The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-02-18
WORK OF
CONGRESS


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The postal savings bank bill was be-
fore the Senate during most of the
session Wednesday, and Senator Hey
burn of Idaho spoke in opposition to
it, Little progress was made The
Senate took recess in order to join
the House of Representatives in the
counting of the electoral vote, resum-
ing its legislative work Immediately
thereafter The ever interesting cere-
mony of counting the electoral vote
was performed by the Senate and
House of Representatives in joint ses-
sion. William III. Taft of Ohio. was
officially declared elected President
and James S. Sherman of New York
Vice President. the count disclosing
321 electoral votes for the Republican
candidates. as against 162 for Messrs.
Bryan and Kern. Following the re-
fusal of unanimous consent for the
consideration of Il resolution appropri-
ating S1.250.00O for a Lincoln memo
rial in Washington and the passage Of
several bills of minor Importance, con-
sideration of the agricultural appropr'-
alton bill was resumed
-
n report was made to the Senate
Thursday from the Committee on Ap-
preparations on the Presidents state
ments concerning the attitude of Con
gress. toward appropriations for the
support OF the Secret Service. Senator
Hemenway, who presented this report,
added that the President was not justi-
fled in making the statement contained
in his message to Congress. 4 bill
was passed repeating the increase in
the salary of the Secretary of State
from $1,000 to $4,000. so as to permit
Senator Knox to accept an appoint
ment as Secretary of State. Senator
McLaurin made speech in opposition
TO the passage of any bill for the re-
enlistment of the negro soldiers of the
Twenty-fifth Regiment accused of hav-
ing ''shot up" Brownsville. The Senate
adjourned until Monday. After hav-
ing Travelled a thorny road for week.
the agricultural appropriation bill was
passed by the House practically as it
came from committee A successful
fight. led by Mr.. SABBATH Ull), was
made against the bill amending the nat
uraliZation laws, which. among other
things. increased the naturalization fee
from So TO SO. BY an emphatic vote
the conference report On the measure
was rejected and the bill laid upon the
table. a tribute to Lincoln by Mr.
Boutell GlI) closed the days proceed
iBgs.
The Senate was not in session Fri
day. The charges of corruption and
fraud in connection with the Par anna
Canal purchase made by Represea alta
tive Rainey recently were reviewed in
the House, when Mr.. Lowering OF Mas
sachusetts entered 4 sweeping defense
of William Nelson Cromwell. William
III. Taft, Charles p. Taft and others
whom Mr.. Rainey named as having
been involved in the transaction. When
Mr.. Lowering began the Illinois mem
Der had gone to the station to take
a train for Baltimore, where he was
to deliver a Lincoln address. but he
was hastily called back. Mr.. Lowering
in the meantime suspending his re
marks Mr.. Rainey was obliged tc
leave shortly afterward to keep his en-
gagement, but he announced that he
would make full reply. The Indian ap
preparation bill technically was under
consideration and all the speeches were
made under license of general debate
Speeches were made on q variety OF
other subjects. and about 500 pension
bills were passed. Previously to TAX
ing up the Indian bill brief exercises
commemorative of Lincoln's birthday
were held.
The Senate was not in session Sat
urday<- The Indian appropriation bill
technically was under consideration il
the House. but many members awaited
themselves of the opportunity for gen
eral debate. Mr.. Lamar (Fla.) argued
for the amendment of the railroad rat,
law. claiming the law was insufficient
to cover the cases included in it's pro
visions: Mr. Madden (Ill.) referred t
increases in freight rates since the rat,
law went into effect: Mr.. Murph,
| tWis.) delivered a eulogy of Lincoln
Mr.. Washburn (Mass.) favored modi
tcation of the Sherman antitrust Law
In order that 1t might be less burden
some: Mr.. Hayes (Cal.) attacked tn,
rules Of the House; Mr.. Langley Ky
criticised the administration of the af
fairs of the Choctaw Indians: Mr.
Sherman IN. W explained the provi
sions of the Indian bill, while Mr.. Eos
ter (Vt.) pleaded for an adjustment o.
postal rates as affecting merchandise,
sent through the mails The Indian bill
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