Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-05-24
The Week
in Congress


railroad bill, the Senate Tuesday
heard arguments by Senator Bristow
in support of the Dixon amendment
prohibiting greater charge for short
than for long hauls on the railroads,
and by Senators Lodge and Piles
against it. There were many inter
Fuptions and much sharp colloquy. To
ward the close of the session resolu-
ton authorizing an investigation into
alleged abuses of the franking privi-
lege was adopted. BY vote OF zoo
to 126 the House passed the admins
tration railroad bill, with many Of
the original provisions stricken out.
A proposition to revive section IL re-
lating to the acquisition of competing
lines was voted down before the bill
was finally placed upon its passage.
Some of the New England Republic
cans joined with the Democrats in vot-
ing down that provision The bill now
goes to the Senate, where bill SINH
larly introduced as an administration
measure has been pending for nearly
three months. The House passed sew
eral resolutions calling for identity OF
the real purchasers of the Philippine
friar lands and adopted the conference
report ON the bin to create the bureau
of mines and mining. which now goes
to the President for approval.
In personal explanation to the
Senate Wednesday Senator Piles Of
Washington disavowed any response
bility for the appointment of Richard
A. Ballinger as commissioner of the
general land Office or later as Secre-
tary OF the Interior. This action re-
suited from intimations in the Bal
linger-Pfnchot investigation that Mr..
Piles had influenced the appointment
in the interest of the Cunningham
coal claimants. Senator Simmons of
Dixon long and short haul clause,
after which the railroad bin was laid
aside. The theory that the President
may withdraw from entry the public
lands without authority of Congress
was combated by Senator Borah in an
extended argument. In the House the
eEttfre session was taken up by the
consideration of bills affecting Indian
lands.
The Senate Thursday reached an
agreement to begin voting at 4 O'Clock
Friday on the long and short haul
amendments to the railroad bill, and
tD meet daily at IL o'cl6gik, beginning
Monday. The voting agreement for
Friday provides that ali amendments
ralating to the long and short hau.
Ehall be disposed of before the end Of
the legislative day, but the under
standing does not preclude the taking
nf "a recess from one day to another
ia case the amendments should re
qEiire more time than car be given
them Friday All of the speeches
short haul amendment. They were
made by Senators Clapp, Smoot and
NiNun. The Senate passed the House
omnibus lighthouse bill. which, after
receiving the consideration of con.
ference committee, will go to the Pres
Representative Payne of New York de-
hNered an extended defense of the
Pagne-A1drich tariff bill, arguing that
the recent advance in the cost of liy-
ing was not due to that legislation.
Representative Cox of Ohio spoke. de-
nouncing conditions in national mili-
tary homes
The modified long and short haEl
amendment introduced by Senator Dix
on as a substitute for the Hepburn
amendment to the railroad bin was
adopted by the Senate Friday after it
had been perfected by incorporating
in it portion of the Paynter amend.
ment, favored by the Democrats The
vote on the substitute was Sc yeas, 10
nays The House discussed the sun.
dry civil bill.
The feature of the consideration
of the administration railroad bill in
the Senate Monday was the vote taken
on an amendment by Senator Cummins
to strike out the sections of the bill to
provide for the establishment Of
commerce court This was defeated
by vote of % to 81 The affirmative
vote was cast chiefly by Democrats and
"insurgent" Republicans. A number of
other amendments were offered to the
sections, but all of them were defeat
ed. Notice of other amendments was
given This being unanimous consent
and suspension day in the House,
large number of bills were passed
Among the more important measures
passed was a Senate bill providing for
system of parole for United States
prisoners sentenced for more than one
year and who have served at least one
third of their terms. A resolution, in
PRODUCED by Mr.. Henry of Texas, to
change the date of Inauguration of the
President from March until the last
Thursday in April was defeated. Only
one vote was lacking of the two-thirds
Of the House necessary to provide for
the submission of constitutional
amendment for that purpose TO the
several States of the Union.