Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-12-24
The Week
in Congress


~~~~o~Oo~
More than $50 bills and resolution.
were introduced in the Senate Friday
A resolution presented by Senator Ray
nor authorizes President Taft to cause
President Zelaya of Nicaragua to be
apprehended as a commo criminal FOL
numbering two Americans. Adjourned
until Monday. Many bills were intro
duced in the House, including n by
postotice on the West Side in Chicago;
one by Mr.. SABBATH, of Illinois, provid'
Ing a jury trial for persons accused OF
contempt of court, and a resolution by
Mr.. SABBATH providing for an investiga'
ton Of sugar frauds. Mr.. Monkey, OF
Illinois, was seated. Mr.. kustermann,
of Wisconsin, denied his interest in
German shipping trade made him an
tagonize American ship subsidies. Ad'
burned until Monday.
Senator Raymer made a bitter In.
iictment of Zelaya in the Senate Mon
day, calling for his trial for murder.
Senator Depew introduced a bill for
IN exposition in 1913 to mark the
emancipation day semi-centennial. Ad.
Iourned until Thursday. There was No
session Of the House.
There was NO session Of the Sen
ate Tuesday. The Presidents annual
message was referred by the House
and distributed among the various
committees after Mr.. Payne and Mr.,
Fitzgerald, of New York, had clashed
over a statement by the former com,
mending the Presidents recommended
lions for economy in government de.
partments. Mr.. Hobson, of Alabama,
gave warning of the nations unpre.
paredness for war in a speech in favor
of more liberal navy policy. Mr.. Rich.
ardson. of Alabama, spoke for a lib
eral water way policy. Mr.. McDer.
mott. of Illinois, advocated free wood
pulp. The District of Columbia appro.
priation bill was reported. The
House agreed to adjourn from Tues.
day, Dec. Fl, over the holidays, recon
Vening Jan. 4.
There was no session Wednesday O.!
the Senate. The Esch bill, requiring
railroads to make full monthly reports
to the Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion and a measure giving the commits.
sion power to compel railroads to pro.
vide uniform equipment for their cars,
were passed by the House. Opposition
developed to the section of the Esch
bill prohibiting the use in any action
brought for damages of the reports
furnished by the railroads. Chairman
Mann urged that the section be al,
lowed to remain in the bill as an en-
couragement to the railroads to give
the commission the fullest information
Of accidents. All amendments to the
section were defeated. The measure
becomes effective at once. The Mann
Panama Canal bill was reported by the
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce and was the subject of gen.
eral debate. The provision for abol.
ishment of the Isthmian Canal Com.
mission and the Capitalization Of re-
sponsibility for the construction of the
canal and the government of the canal
zone under the President, in a director
general, aroused opposition. Mr.. Har-
rison, of New York, charged that for.
ner President Roosevelt had usurped
authority in the canal one he did
not possess. Mr.. Olmstead, Of Penn.
s~ylvania, and Mr.. Mann defended Mr..
Roosevelt. Mr.. Sterling, of Illinois.
and Mr.. Parker, of New Jersey, at
tackled tho section of the bill relating
to the judicial power in the zone. The
reading of the bill was begun.