Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-02-04
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY

Washington, Jan. ga step to-
ward carrying out the plans agreed
upon by the recent waterways con-
ference in this city was taken when
Representatives Ransdell of Louisi-
ana, Moore Of Pennsylvania, Shirley
of Kentucky and Bartholdt Of Miss
Ouri, Jointly introduced a bill for the
creation of a waterways commission
and another for the issue of S5O0.00O,-
600 of bonds for the Improvement Of
waterways. The former bill pro
Vides that the commi sion shall con-
sist of four senators, selected by the
vice president, four representatives
selected by the speaker, seven others,
to be appointed by the president, Of
whom two shall be members of the
engineering corps of the army. two
civil engineers, two citizens of ex-
perience in transportation, and one
other citizen. The members term Is
fixed at three years and the salary of
those not in the employ of the gov
ornment at $4,000 per annum. This
commission is to investigate the
problems of water transportation and
make recommendations to cOngre S.
A sensational and bitter attack was
made on William Nelson Cromwell
and President Obaldia Of Panama and
others, by Congress sman Rainey of
Illinois. The postoffice appropriation
bill was under consideration but Mr..
Rainey spoke under the license of
general debate, and wa, unsparing in
his charges Of corruption and fraud
against the persons named. At the
conclusion Of his speech, which con-
sumed over an hour and a half,
Me srs. Stevens of Minnesota and
FISHERMAN of Wisconsin, expressed
disapproval of his remarks and en-
tered a defense of the accused. The
house passed a joint resolution max
February u, 1909, the one hundredth
anniversary of the birth Of Abraham
Lincoln, a legal holiday.
Senator Cummins of Iowa delivered
his maiden speech in oppo ition to
the postal savings bank bill in the
form in which it had been reported
to the senate. He declared that Iowa
has more banking institutions than
any other state of the union, and
spoke in favor Of his amendment.
which authorizes the deposit of postal
savings funds in any bank whether
organized under national. state or ter.
ritorial laws. He also warned the
senate against the provision Of the
bill which exempts deposits in postal
savings banks from aliens. Mr..
Carter replied to some of the OBJ
jections urged by the Iowa senator.
Washington. Jan 27-A variety of
subjects occupied the attention of the
house. The proceedings began with
the adoption of a special committee
report recommending the expunging
from the record of the recent speech
of Mr.. Willett of New York, denun-
ciatory of President Roosevelt. Then,
during further consideration of the
pestoffice appropriation bill was
charge made by Mr.. Rainey affecting
Panama canal affairs cropped out
again with the result that Mr.. Weeks
Oh MASSACHUSETTS, ehlSIeu q uSIShS0 VI
Senator Lodge. while Mr.. Rainey re
iterated his statements regarding the
purchase of two ships at the instance
of the Massachusetts, senator. The
pastofice appropriation bill was
amended in several particulars. The
most important being the transferring
of 500 assistants superintendent.
clerks, etc, from the $1,000 to the