The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1909-01-28
DOINGS OF CONGRESS
Summary of Important Proceedings
Enacted From Day to Day.

%tI1butlon of seeds by the Department
of Agriculture.
Representative Foss, of Illinois.
chairman of the House cimmittee on
naval affairs, brought up the naval
appropriation bill which probably will
occupy the attention of the House
Tor a day or two. The bill carries an
appropriation of 35,662,S8 A
message from the President recon-
mending an appropriation of $4,000
Tor a commission to investigate the
conditions in the republic of Liberia,
Africa, was read.
The Brownsville affair was again
before the Senate Wednesday. Sena-
tor Frazier, of Tennessee, speaking
III opposition to the passage of any
measure for the re-enIistment of the
discharged soldiers of the Twenty
NTH Regiment. He insisted that the
guilt of some men Of the regiment
had been established beyond any
doubt, although the individuals who
had committed the crime had not
been determined.
Mr. Foraker announced that be
would move next Monday to take uu
his bill to reinstate the soldiers IN
less an agreement on a time to vote
for the measure is made sooner.
The legislative, executive and ju-
dicial appropriation bill also was I'M
der consideration.
Senator Frazier's remarks were
Of especial interest as he was
q member of the committee on
military affairs which investigated
the Brownsville incident, his views
beihg those of a Southerner who had
an intimate knowledge of the negro
race.
After adopting without opposition
a resolution by which Governor
George F. Lilley, of Connecticut,
ceases to be a member of Congress
the House proceeded with the naval
appropriation bill. There were few
amendments offered to the measure,
the items under consideration being
those of maintenance and improve
ments to navy yards, stations and
other public works of the navy.
A debate ON the propriety of in
creaslng salaries of Federal circuit
and district judges consumed nearly
the entire time of the Senate Thurs
day with the result that the compen-
sation of the 90 circuit judges was
increased from $1,000 to $4,000 and
that of the "a district judges from
$4,000 to $4,000.
Senator Borah who had Offered
amendments regarding the increase
Of salary recommended by the com
mittee on appropriations declared
that the action of the Senate in in
creasing the salary of the President
to 100000 was in violation of the
spirit of the constitution and would
never have been taken before or dur
ing the recent political campaign.
Senator Tillman insinuated that
some Federal judges were on the pay
rolls of corporations, which called
forth denunciation that such charges
should not be made without specifical-
ly naming the judge referred to.
Structures upon the efficiency of
officers of the navy in the care Of
machinery of war vessels were utter
ed in the House of Representatives
Thursday during the consideration
Of the naval appropriation bill, with
the result that an amendment was
adopted requiring the Secretary of
the Navy to annually report to Con-
gress those instances where moro
than $4,000 is expended for repairs.
After futile efforts had been made
to obtain legislation looking to the
restoration of marines aboard ship
pers, an amendment was agreed to
prohibiting the purchase Of powder
manufactured and sold in violation
Of" the Sherman antitrust law. The
debate disclosed the fact that the
amendment was directed at the Du
Pont Company. An amendment also
was adopted appropriating $250,000
for the purpose of doubling the gov
evnment's output of powder other
than for small arms at 81 cents per
pound.
The bill was still pending when the
House adjourned.
In the Senate Friday, February
18th next was declared to be a spec
ial legal holiday and a survey and
plans for a highway from Washing
ton to Gettysburg to be known as
"The Lincoln Way" as a memorial
to Abraham Lincoln, was provided
for by a joint resolution passed by
the sente after a nextended debate.
Final action was also taken on the
legislative, executive and judicial ap
preparation bill, the Senate refusing
to fix at $4,000 the salary of the
President, previously increased by an
amendment to $4,000.
The House adopted exactly as re,
ported by committee, the naval pro-
gramme for the fiscal year 1910, and
the naval appropriation bill was pass,
cd. The cponents of the navy In
crease feature found themselves in =
hopeless minority. The only vital al
~teration made in the measur was the
striking out of the provision restor:
ing marines to naval vessels. The
aggregate amount appropriated BY
the bill is $135, 000,0 600.
The increase in the naval estimate
gave rise to extended and heated de
bate. in which members were afforded
an opportunity to air their views OF
the japanese question. The peace ad
, v~ocates we're much in evidence in op
l.