Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-21

Washington, Dec. 20.-Both the Sen.
ate and the House concluded their la
oors by O'Clock today. Tomorrow an
adjournment for two weeks will be
taken to enable the members properly
to observe the Christmas holidays.
| Aside from the confirmation of the
nomination Of Horace H. Lurton of
Tennessee to be associate justice of the
supreme court the principal feature of
the Senate proceedings was a speech
laden with optimism for the Christmas
season by Senator nepew. The remarks
of the New Yorker We're called forth by
what he characterized as the pessims-
tic predictions in Senator La. Follette's
magazine and in many newspapers and
other periodicals relating to the effect
of the present tariff law upon the prices
of necessaries of life and the danger
to the people because Of steady ex-
haustion of national resources.
For the first time since the Fitzger-
aid rule providing for a "unarimous
consent calendar" was adopted that
rule was invoked today in the House
and one joint resolution making avail
able a small appropriation for the i'm
| provcment of the Tennessee river, and
|
Representative Mondell of Wyoming
opposed the proposal to give the fed
eral government control of dams and
water power rights in the different
states, defended Sec. Ballinger in that
connection and vigorously assailed tho
action of certain government bureaus
in attempting to usurp rights belonging
| to the people,
The District of Columbia appropria
ton bill, carrying about s16,275, 900, was
passed without opposition.
Representative Hardy of Texas de-
nounced the publication of stories
charging members Of Congress with
corruption in relation to ship subsidy
Legislation.
Washington, Dee. 2o.--A long con-
sultation at the White House today be-"
tween President Taft, Secretary Of
State Knox, the members of the new
tariff board and members of the trade
relations staff of the state department
Indicated that President Taft will be
in a position on March l, next. to pro-
claim Just which countries are to be
given the benefit of the minimum
American tariff in return for conces-
sions on their part.
Senator Aldrich, chairman of the
finance committee OF the Senate. who
framed the maximum and minimum
clause of the tariff bill, was called in
to the conference.
The tariff board has been engaged for
the past three months in seeking out
tariff Determinations against the
United States. 1t was said today that
these We're not hard to find. and that
many of them were entitled to Gistinc-
ton of being termed gross"
Efforts will be made to adjust mat
tiers with most of the countries through
diplomatic channels within the next
two months.
The greatest difficulty of adjustment
is expected with France, because of the
heavy increases made by the Payne bill
country.
Washington. Dec. 20.-After announc-
ing a number of decisions and hearing
the usual Monday quota of motions, the
supreme court of the United States
took recess for two weeks, today. II
is expected that when the court recon
venes on the third of January one OF
the seats now vacant will be occupied
by Judge Lurton, who was confirmed
TODAY bv the Senate as the successor OF
Justice Peckham. Even then the bencl
will not be full, for Justice Moody vii
be absent on account of illness. I'm
mediately after reconvening the court
will take up the Tobacco Trust case
and it is expected that the STANDARD
Oil case will be reached early in the
spring.
Washington, Dec. 20.-Capt. Ben w
HODGES, commandant of the naval sta
ton at New Orleans, was ordered to
dav to take command of the battle
shin wisconsin. He will relieve Capt
Frank E. Beatty, who will be assigned
shortly as commandant of the navy
ward at washington, d. c.
washington, Dec. 20.-An antitrust
hill giving the United States circuit
courts authority to dissolve combina-
lions convicted of monopolizing or at
tempting to monopolize any part OF
trade or commerce between the states
and with foreign countries and to ap-
point receivers for them, was intro
duced in the House today by Martin
of Colorado The bill specifically ex-
empts labor, agriculture, fraternal and
other associations.
Washington, Dec. 20.-lndustrlal ed
ucation what it has accomplished and
it's present condition in all probability
will be made the subject of general
investigation under the supervision OF
the bureau of labor. Secretary Nagel
and Commissioner Neill both favor 1t