The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-03-11
: Work Of Congress
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Never has a Congress expired more
peacefully than the Sixtieth Congress.
The Democratic filibuster against the
penal code bill in the Senate was drawn
10 a close Wednesday by an agreement
eliminating from the measure the OBJ
jectionable features authorizing the use
of troops at election places. and the
measure was passed without actually
changing the law now on the statute
books. The Bailey resolution declaring
the right of the Senate to demand pa
pers and information from heads Of de-
partments was referred to the Commit
tee on the Judiciary after an animated
debate. during which Senators DolIiver
and Beveridge made vigorous defense
of the President. The conference report
on the legislative. executive and judicial
appropriation bill was agreed TO- The
conferees eliminated all salary in
creases in dispute except that of the
salary of the President. which was
fixed at $4,000. A night session was
he'd On the eve of final adjournment
the House transacted its business with
facility unusual for a dying Congress,
although at times there was much con-
fusion. which the Speaker had difficulty
in controlling. With scarcely any de-
bate the conference reports on the mill
tary academy. legislative. executive and
judicial and penal code bill were agreed
10. The bill amending the copyright
laws of the United States in regard to
canned music was passed. as were
also a large number Of private bills.
Having practically wound up the press
ing business, the House took a recess.
The Sixtieth Congress came to an
end Thursday with the Representatives
and Senators sitting in the Senate
chamber. and Vice President sherman
Immediately had read to the assembled
legislators the proclamation Of Presi-
dent Taft calling an extra session of
Congress TO meet March 10. The Sen
ate was to meet at noon Friday TO CON
slider the appointments of the new Pres
ident. but the House will not meet
again until March j.. The Senate met
at o 40 p. m, but the proceedings were
confined 10 the most formal work, main
| ~ adoption of the complete report Of
the conferees on the pension appropria-
| ton bill, the last Of the great supply
measures, which the House also passed
within one hour OF adjournment. and
the appointment of two or three com
missions in accordance with recent con-
| gressional enactments. The House re-
ceded from the amendment TO the ap-
| preparation bill consolidating in Wash
ington the eighteen agencies throughout
| the country and the agencies viii be
| continued as in the past. Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks delivered an address i'm
| the Senate in response 10 resolutions
| thanking him for his conduct Of the
office. Utterly lacking i'm all stirring
incidents usually marking the closing
hour Of a Congress. the House at
IL :5915 O'Clock was declared by Speak
er Cannon to be adjourned without day.
| Speaker Cannon received a unanimous
vote of thanks, which he acknowledged
amid loud applause
| -
In its first regular sitting of the ses-
sion the Senate Friday received ard
| confirmed the nominations Of President
| Taft for the various cabinet positions
and also that of Huntington Wilson as
Assistant Secretar: OF State. In addi-
| ton, Senators Chamberlain Of Oregon
and Smith of Maryland were sworn in.
| The session, both executive and legis-
| lative, consumed two and one-half
hours OF time. The House was not in
| session.
The Senate, after confirming all the
| nominations sent to il by President
Taft. adjourned its extraordinary ses-
sion Saturday sine die. The credentials
| OF Senator Stephenson of Wisconsin
failed to arrive in time TO permit him
| to be sworn i'm. The last Wednesday
of April was suggested as the proper
date on which TO inaugurate Presi-
dent, in a joint resolution introduced
| by Senator Depew. The resolution was
| in the form Of an amendment 10 the
| Constitution and provided that the Six
ty-second Congress and the term Of the
| Office of President and Vice President
shall continue until the last Wednesday
| of April. 1913. at noon. The resolution
| was referred to the Committee on Priv
| ileges and Elections. Before taking ur
| the nomination Senator Bailey made a
protest against stories which were
printed concerning the executive ses.
sion Of Friday. when he suggested that
| Charles Nagt. of Missouri might be
Ineligible for the Office of Secretary Of
| Commerce and Labor if he had been
interested as counsel in suit against
the Waters-Pierce Oil Company, which
litigation is still pending before Fed
eral court. Mr.. Bailey made an extend
ed speech. criticising sharply the publ
cation of alleged Inaccurate stories Of
executive sessions and lecturing per-
SONS who may have given ouI informal
tion concerning the sessions. The mat
ter was referred TO a committee OF five.
INTERESTING NEWS ITEMS.
The Cast Thread Company's plant in
Seneca Falls. y. Y. was destroyed by
fire. Loss. $4,000.
Committees of the chamber of COM
merce and of the Legal Aid Society of
! Cleveland are at work on a system of
courts for Ohio cities and have taken the
Chicago Municipal Courts as a model.
Thirteen persons were killed. several
seriously injured ard much valuable prop
erty destroyed by a tornado which swept
across Lonoke, Prairie. Woodruff and
| poinsett Counties. Arkansas.
The bill providing that counties may
vote local option by an even majority. in
stead of two thirds. has passed the House
| in Arizona.