Mexico Missouri message., 1913-02-13
Congressional Notes

Representative Hensiey of Missouri
Is one of eight Democratic members
of the committee on naval affairs who
favors making provision for only one
battleship in the forthcoming naval
appropriation bill. The other six Dem
ocrats on the committee favor two or
more battleships. and with the seven
Republican members constitute an ov-
erwhelming majority against the
small navy" members.
President-elect Wilson's attitude on
the Panama canalNolls and free pass
age for American coastwise ships, is
expected to have an important bear
ing upon the senate action on the
Root amendment proposing the repeal
of the free ships provision of the bill
passed last August.
The majority of the house commit
tee on ways and means, which body
is framing tariff revision legislation
for the coming extra session Of con-
gress, agreed upon radical reductions
in the customs duties on mica, as
pratt and various kinds of chinaware
and glassware of the cheaper varie-
ties.
Representative Morgan of Oklahoma
addressed the house on his bills TO
appropriate more than $30,OOO.OOO to
compensate that state for losses as a
result ofa nontaxable Indian lands,
Opposition of Democratic senators
to the confirmation of President Taft's
1900 pending nominations has
brought some Republican senators in
to the position of threatening retalia-
tion after the Democrats come into
power March 4.
A resolution calling on President
Taft for a statement for the reason
why American marines invaded Mica.
ragua last summer took forcible occu.
patton of a territory of friendly ma
ton, and entered into armed combat
with its citizens" was introduced in
the senate by Senator Alden Smith
of Michigan.
Federal office holders and employees
who have been solicited to contribute
to national campaign funds are to be
summoned as witnesses by the senate
campaign expenditures committee
when it opens up its investigation into
campaign expenses of the general elec-
tion of 1912.
With mo battleships" as their slo-
gan members of the house opposed TO
big navy got sufficient number of
signatures to a petition for a Demo
cratic caucus on the question OF how
many battleships shall be authorized
this year.
Senator Cullom filed with the senate
memorial signed by 400 citizens or
Illinois protesting against the passage
of the owen bill, providing for the Gre
alton OF an independent bureau OF
health or other siYilar radical legis-
lation. Christian Scientists probably
predominate among the signers, al
though osteopaths, eclectics, homeo.
paths and others appended their
names.
Former Senator Joseph w. Bailey's
farewell address TO the senate will not
be printed as a public document.
When Senator Martin proposed 1t Sen
ator SmOot objected TO having the
speech reprinted at the governments
expense.
Despite the fact that the author of
the principal charges of corruption In
the election of Senators Watson and
Chiffon of West Virginia in 1911 with.
drew his allegations, the senate cleo
tions committee may proceed to an in.
vestigation
EpIn0tno hn 30 he lat
ator Rayner of Maryland were deliv.
cred in the house by Representatives
Lewis, Talbot, Linthicum, KONG and
Covington and other members.
Before he quits office President
Taft expects to send to- the senate
two nominations of five more federal
judges, making total of ia during
his administration, a number un,
equaled so far as records of docu
ments show, by any other president
in term.
The house passed the bill already
passed by the senate, repeating the
provision Of the Indian appropriation
act of 1907, authorizing the sale OF
the Wyandotte burial ground in Kan,
SaS City, Kan.
The senate passed a bill granting
an increase of pension to Harriet Pier
son Porter, widow of Maj Gen. Fitz
john Porter, of Mexican war fame.
John Burroughs and Ernest Thomp
son Seton, the naturalists, are in
Washington to urge congress to enact
Legislation designed TO protect bird
life in the United States.
Coal mining companies in Oklaho-
ma, operating in the ChoctawC Chicka.
saw country, receive the right TO &C,
quire an additional $40 acres of land
adjoining their present leases, under
a bill passed by the house of repre-.
sentatives.
President Taft signed the congres.
sional resolution appropriating S25, 900
for the expenses of Gov. Wilson's in.
auguration.