Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-04-29
The Week
i'm Congress
~N~~~~~~~

Afted devoting two hours to the rail
road bill the Senate Thursday laid
aside that measure until Monday. The
only amendment adopted was one pro-
hibiting the Interstate Commerce Com
mission from exercising jurisdiction
over routes which are entirely by wa
ter. The Senate passed the Warren
bill authorizing the government to dis
pose Of surplus irrigation water. The
President was requested by the House
to send to Congress any facts in his
possession which might make inadvis-
able any investigation of the sugar
trust frauds, unless in his Judgment
such action might be incompatible
with the interests of the public ser
vice. A speech by Mr.. Raincy Of Hi
nois, dealing with the sugar trust and
charging that Attorney General Wick
ersham and Henry w. Taft, brother of
the President, had certain legal con-
nections with the trust, attracted con-
siderable attention. Representative
Mann concluded his opening speech on
the railroad bill and Mr.. Adamson, of
Georgia, senior minority member of
the committee on interstate and for
eign commerce., spoke in opposition to
the measure.
The rivers and harbors' bill was IN
der consideration in the Senate during
the entire session Friday, most of the
time being occupied by Mr.. Barton in
a speech in opposition to the measure.
He especially attacked the continuing
contract system. BY 149 to 60 the
House refused to pass a bill giving to
Major General Daniel e. SiClleS the
rank and pay of lieutenant general,
United States Army, retired. The
House passed a bill declaring that Gen
eral Fred D.. Grant was mustered into
the service of the United States April
29, 1868, when at the age OF Is ne
served as aid to mis- father, General U.
S. Grant at VicNshurg. By this action
General Grant was made eligible to
membership in he Loyal Legion. Many
other bills involving private claims
were passed by the House.
Discussion of the rivers and har-
bors bill occupied the Senate during
most of the session Monday. The
House considered many measures OF
local Importance in various sections
of the country. 1t also passed the
Mccall campaign publicity bill and a
bill regulating sealing on the Pribllotf
Islands, Alaska.
The rivers and harbors bill carry
ing appropriations of $52,5 500 900 was
passed by the Senate Tuesday. In the
House the entire session was taken
up by a discussion Of the railroad
bill. Toward the close Of the session
there was so little demand for time
to discuss the measure that a plan
previously made for a night session
was abandoned.
The administration railroad bill ano
the resolution authorizing the eXpen-
ditura of SG5,OO0 for an extension OF
the Senate's inquiry into h cost OF
living, occupied the attention of the
Senate Wednesday, but no action was
taken on either measure. Senator
Purcell spoke at length in opposition
to the railroad bill, declaring that IT
was the purpose Of the administrator
to so change the personnel OF the Su'
preme Court Of the United States SC
as to reverse former decisions on the
rights Of States to control questions
involving railroad legislation. A bill
authorizing the President to make
Withdrawals of public lands for pur'
poses of conservation was passed by
the House. The entire session was de
voted to the consideration OF this
measure, which, it was stated, met the
anrOvol Of h President.