Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-06-17
CONGRESS IN SESSION.
In the Senate.


After agreeing to the conference report
On the river and harbOr bill the Senate
on the 9th took I'D the sundry civil ap-
preparation, but adjourned without con-
Guiding its consideration. The provision
eliminating the House restriction On the
use of funds for prosecutions under the
antitrust law, so as to make them map
plicable to peaceful combinations, wage
earners, etc, was the subject of critl-
cism but ultimately accepted. An
amendment appropriatng 100000 to
permit the President to investigate the
various executive departments of the
government with a view to better
economy was adopted.
In connection with the sundry civil bill
the Senate on the 10th listened to re
vival of the tariff discussion of last SEES
sion. Senator Beveridge being the prin-
cipal speaker The Indiana senator
spoke in advocacy of the provision Of the
bill authorizing the expenditure OF SZoO.-
600 to aid in procuring information look
ing TO the proper administration of the
tariff law. He referred to this legisla-
ton as the first step toward the tariff
commission. Senator Hale declared Mr..
Beveridge's purpose to be the destruc-
ton Of the present tariff law.
The Senate on the 18th listened to
a notable address by Senator DOlliver
Of Iowa in the form of a vigorous de-
Tense Of the "insurgent" Republican and
a reply to the criticisms Of them by the
President of the United States. The
sundry civil bill, carrying appropriations
aggregating S11SO00,0 600 was passed by
the Senate. Bills amending the bank
ruptcy law and requiring Immigrant rail
roads to survey their lands so as to rem
der them amenable to taxation were
passed.
The conference report on the railroad
bill was presented to the Senate on the
18th. The Senate divided It's attention
between the public land withdrawal bill
and Senator Owens motion discharging
the committee on privileges and elections
from the further consideration of the
resolution providing for the election
OF United States senators by direct vote
OF the people. Action was taken upon
neither of these measures. Speeches
against the administrations cOnserva-
ton policy were made by Senator
Hughes of Colorado and Hepburn of
Idaho.
The public land withdrawal bill was
passed by the Senate on the 18TH after
a debate upon that measure which COW
cred the entire session, Just before, ad-
JOurnment the statehood biz was laid be
fore the Senate as the unfinished bust
ness. The land bill was so amended as
to provide for the issuance Of 1000. 600
worth of certificates of Indebtedness with
which to complete irrigation projects al
In the House.
BY the overwhelming vote Of 1876 to
1O1 the House on the 9th passed the pos
tai savings bank bill. Twenty -four Dem
Ocrats Joined the Republicans in voting
for the final passage of the bill. The
Democratic substitute for the bill Of the
majority was rejected. 113 to 1876.
By vote of 4S to II the House on the
10th declined to recede from its disagree
ment from the Senate amendment appro
priating for the expenses of an automo
bile for Speaker Cannon. the same ac
ton being pursued in the case of the al
lowance proposed by the Senate for Vice
President Sherman's automobile. All
other amendments of the legislative bill
were agreed to. The partial conference
report on the naval bill was agreed to.
The House accepted the proposal of the
Senate to build one battleship in a gov
eminent navy yard and S1.UOOOOO col
lier on the Pacific coast. The report of
the confereeS on the rivers and harbOrs
bill was agreed to, the total appopria
tons and authorizations being SOL ,941,
rs.
The entire session of the House Oh
the 18th was devoted to political speech
es delivered during the period permitted
for general debate upon the deficiency
bill. Representative Nye of Minnesota
spoke on optimism and patriotism as
powerful factors in the nation at large
referring to the functions of party orga-
nzations in the government of the coun-
try Representative Lever of South
Carolina advocated legislation to prevent
fictitious dealings In future sales of cot
ton defense of Attorney General
Wickersham in his attitude toward the
Philippine friar lands was made by Mr.
Crumpacker of Indiana.
The House on the 18th also received
IL j
bill. but the greater part of the day
was devoted to political speeches. Rep
resentative Randell of Texas created a
sensation by moving that the House re-
call from the comittee on the judiciary
a bill to prohibit senator's representa-
tives and judges from accepting gifts
compensation. etc, from railroad tele-
graph and other similar corporations on
the ground that Representative Parker
of New Jersey, chairman. and other
members of the committee were accept
ing such gifts, and by so doing were
disqualified from action on such a meas
ure Mr.. Randell seeking action on his
motion as privileged, met opposition
and the speaker sustained a point of or
der which prevented action upon it.
This action was upheld by the House.
121 to 20.
The bill providing for new civil gov
ernment for Porto Rico was passed by
the House on the 10TH This measure
is planned to take the place of the For
aker act, under which the island is now
governed. and provides for a more repre-
sentative government than IS admins
tered under the present law.