The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-06-28

most of his pet measures. Mr.. Taft
shook hands all around and continu-
ed to smile.
The clock in the presidents room
was Ginning the eleventh hour when
the senate bell rang four times,
signalling the final adjournment CT
the session. Without the loss of Z
moment the president, followed by
his retinue of cabinet members and
assistants, left the building.
Signed Last Measure.
The last measure signed was a
joint resolution to authorize the Sec
retary of war to loan tents to the
Appalachian exposition, to be held in
Knoxville, Tenn, in September,
which Mr.. Taft expects to attend.
Each house of congress tonight
marked it's closing hours by voting
for an investigation of the McMur-
ray Indian contracts. Instead of the
usual scene of comparatively undig-
nifed relaxations from the business
of legislation, both houses devoted
exceedingly serious attention to the
charges Of attempted bribery and
other forms Of improper influence,
made in the senate yesterday by Sen
ator Gore, of Oklahoma, and subse-
quently in the house by representa-
tive Murphy, Of Missouri.
Indian Contract Investigations.
Two separate Investigations are
provided for-one in each house.
Each body passed q resolution Great
ing a select committee of five mem
bers to pursue the inquiry to the bot
tom during recess of congress and to
report whether any of it's members
are, or have been interested in any
of these contracts.;> Until a late hour
in the day, it looked rather as if the
matter would go by default. But as
soon as the two houses reconvened,
at 9 o'clock tonight, after recess
since afternoon, the matter came up
with rush, and crowded galleries
listened with intense interest to the
proceedings, which ended in the vote
to probe the charges. During the
proceedings in the senate, in the
'"marble room," adjoining the senate
chamber, were Ex-Senators Long, Of
Kansas, and Thurston, of Nebraska,
who have been mentioned in connec-
ton with the Indian contract mat
ter, as well as Attorney J. F. McMur-
ray, of McAlester, Okla, whom Sena-
tor Gore named as the principal own
er of the Indian contracts in ques-
ton. Speaker Cannon appointed the
following committee to conduct the
house investigation:
Committees Appointed.
Messrs. Burke, South Dakota,
chairman; Campbell, of Kansas; Mil
ler, of Minnesota; Stephens, of Tex
as, and Saunders, of Virginia.
Vice-President Sherman announc-
ed the following committee to con-
duct the senate investigation:
Senators Jones, Of Washington;
Burton, of Ohio; Crawford, of South
Dakota; Hughes, OF Colorado, and
Percy, Of Mississippi"
Eleven o'clock was the hour set
for the adjournment of the session.
All the evening the capitol corridors
and galleries were crowded with
spectators. Aside from the serious
atmosphere surrounding the passage
of the investigation resolution, the
place was the usual aspect of ad-
journment night.
In the Presidents Room.
President Taft arrived at the CAPT.
| tol about 10 o'clock, accompanied by
six members of his cabinet. They
went to the presidents room, where
the chief executive stood by to act
upon more important bills coming to
him from the two houses.
The closing procedure was as
usual There were the usual commit
tees of notification from each house
to the other, and from both to the
president-the usual formalities.
The gavels of the presiding officers
fell at approximately the agreed
hour, and the first regular session,
the long session"-well named, sew
en- months-of the 61st congress was
at an end.