Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-04-02
w ork of Congress


The Senate was not in session Thurs
day, IAe first piece of legislation to
be acted on by the House during the
special session was the bill providing
for the taking of the thirteenth cel;sus,
which was passed. In its present form
the measure gives to the Civil Service
Commission jurisdiction over appoint
ments and provides for the printing OF
the reports by the government printing
Office. AS enacted at the last session,
the bill stripped the Civil Service Com
mission of such authority, and there
was Il provision allowing some of the
printing to be done by private firms,
because of which President Roosevelt
vetoed it. A further amendment was
made whereby appointments are to be
apportioned pro rata among the States.
The tariff bill was officially reported
to the House from the Committee on
| Ways and Means and is now ready for
consideration.
The Senate was In session Just eight
minutes Friday. a%djourning at II :OS
p. III. until Monday. The census bill was
SNSlN'A tlV IlouSS uIiu
to committee, and George r. oliver of
Pennsylvania was sworn in as Senator.
For four and a half hours the House
of Representatives listened to the read
ing Of the tariff bill. which was con-
cluded. 1t was the only business trans
acted. 1t was perhaps the dreariest
legislative session Of any held by that
body in recent years. Some of the
members early in the reading took to
the cloakrooms and lobby pack of the
Speakers desk, while others left the
building for the day. Mr.. Sims of Ten
nessee injected a breath OF life into the
proceedings. He wanted the reading
of the bill dispensed with as n farce.
but objection was made. Then he asked
unanimous consent that the bill be put
on its passage, saying it was evident
no opportunity would be afforded to
amend the measure in the House. To
this suggestion. however, Mr.. Mann Of
Illinois objected. The House ut 4:55
.. IN. adjourned until Monday noon.
The organization of the Senate com,
mittees was the chief business before
that body Monday, and, owing to the
fact that the detail work had been
done by the Republican and Demo
cratic caucuses, it was soon disposed of.
Many bills We're introduced and refer
red to committees, Notwithstanding il
is understood hat in the present extra
session no general legislation beyond
the passage of the tariff and the CEN
sus bills will be undertaken. The tar
If bill held full sway in the House.
The measure was promptly put before
the body Immediately after converting,
and in anticipation of the opening of
the debate there was practically a full
attendance Of members and crowded
galleries. Mr.. Payne Of New York,
chairman of the committee on ways
n means, made an exhaustive speech
in explanation of the bin, the time he
was actually on his feet being four
hours and ten minutes. Then, some
what fatigued. he suspended until
] Tuesday. He was subjected to a cross
fire of questions. all of which he en-.
deavored to answer
' II Seldlc WAS HOl III SESSION Tues
day. Occupying the entire session OF
the House, Mr.. Payne Of New York.
chairman Of the Committee on Ways
/ n Means, concluded his speech in ex-
PLANTATION of the tariff bill. He was
on his feet almost all Of the five hours
and ten minutes that he had the floor.
Ills arguments covered a wide field. He
took the position that the bill would
not injure the tin plate or steel file in
dustries of the United States and that
free hides would not be n menace to
the farmers. He discussed the inher-
itance tax at great length, and said
1t was preferable to an income AK, be-
cause it would not give rise to perjury
or fraud. He held to the view also that
an income tax was wholly %unconstitu-
tionaL
The Senate was not in session on
Wednesday. Declaring among other
things that a mistake was made in the
Payne tariff bill in not arranging the
revision on the basis of raising revenue
only on every item, Mr.. Clark, Of Mis-
souri,. minority leader. held the atten-
ton of the House for more than five
hours in discussing the measure. Incl
dentally, he pointed out that much time
would have been saved in the consid-
GRAFTON of the bill had the Democratic
members OF the committee been con-
suited about the various provisions of
the proposed law. Mr.. Clark spoke in
characteristic style and frequently
moved the House to applause and
laughter. He was followed by Messrs.
Washburn Of Massachusetts and Adam
son Of Georgia, the former attacking
the inheritance tax provisions Of the
bill, while Mr.. Adamson opposed the
erection Of n tariff wall SO high as to
prevent the people of the United States
buying in all the markets of the world
as well as disposing of their surplus
products.
TOLD IN A FEW LINES.
Fire at Big Springs. Texas. DESTROYED a