OIL cldlUS VI boIdItS Ou dCCouhI VI
the disposition of public lands was again
taken up and the Bacon amendment for
settling the accounts of owners of cotton
seized by the government during the Civil
War, amounting to $5,OO0,0O0, was con-
sidered. but without results, either on the
bill or the amendment. The Senate adj
journed until Monday Carrying a total
of S11, sos, SO6, the agricultural appropria-
ton bill was passed by the House. Dur
ing the debate brief furry was created
by Mr.. Harrison of New York, Demo-
crat. characterizing as socialistic the bill
of Minority Leader Williams providing
for the utilization of the treasury surplus
in the construction and improvement of
roads in the several States. With the ag
ricultural bill out of the way, the Demo
Gratis, under the leadership of Mr.. Will
liams. conducted a successful flibuster
against the transaction of any further
business. At 0:10 D. IN. a motion to
adjourn until Friday was forced through
by the majority.
The Senate was not in session Friday.
The Democratic filibuster in the House
was continued all day. The gag rule was
finally applied to stop the debate on the
district bill.
NATIONAL CAPITAL NOTES.
The Cullom BILL providing for an adj
dition to the land at Fort Sheridan, ILL.,,
passed the Senate.
The House committee On navy affairs
decided to report favorably the bills in