Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-15
WORK OF CONGRESS.


0t1dIe.
III directing the attorney general not to
prosecute the United States Steel corpora
uoH for its absorption Of the Tennessee Coal
ana iron company as another arbitrary
ana IaWlesS act Of the chief magistrate"
senator Culberson Of Texas introduced u
resolution in the Senate the 9TH instruct
M the committee on the judiciary to re-
port at as early a day as practicable wheth-
rr ~ the opinion Of that committee the
absorption. Mr. Cuberson at considerable
length criticised the President. and insisted
that Congress had the right to give drec-
lionS 10 mead Of an executive department
under certain conditions. Senator Foraker
EaF" notice that he would speak on the
brownsville affair next Monday. An amend
ment was reported from the committee
finance providing for an increase of the
salary OF the President to 100000 and OF
inc salary Or the vice president and the
speaker Of the House Of Representatives, 70
A2oDO each. The Senate adjourned at 1:22
y. m.
The Senate on the 8th passed a hlll pro.
Flding conditions under which the thir-
teenth census will be taken. The House
blH which was under consideration was
amended to allow printing and binding OF
census reports TO be done by private con
tract instead Of in the government print
ing Office, If found desirable by the direc
tor Of the census. An amendment placing
the appointment OF $500 census office clerks
under the civil service commission was de-
feated. Senator Culbersons resolution in
Structing the committee on the judiciary to
report whether the President had authority
10 permit the absorption OF the tennessee
Goal and Iron company by the ULited
States Steel corporation was adopted. Adj
journed at 5:2S.
Senator Tillman was the central figure ON
the lltn, occupying almost an hour with his
carefully prepared speech in reply to the
Presidents charges concerning his action in
attempting to acquire by purchase some
timber lands of Oregon originally held as u
railroad grant, whle advocating litigation
hy the department Of justice to compel their
sale. The Senate passed bill appropriate
ing $4,000 for the purchase of the Sequoia
grove of big trees il California. a recon-
mendation 10y the committee on finance and
the committee on the judiciary fayorng an
increase Of the salary Of the President to
100000 and those of the vice president and
the speaker of the House of Representatives
was referred to the committee on approprIa-
lions. Adjourned ut 2:OJ.
spirited speech by Senator Foraker of
Ohio on the use of private detectives in in
yestigatns the Brownsville affair was the
fedt-ge of interest in the Senate on the
18th. Mr.. Foraker laid aside his manuscript
several time" during his address to inject
remarks that were pOintedly aimed al the
President. Mr. Lodge replied to Mr.. Fora
kers remarks. Mr. Foraker endeaYOred to
have day fixed for voting on his bill for
the re-enlistment of the discharged soldiers
of the Iwenty-hfth regiment, but Mr.. War
rem, chairman of the committee on military
affairs, insisted upon poStpOning such agree
ment until future day. The Senate at
3:40 O'Clock adjourned.
The authority Of Congress to direct heads
of executive departments to send to the
Senate House information in their nos
session was the subject of speech by Sem
ator Bacon OF Georgia, who took the broad
view that Congress has absolute power 70
demand from heads of departments any in
formation within their possession and even
to require them to give reasons for the ac-
ton or nonaction on any matter Senator
Lodge questioned the power of Congress to
demand papers on file and insisted upon the
right of the President to exercise discretion
Senator Hale declared that he did not be-
leye the President intended to state in this
message to Congress that he would not
furnish documents and information. but
merely that he declined to permit Il cabinet
officer to furnish reasons for the action he
had taken Senators Fulton, Teller CIapp
Money and others Joined in the debate. all
of them upholding the power of the Senate
In the matter. Adjourned at $40 D. IN.
House.
Although technically under consideration
in the House of Representatives OH the TN
the District of Columbia appropriation bill
was sdetracked while the members in
dulged in general debate. This took a wide
range, the proceedings opening with n de-
Tense of the rules of the House by Mr. Ohm
stead of Pennsylvania. Mr.. Taft's reported
intention to break the solid south was in
cidentaily brought into discussion in the
course of speech on the tariff by Mr.
Sheppard of Texas, who remarked in this
connection that the Presdent-elect had
made himself ridiculous. At 5:15 the House
adjourned.
The House by vote of 212 to 81 rebuked
the President by tabling much of his
messages rs reflected on members of Con
greSS in connection with his recommended
tions regarding the secret service detect
ives, and also declaring to be the sense
of the House that they shall decline Tn
consider any communications from any
source which is not in its own judgment
respectful. The report of the special com
mittee appointed 10 deal with the language
in the Presidents annual message and In
his special message of last Monday was
submitted, and it used as the basis
for some earnest and vigorous speeches
Toward the close of the debate Mr. Gardner
Of Massachusetts vainIy endeavored 10 Sc
cure, first, the adoption of a substitute for
the resolution in the shape of an amend
ment expressing confidence in the commit
tee on appropriations, and then the post
ponement of the whole matter until Mon
day. but he was Overwhelmingly outvoted.
Adjourned ut 7:2I p. m.
After stormy discussion the resolution
authorizing the granting of permits to the
committee on inaugural ceremonies and the
use of the pension office building for the in
augural bah was compelled to 20 over for
two weeks before final action. As it stands
the section relating to the pension building
was stricken out and Il further amendment
overhead wires iut5 the structure 1t was
manifest from the outset that majority
of those present Was opposed to the pension
office proposition. Various other measures
were considered and passed, all relating ex-
clusiyely to the District of Columbia.
Speaker Cannon announced the committee
of five which will conduct the investigation
into the secret service. provided for by the
resolutions of Saturday. Adjourned Mt 8
p. IN.
Working with only small quota of men,
berS, the House of Representatives on the
18th devoted Its entire time TO consideration
of the District of Columbia appropriation
bill. Mr.. Mann Ull( furnished little diver
sion by defending the House rules, and this
led him into several sharp brushes with Mr.
Gardner NIaSs.), of the so-caled in
surgents, The district bill still under
discussion when the House at p. m. ad-
journed.
Practically the whole session on the 18th
devoted to a discussion of an amend
ment to the District of Columbia appropria-
ton bill appropriating $4,000 for chldren's
Fairgrounds. The subject of the proposition
prevailed and the amendment accordingly
was adopted. The bill was still pending
10 LIAI1sn ~ =. Y m adj MI