Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-08-04
Sixty-first Congress.
Washington, Aug. 4.
SENATE.


SENATE.
The Senate today adopted the con-
ference report on the Philippine tsritf
bill. 1t also passed the omnibus bridge
bill, which bias already received the
approval Of the House. This bill con-
talns authorization for the erection oil
bridges across twenty or more rivers.
Senator Beverage introduced bill
to create q tariff commission.
The conference report on the tariff
bill was taken up and Senator Simmons
opened the debate By speaking agslnstit.
HOUSE.
Business was blocked 10 the House to-
day by an objection made by Mr.. Macon
(dem. Ark }, to immediate consideration
Of the conference report on tho spprop-
ration bill but 10 half an hour the ma
chinery was running smoothly. Under
the rules conference report must lay
over "a hours in the House. Mr..
Payne asked unanimous consent for the
immediate consideration Of the report on
the appropriation bill. Mr.. Mscon's OBJ
lection threatened to prolong the session
a day aud cause much irritation among
the members. Mr.. Payne solved the
difficulty by moving recess for half an
hour. The committee on rules then re-
ported q special rule permitting con-
sideration of the report aud 1t was
adopted Mr.. Macon than explained
that he would not have objected If I'M
animous consent had been applied only
to the conference report instead of set
ting aside the rule.
Automobiles for Vice President Sher-
man and Speaker Cannon to cost Sc, 600
each are provided in the conference re-
port. Bonding companies which bad
decided to increase by 800 per cent the
amount Of premium paid by government
employees for bonds will have to be con.
tent with an increase OF 35 per cent
over the rates of last year. No appro-
priation is made for the expenses Of the
customs court created by the tariff bill
and 30 that court will not be in bust
ness. 1t is the intention to take up that
matter next winter. Instead Of the Gus.
toms curt appropriation, $25, 900 was
set aside to cover litigation growing out
Of the new tariff bill. The appropris-
ton of 800, 900 to enable the president
to make tariff Investigations abroad was
cut from 800, 600 1875, 900 because the
president said the latter amount would
be sufficient.
Mr.. Underwood (dem. Ala,) init
mated that the committee had exceeded
it, authority by presenting in the con-
ference report items that appeared IN
nei her the House or Senate bills.
Chairman CswDey, Of the apprOpria-
lions committee, answered thai while
changes had been made, they were well
within the authority OF the committee.
Besides the decided opposition of the
House conferees to the establishment of
the customs court another reason for the
failure to make any appropriation for that
proposed body wss q Dispute over the
salaries to be paid to the judges.
In the tariff bill those salaries we're
fixed st $4,000 year, but when the
Senate came to pass the deficiency sp-
preparation bill, it refused to appropriate
more than $1,000 as the judges salary.
10 the conference committee the repre-
sentativea Of the Senate refused TO ap-
propriste less money than wss provided
in the tariff law. 1t was also feared
that to bring this question again before
the Senate fs this time would lead to a
long discussion and delay the adjourn
ment of Congress. So it was agreed to
postpone the question of the establish
ment of the court until next winter.