Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-04-14
WORK or
CONGRESS

b~~~S~/Np~->~>~ T~~T~S>~~~>C~<F~~
-~-~-~-~.~~-~~-~-~.~
The passage of bill authorizing the
construction of dam across the Snake
River in the State of Washington, and
the consideration of 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 bin 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 appropfia-
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 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 a
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.. Caulield of Missouri, who led
the opposition. The resolution was ia
bled.
The session of the Senate Thursday
was largely consumed by discussion of a
bill to reorganize the public school sys-
| tenn in the District of Columbia by plac-
| ing it under the control of director APP
pointed by the national commissioner of
education. The bill relating to the set
Element of claims of States on account of
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,O00,000, was con-
| sidered, but without results, either on the
| bill or the amendment. The Senate adj
| journed until Monday. Carrying a total
! of 81, sos, S06, the agricultural appropria-
| ton bill was passed by the House. Dur
| ing the debate brief furry was created
| by Mr.. Harrison of New York, a 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 filibuster
against the transaction of any further
business. At 1910 p. m. a motion to
adjourn until Friday was forced through
by the majority.
! The Senate was not in session Satur-
| day. BY adopting a sweeping cloture
rule in the House the Republicans left
to the Democrats only very limited pow
ers. No longer can filibuster be con-
Quoted against sending to conference bills
with Senate amendments: no longer can
a motion to close debate be amended or
| discussed, and no longer can motion to
adjourn take precedence over motion to
take a recess. After the adoption of
this rule the House resumed its wonted
| aspect and business proceeded in an or
| DERBY manner One of the few privileges
| left to the Democrats was to force roll
call on adjournment, and this they did,
| but to no avail, as the motion carried
overwhelmingly.
The army bill, carrying an appropria-
ton of almost $10o,000,000, was passed
by the Senate Monday, practically as re-
| ~, +foa TO,
| Affairs. The bill materially increases
| the pay of officers and enlisted men. A
| resolution introduced by Mr.. Foraker
was adopted calling on the Secretary of
| War for the names of all former SOL
diers of the Twenty-fifth Infantry, dis
charged without honor on account of the
Brownsville ARRAY, who have applied for
| re-enlistment Beyond forcing roll calls
| on the approval of the journal and on
| adjournment the Democrats of the House
offered no obstruction to the orderly
| transaction of business Being suspen-
sion day, several important bills were
put through by practically unanimous
| vote. Among these was the Sterling en-
ployers' liability bill, only one vote be-
| ing recorded against it, that of Mr.. Little
| HelQ OIL hdlUc,
| As an aftermath of the passage of the
army appropriation bill Senator Hale,
| chairman of the committee on naval af-
| fairs, Tuesday warned against increases
| of the military establishment. saying they
were inviting a deficit He moved the
reconsideration of the vote by which the
army bill was passed and his motion was
! then laid on the table at his request. Sen
| ator Burkett characterized the proceeding
as one of bad faith. The Senate passed
the Notifications appropriation bill carry
| ing an aggregate of So. 1O6, 49,. As
mark of respect to the memory of the late
Representative Brick the Senate adjourn
ed until Thursday. The whole of the ses-
sion of the House was devoted to the con-
| sideration of the District OF Columbia APP
preparation bill. Two amendments were
adopted, one providing for 75-cent gas for
| all district establishments and the other
| recurring that all outside doors to public
school buildings shall open outward. An
effort to secure the incorporation of a
child labor provision failed. The bill was
passed and thereupon the House, out of
respect to the memory of the late Repre-
sentative Brick, took a recess until IL 80
O'Clock Wednesday. The House was still
on the legislative day of Monday when
the recess was taken.
ryorar rAuTrAY MNTEC