The Carlisle independent., 1909-12-23
CONGRESSIONAL

CONGRESSIONAL
 Sitting until after nightfall, the house buckled down to business Wednesday, passing the Esch bill, re- quiring railroads to make full reports to the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion of all accidents, and a measure giving the commission power to com pei railroads to provide uniform equip ment for their cars. and then took up, for consideration the Mann Panama Canal bill, on whie general debate was concluded before adjournment
 Several amendments calculated to modify or destroy the section wore lefsated The bill becomes effective immediately.
 When the Panama Canal bill was reported by the Committee on. Inter- state and Foreign Commerce, the house immediately resolved itself into committee of the whole for it's con sideration.
 The abolishment of the Isthmian Canal Commission and the centraliZa- ton of responsibility and authority for the construction of the canal, and the government of the canal zone un- der the president in director gen. eral, was bitterly opposed by several representatives. It was contended that congress had no power to dele gate legislative or judicial authority to the president
 The effort of the present congress to suppress the white slave traffic" has caused a naturalization of the ancient specter of states rights" and the house committee on Inter state and Foreign commerce, before which the Mann bill is pending, is at loggerheads over the question: SuCL Democratic members of the commit tee has been manifested that Chair man Mann and his Republican asso- ciates have abandoned temporarily all efforts to obtain early action on the measure and it has gone over until the next meeting of the committee.
 Representative Hef1in, of Alabama, again introduced his bill today, malS- ing it mandatory for the street car companies of the District of Columbia to provide Jim Crow,' or separate street cars for whites and negroes. His bill provides a fine of $100 for permitting whites and negroes on the same cars.
 Representative Burgess, of Texas, today introduced in the house a joint resolution declaring that the United States shall cease to exercise sover- eighty over the Philippine Islands and by treaty with foreign nations set up and maintain there free and independent government
 Representative Murphy. of Rolla, in- troduced a bill requiring all candi- dates in elections such as senators, representatives and political commit tees, to file statement of campaign contributions received and expendi- lures incurred immediately following the close of a campaign. The bill also calls for a heavy fine for a violation thereof
 The opposition to the confirmation Of Judge Horace c. Lurton, of Ten nessee, as associate justice of the supreme court, of the United States to succeed the late Rufus w Peck ham of New York, of which there has been rumors, failed to develop today in the meeting of the senate commit tee on the judiciary. The committee voted unanimously to recommend his confirmation.
 Representative Gardner of Massa- chussetts has practically abandoned any effort during tnis congress for change in the rules or speakership.
 Aside from the consideration of ap- propriation bills, there will be little attempt at legislation in either sen ate or house during the present week
 Representative Rodenberg of East St Louis introduced joint resaolu- tion in the house calling for the ap- pointment of a commission of seven persons to look into the advisability of holding a negro exposition in 1913, the semi-centennial of President Lin coln's emancipation proclamation.
 report on steerage conditions, based on information obtained by Spe- cial agents of the immigration com mission travelling as steerage passen- gers on different transatlantic steam CTS, was made public through pre- sentation to the senate with recon mendations for legislation to better conditions. Conditions found in many of these vessels are described as ap- palling.
 By joint resolution introduced in congress Tuesday. a commission of seven persons to investigate the pros poets for a semi-centennial celebration or the emancipation proclamation in 1913 is provided Congressman E. l..