Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-01-28
D0INGS OF CONGRESS
Summary Of Important Proceedings
Enacted From Day to Day.

Representative FoSS, OF ILLINOIS,,
/ chairman Of the House cimmittee on
naval affairs, brought up the naval
appropriation bill which probably will
| occupy the attention of the House
for a day or two. The bill carries an
| appropriation of $135,662,89S. A
message from the President recon-
mending an appropriation Of 10000
for a commission to investigate the
conditions in the republic Of Liberia,
Africa, was read.
The Brownsville affair was again
before the Senate Wednesday. Sena-
tor Frazier, Of Tennessee, speaking
in opposition to the passage Of any
measure for the re-enlistment Of the
discharged soldiers Of the Twenty
fifth Regiment. He insisted that the
guilt Of some men Of the regiment
had been established beyond any
doubt, although the individuals who
had committed the crime had not
been determined.
MI. Foraker announced that he
would move next Monday to take up
his bill to reinstate the soldiers u1l-
less an agreement on a time to vote
for the measure is made sooner.
The legislative, executive and ju-
dicial appropriation bill also was IN
der consideration.
Senator Frazier's remarks were
Of especial interest as he was
a member Of the committee on
military affairs which investigated
the Brownsville incident, his views
being those Of a Southerner who had
an intimate knowledge Of the negro
race.
After adopting without opposition
a resolution by which Governor
George F. Lilley, Of Connecticut,
ceases to be a member Of Congress
the House proceeded with the naval
appropriation bill. There were few
amendments offered to the measure,
the items under consideration being
those Of maintenance and improve
ments to navy yards, stations and
other public works Of the navy.
A debate on the propriety Of in
creasing salaries Of Federal circuit
and district judges consumed nearly
the entire time of the Senate Thurs
day with the result that the compen-
sation Of the 20 circuit judges was
increased from $1,000 to $4,000 and
that Of the "a district judges from
$4,000 to $4,000.
Senator Borah who had offered
erendnents regarding the increase
Of salary recommended by the COM
mittee en- appropriations declared
that the action Of the Senate in in
creasing the salary Of the President
to 100000 was in violation Of the
spirit Of the constitution and would
never have been taken before or dur
ing the recent political campaign.
Senator Tillman insinuated that
some Federal judges were en- the pay
rolls of corporations, which called
forth denunciation that such charges
should not be made without specifical-
ly naming the judge referred to-.
Structures upon the efficiency Of
machinery of war vessels we're utter
ed in the House Of Representatives
Thursday during the consideration
of the naval appropriation bill, with
the result that an amendment was
adopted requiring the Secretary Of
the Navy to annually report to Con-
gress those instances where more
than $4,000 is expended for repairs,
After futile efforts had been made
to obtain legislation looking to the
restoration Of marines aboard ship.
pers, an amendment was agreed tt
prohibiting the purchase Of powder
manufactured and sold in v~iolatio.
off, the Sherman antitrust law. This
debate disclosed the fact that the
! amendment was directed at the Dr.
Pont Company. An amendment alst
was adopted appropriating $250,0O(
for the purpose Of doubling the gov
S evnment's output Of powder othel
than for, small IN at GA cents pc.
|, pound.
The bill was still pending when til,
House adjourned.
d In the Senate Friday, Februar,
t 18th next was declared to be a spec
ial legal holiday ard a survey an
plans for a highway from WASHING
ton TO gettysburg TO De known Il
"The Lincoln Way" as a memoria
to Abraham Lincoln, was provide
s. for by a joint resolution passed b
&c the sente after a nextended debate.
Final action was also taken on tn
. legislative, executive and judicial az
L preparation bill, the Senate refusin
e, to fix at $4,000 the salary Of til
i. President, previously increased by a
le amendment to $4,000.
s, The House. adopted exactly as n
C. ported by committee, the naval pr
gramme for the fiscal year 1910, an
n the naval appropriation bill was pas
N ed. The opponents Of the navy il
r crease feature found themselves in
in hopeless minority. The only vital a
5. teration made in the measure was tt
tstriking out of the provision resto