The citizen., 1912-07-26
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gem
eraI Topics from
the Capital.
Special Correspondence to the Citizen
Washington. July %. 1912.

Missouri, IN statement characterized a
monumental fraud the action OF tn,
House Committee on Elections in votin.
TO recommend that he be deprived of hi
seat in The House. The committee de
Cided by vote of to 3 to report tha
Mr.Catlin had not been properly elected
because 1t was discovered that his rela
tves had spent approximately SIS 600 ir
his campaign, contrary to the State law
Representative Catlins campaign ex
pendltures aggregated more than SG5,o
1t was Contended by his counsel tha
much of the money was used without the
candidates knowledge The Missouri
law permits the expenditure of 1902.
Representative Catlin is the son OF a mil
llonalre tobaCConst of St Louis. He is
serving his first term in Congress. Simul
taneously with the vote ousting him came
the announcement of his engagement tc
marry Washington woman
President TAFT in a speech in the East
Room Of the White House to a delega-
ton from the National Civil and Political
Negro League publicly acknowledged
his debt of gratitude 10 the negro dele
gates to the Republican National Con
ventlon pledged and instructed for him,
who stood with the Taft forces through
the fight.
81 want TO say to YOU said the Pres-
dent, "how much ! appreciate your
standing firm in my behalf at a time
when it was intimatcd to the country that
we could not depend upon you.
| Republican leaders of the Senate and
| House are preparing to defend Presi.
dent Tatt's nomination with speeches on
! the floor.
Senator Root had been suggested as
| the man to make the leading speech in
! the Senate. Whether he will do so has
not been announced. Representative
| Bartholdt and Mondell are preparing
speeches for delivery in the House. 1t
has been proposed that the statement
prepared with Mr. Talt's approval, de-
tending the seating of delegates by the
Republican National Committee might
be introduced in both the House and
Senate by leaders.
President Taft sent a message to the
House stating that Congress SO far had
appropriated S545L925 for the Philippine
Islands. The House in 4 resolution had
asked to know the total expense result
ing from the occupation OF the islands.
The President stated that aside from
the direct appropriations it is impossible
to estimate accurately the expenses in
cured. He declared it an open question
whether the army in the Philippines cost
more than it did al home.
He made it clear that he regarded the
Philippines as more nearly Seli-SuppOrt.
ing than any other Territory of the United
States.
The House and Senate will face an
other stubborn deadlock over the Post
office Appropriation bill if the Senate
substitutes the Bourne parcels post plan
recommended by the Senate Committee
on PostohICes and Post Roads. for the
House scheme. Led by Congressman
David J. Lewis, of Maryland, the House
eventually wants to go farther in parcels
post legislation than the Bourne bill pro-
vdes. This legislation the House does
| not wish to enact until next December
until a Congressional committee has
thoroughly Investigated the Postal Ex-
press bill which calls for the Govern
ment absorption of express companies
and their operation by the Postoftice De-
partment
The Democratic members of the Stan
ley Committe Of the House held pro
tracted session putting the finishing
touches on the majority report regarding
the United States Steel Corporation.
They went over in detail the report as
prepared by Chairman Stanley Various
minor changes were suggested and the
general form of the report discussed.
Particular attention was paid to the rem.
edial legislation framed to be submitted
to the House with the report. This will
include proposed amendments TO the
Sherman Antitrust law and the Inter
state Commerce law. 1t is eXpsCted tha
the report will be submitted to the Hous,
this week.
Severe criticism Of Government meth
DDS Of erecting public buildings is con
taned in the report Of the House Com
mittee on Expenditures in public build
ing which Chairman Cyrus Cline, of Iudi
ana, suOn tied to the House. The com
mittee points out extravaganza and was
and the possibilities of fraud after making
it clear that its Investigations were mad
with no desire to discover any scandal il
the public service.
In a sharp clash on the floor Of tn
House Representation Austin OF Ten
nessee. Republican, took to task Replc
sentative Rainey, Of Illinois, Democrat
for having insinuated thai he was sur
porting a bill for granting the erection {
a dam across a river in Tennessee be
cause Of his interest" in the Water Pow
er Trust Rainey made prompt repl
and declared that Austin did not 'protes
too much.
William Z. Loumer. with the plain It'll
of eN- N-Represenlatlve, left this city boun
for Chicago and home. He will max
the entire trip in his big touring car an
expects to arrive Thursday. His friend
: have planned a reception.
William ]. Cooke, of Chicago. accom-
= panied Lorimer He has for years bee
a devoted henChman OF the one time nea
Senator. He was one Of the two TAFT me
elected in Illinois to theRepublican non
mating convention He was chosen
Lorimer's old Congressional district
Lorimer's time was occupied until lea'
S ing in correcting his I2.hour speech
S self defense. He desired that this shoul
be absolutely accurate. 1t was printe
in the Congressional Record. He ais
supervised the packing up of his person.
, effects. His clerk will remain "A few day
and send home all the accumulation
documents and papers in the Sena
Building Committee rooms.
; President TAFT and Chief Justice Whit
' of the United States Supreme Cour
, have been invited 10 attend the historic
; pageant which will be held on Belmo
Plateau, Fairmount Park, Philadelphi
from October 7 to u.
Frequently The date of adjournment
: I Congress has been rumored. August