The Montgomery tribune., 1909-12-24
CONGRESSIONAL

Congress adjourned Tuesday, In &C.
cordance with the terms of resolu-
ton passed early last week, to remain
in recess until January 4. The two
houses met December 6. The senate
has accomplished very little since
then, although the work of the house
is now further advanced than in any
corresponding period during q long
session for many years. The approp-
ration committees of the two houses
have been very active, with result
that one supply bill was passed
and another Is on the calender,
while others are under way and will
be reported some time in January.
The hearings on the estimates sub
mitted for the agricultural department
for the next fiscal year have been
closed by the house committee on
agriculture. and when congress reas-
sembles early in January, the actual
work of framing the agricultural ap-
preparation bill will be begun. 1t is
expected to report the bill few days
after the holiday recess. 1t will prob
ably carry approximately $13,000,000,
exclusive of continuing permanent ap-
preparations.
A fight for right of way between
the two great pork barrels of con-
gress, the projected rivers and har-
bors appropriation bill and the public
l,,sl III ,, ,,, ,t.rl,&
committee on public buildings and
grounds at its first meeting Of the
session, canvassed the situation and
the upshot was a decision to let mat
ters rest until about the first of Feb
ruary, when some action will be taken
as to either framing general bill
which might aggregate anything up to
$40,000,000-or postpone the subject
until next year. Meantime, the rivers
and harbors committee is going ahead
with expectation of presenting a gen.
eral bill, and will hold a number OF
hearings between January and jan
uary 10, and will then begin prepar-
ing the measure.
Representative Louden of Illinois
Friday introduced bill authorizing
the secretary of state to purchase
sites and erect buildings thereon in
foreign countries where the United
States has a representative. BY the
bill the secretary of state Is directed
to have plans and specifications made
for such buildings, but in no one year
are the appropriations for the build
ings to be erected to exceed 81 900, 900.
Charges of corruption against men,
bers of congress and Of the subsudiz-
ing of newspapers for and against
ship subsidy, which have been made
in various American newspapers and
periodicals, are recounted in resolu-
ton introduced in the house Friday
by Representative Hardin of Texas,
who demands investigation.
The oft-discussed proposal to change
the date of Inauguration of the presi-
dent of the United States from March
to later date and one more liable
to produce weather suitable for the
proper observance of such an event
was before the house committee on
election Of president, vice president
and members Of congress Thursday.
1t was presented in the shape of a
constitutional amendment offered by
Mr.. Gaines, Of West Virginia, at the
special session.
The last Thursday in April is pro-
posed in place of March A. 1t Is es-
pecially provided that the Sixty-sec-
ond, or next, congress and the terms
of office of the present president and
vice president shall continue until the
last Thursday in April, 1918, in order
to cover the intervening time between
the present and the proposed periods.
The sentiment of nearly il not all Of
the committee is said to be favorable
to change in the date, and some ac-
| tion is expected.
Hands off Hawaii in liquor mat
| ters," is substantially the protest re-
ceived by congress Thursday from
| the Hawaiian legislature. The secre-
tary of Hawaii transmitted to the two
houses of congress resolution adopt
ed by the general assembly at Honolu-
lu, declaring that any legislation to
prohibit the sale of Intoxicating liquor
in that territory, as proposed in a
pending bill. would brand Hawaii as
incapable Of self-government.
Representative Sulzer (Dem.) intro
duced a resolution in the house Fri
day directing the administration to
recognize Estrada as president of
Nicaragua, and notify the later that
the United States demanded the pun
ishment of former President zelaya,
Representative Burgess, of Texas.
| Wednesday introduced in house joint
| resolution declarinp that the IInitad