Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-02-18
WORK OF
CONGRESS

Nooo~~Ooo"

The Senate Tuesday became involved
IN discussion of the type of canal
that should be constructed at Panama
senator kittredge. chairman of the
committee ON interoceanic canals. pre-
Gpltated the debate by bringing in an
adverse report Oh the Honkins bill an
thorlZlng the issuance of bonds to the
extent of S50o.000OOO for the construc-
ton of the canal Reading a statement
of expenditures up &c date. he declared
the completion of the lock canal w0uId
cost S4GO,OG0,OO0. and insisted that 4
great mistake had been made in not
adhering to the plan for the building
Of sea level waterway. which he said
would be cheaper than the lock canal
Senator's Foraker and Teller Joined in
the belief that j sea level canal should
be constructed, and Mr. Kittredge said
it was not too late to abandon the lock
project. For nearly six hours the
House discussed the bill materially
changing the methods of administering
the Panama canal zone and construct,
ing the canal. Amendments almost
without number were aimed at the
measure. but With one or two eXcep-
tons they failed Of adoption. Consid-
Grafton of the bill was completed but
because Of a threatened roll call by
the opponents of the measure and the
hour being late, Mr.. Mann. having it
IN charge. did not ask for Il vote
-
The postal savings bank bill was be-
fore the Senate during most of the
session Wednesday, and Senator Hey
burn of Idaho spoke in opposition to
it. Little progress was made. The
Senate took a recess in order to ioin
the House of Representatives in the
counting of the electoral vote. resum-
ing its legislative work immediately
thereafter. The ever interesting cere-
mony of counting the electoral vote
was performed by the Senate and
House of Representatives in joint ses-
sion. William II. Taft of Ohio was
officially declared elected President
and James S. Sherman of New York
Vice President. the count disclosing
321 electoral votes for the Republican
candidates. as against 162 for Messrs.
Bryan and Kern. Following the re-
fusal of unanimous consent for the
consideration of a resolution appropri-
ating $1,250.C00 for Lincoln memo
rial in Washington and the passage of
several bills of minor Importance, con-
sideratiOn of the agricultural appropr1-
alton bill was resumed.
A report was made to the Senate
Thursday from the Committee on Ap-
preparations on the Presidents state
ments concerning the attitude of Con
gress toward appropriations for the
support of the Secret Service Senator
Hemenway, who presented this report.
added that the President was not iusti-
fed in making the statement contained
in his message to Congress. A bill
was passed repeating the increase in
the salary of the Secretary of State
from $4,000 to $4,000. so as to permit
Senator Knox to accept an appoint
ment as Secretary of State Senator
McLaurin made a speech in opposition |
to the passage of any bill for the re-
enlistment of the negro soldiers of the |
Twenty fifth Regiment accused of hav- |
ing ''shOt up Brownsville. The Senate |
adjourned until Monday. After hav-
ing Travelled a thorny road for a week. |
fhp n Oricn tI1pnl J.;
passed by the House practically as it |
came from committee. successful
fight, led by Mr.. SABBATH (In.). was
made against the bill amending the nat
uraliZatiOn laws. which, among other |
things, increased the naturalization fee |
from So to $40. By an emphatic vote |
the conference report on the measure |
was rejected and the bill laid upon the |
table. A tribute TO Lincoln by Mr.. |
Boutell (Ill.) closed the days proceed |
ings.
The Senate was not in session Fri |
day The charges of corruption and |
fraud in connection with the Panama |
Canal purchase made by Representa- |
tive Rainey recently were reviewed in |
the House. when Mr.. Lowering of Mas
sachusetts entered a sweeping defense |
of William Nelson Cromwell. William |
ii. Taft. Charles p. Taft and others |
whom Mr.. Rainey named as having |
been involved in the transaction. When |
Mr.. Lowering began the Illinois mem
Der had gone to the station to take
train for Baltimore. where he was
to deliver Il Lincoln address, but he
was hastily called back. Mr.. Lowering
in the meantime suspending his re-
marks. Mr.. Rainey was obliged to
leave shortly afterward to keep his en-
gagement. but he announced that he
would make full reply. The Indian APP
bill technically was under i
consideration and all the speeches were |
made under license of general debate
Speeches were made on a variety Of |
other subjects. and about 800 pension
bills were passed. Previously to TAX