Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-05-19
WORK or
CONGRESS

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The forestry provision Of the agricul-
tural appropriation bill was before the
Senate several hours Thursday. Senator
Teller of Colorado denounced that service
as unwise and its administration as arbi-
trary, while Senator Depew spoke in adj
vocacy of the extension of the work of
port of the bin 10 establish postal saw
ings banks was made by Senator Carter
Oh Montana. Senator Culberson of Texas
called the attention of the Senate 10 news
paper publications to the effect that the
President and the interstate commerce
commission had agreed to allow the rail-
roads TO increase freight rates This sug-
geStlon precipitated a discussion as to the
powers OF the President or the commits.
ion to make such an agreement. The
Senate passed a bill appropriating $1,000
toward the erection of a monument to
Pocahonias at jamestown, Va. After ten
days discussion consideration of the sun
dry civil appropriation bill was completed
by the House, but before putting it on its
passage recess until Friday was taken.
| The bill carries a total appropriation of
$106, 966, 1863. or $1.241, 900 more than as
reported by the committee. A provision
providing that salaries and wages for
work en- the Panama canal should not ex-
| coed by more than % per cent the sal
aries and wages paid in the United States
for similar work was defeated, 10 to 10l.
80
R1,f 1itttn ,,ro~,ocs, ,,.,.,
Senate Friday on the agricultural appro-
priation bill, the session being devoted to
discussion upon the principle of forest
reserves and the administration of that
service. Senator McCumber called the
attention of the Senate to deadlock
among the conferees on the pension appro-
priation bill on the Senate amendment
requiring a continuance of the present
| system of having the pension fund dis
bursed through eighteen pension agents
located throughout the country instead of
| through single agent in Washington.
Many Senators expressed the desire that
| the conferees s1ould insist on the Senate
amendment The officers and enlisted men
of the army won their fight for increased
pay, when the House agreed to the con-
ference report on the army appropriation
bill. An appropriation of $7.000,G00 was
made for the purpose. $5.000,000 of
which will go to the enlisted men.
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The debate on the main features of the
agricultural appropriation bin was prac-
tically concluded by the Senate Saturday.
Senator Smoot of Utah spoke at length
in advocacy of the forest reserve service.
Senators Lodge and Newlands also sup
ported the policy of the service. Senator
Clarke OF Wyoming reviewed at Myth
what he said he regarded as the weak
ness of the forestry service. Although
on several occasions it had difficulty in
maintaining a quorum, the House cram
sacted considerable business. A number
of measures were passed, including a
child labor law for the District of Co
lumba, intended as a substitute for the
Senate bill; permitting appeals in natur-
alization cases from the District to the
Circuit courts of appeal; providing for
the widening of the channel of Michigan
City, Ind, and repeating the act of the
legislature of New Mexico of 1908 re-
garding civil procedure in personal in
jury cases.
The Senate Monday passed the agricul-
taraI appropriation bill, carrying an ap-
preparation aggregating $12, 142, 146. SEN
ator Rayner introduced resolution pro-
viding for court of inquiry TO inyesti-
gate charges against Colonel William j.
Stewart, now stationed at Fort Grant,
Arizona The conference report oil the
naval appropriation bills was agreed to.
The House devoted its time to the con-
sideration of miscellaneous business. BY
agreeing to some Senate amendments
the House took the final congressional
step by which betting on horse races at
Benning will hereafter be prohibited. A
bill authorizing the appointment, as an
addition TO the regular military establish
ment. of fifty captains to command the
Philippine scouts was passed. Other
I bills which got through were as follows !:
Amending the homestead laws so as to
permit the entry of 800 acres instead of
100 acres of non-irrigable public lands in
Western States. and authorizing the
drainage of certain swamp lands in the
Red Lake Indian reservation, Minnesota.
"A Dill allowing IIlt Suites Oh ludHu anu
Wyoming 100000 additional acres of
land for reclamation was defeated.
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The Senate Tuesday passed the post
Office army appropriation bill, carrying
amounts aggregating S229,027,367 As
passed the bill allows 81 per day c.
penses for railway postal clerks when
away from terminals. Amendments
adopted by the Senate provide for weigh
ing the mails annually instead of every
four years. Senator Rayner spoke on
his resolution directing the President to
order a court of inquiry into charges
against Colonel William F. Stewart, u.
s. A.. now stationed at Fort Grant. Ari-
IONA. and read a letter from the Presi-
dent giving reasons for the action that
had been taken against Colonel Stewart,
which the Senator declared to be trivial.
After a debate lasting practically the en-
tire session the House by vote of l36
to 124 agreed to the conference report on
the naval appropriation bill. The inser-
ton of new provision relating to in
crease in pay Tor officers and men Of the
marine corps and navy drew forth a
GOOD deal OF criticism of the conterees,