Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-06-08
The Week
in Congress
~~~~~~~3

The Senate Thursday by vote OF 20
to 40 rejected the Cummins amend
ment requiring the approval of rail
road rates by the interstate commerce
commission before they beccme effec-
tive. 1t also adopted an amendment
providing for six months extension OF
the 120 days suspension of new rates
and regulation in case the hearing Is
not concluded within the time. The
capitalization provisions were stricken
from the bill. Because the President
exceeded his travelling expense allow
ance of $4,000 voted by Congress for
the present fiscal year and the com.
mittee on appropriations sought to
meet the deficiency by making the APP
preparation for next year immediate.
ly available" the House was thrown
into lively debate. Chairman Tawney
offended several Democrats by sug.
costing that the President had made
his extended Western and Southern
trip largely upon the urgent solicita-
tion of Democrats OF the House. Sew.
eral Democrats made angry retorts and
the motion was defeated.
The Senate failed Friday to reach
final vote on the railroad bill. Senator
Dixon moved an amendment placing
telegraph and telephone lines under
the Jurisdiction OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission. This provision had
no sooner been adopted, though in diff.
ferent form. than Senator Brown, of
Nebraska, offered an amendment pro-
hibiting railroads from acquiring con-
troll Of competing lines under pen.
atty. Unwilling to accept so import
ant an amendment without more OF
portunity for consideration. the Sen
ate adjourned. The House twice re-
jected amendments by Mr.. Keliher, Of
Massachusetts to authorize canteens at
soldiers homes where such institutions
are within five miles of town or city
In which the sale Of liquor Is author.
lied. 1t appropriated $1.500.0O0 for
State and Territorial homes for dis.
abled soldiers and sailors and refused
to move from New York City to Wash.
ington or anywhere else the board Of
managers of the national homes for
disabled volunteer soldiers.
The Senate Saturday laid aside the
railroad bill to listen to a personal ex-
PLANTATION by Senotor Lorimer of Iii.
nois of the charges Of corruption in
connection with his election. He in.
troduced a resolution directing the
committee on privileges and elections
to make an investigation. The remain.
der of the day was devoted to eulogies
on the life of the late Representative
Griggs of Georgia. The House devoted
the day to the sundry civil appropria.
ton bill.
With the exception of the adoption
OF the Cummins amendment shifting
to railroad companies the burden of
proving the reasonableness Of increas-
es in rates, and the rejection of the
Brown amendment prohibiting the
consolidation of competitive railroad
lines. the senate's consideration. of
the railroad bill Tuesday was confined
to discussion. Senator La Toilette of
fered resolution directing the Attor.
ney General to bring suit to enjoin
the recent railroad rate increases, but
Senator Curtis announced the rAttor-
ney General had acted already in that
direction. Early in the day Senator
Owen delivered set speech in sup
port Of his resolution for the election
of Senators by direct vote. In the
House nearly the entire session was,
consumed by discussion relating to
appropria to make effective re-
cent legislation creating bureau Of
mines and mining. Up to the time of
adjournment $4sS,00O had been appro-
priated for this purpose. Amendments
making additional appropriations for
the bureau will be voted on when the
sundry civil bill is again under con.
sideration.
The Senate made material progress
with the. railroad bill Wednesday,
adopting several amendments and re-
jecting others. Among the provisions
accepted were two by Senator'S Sim
mons and Burton prohibiting railroad
companies from reducing rates to de-
stroy water competition. An amend.
ment suggested by Senator Burton i'm.
posing a penalty of $4,000 upon car
riers for divulging information con-
corning shipments also was accepted.
An amendment by Mr.. Bailey re-enact-
ing the commodities clause of the Hep
burn act was rejected. Mr.. Bailey
freely criticised the Supreme Court.
Senator La Follette's physical valua.
tion amendment also was voted down.
The entire session of the House was
occupied by discussion of the admin.
istration bill providing for new civil
government for Porto Rico. Democrats
opposed the measure. claiming that 1t
provided a less representative govern.
ment than was now enjoyed by the
people OF Porto Rico under the Fora
ker act. Resident Commissioner Lar.
rinaga declared that majority Of the
Porto Ricans preferred the present la.y
governing the islands to that proposed
by the administration bill.
i-t3tsi -
TELEGRAPH1c BREvITIEs
William Brown. who started from
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