Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-04
Expected That the Last
Struggle Of 62nd Con-
gress Will be Without
Stop Until Tuesday Noon.
TAFT HOLDS OPEN
HOUSE DURING DAY
Last Day as Executive Civ
en- Over Largely to Re-
ceiving Farewell Visits
From Friends. ...

Washington, D. c., March 3.-Witll
less than twenty-four hours to live
the sixty-second congress today found
itself entangled in a maze of confer
ence reports on many of the big sup
ply bills which ordinarily must be
finally disposed of before tomorrow
noon. ..
Only the fortification, diplomatic
and consular and army appropriation
bills had been signed by President
Taft. There were signs of at least a
partial report from the omnibus pub
lie building bills which the house
conferees had recorded as dead a
day or two ago. The rivers and har.
bors bill had been agreed to by both
houses. The agricultural bill was
ready for action after agreement in
conference. The pension appropria.
ton bill had emerged from confer
ence, though not finally acted upon.
The District Of Columbia appropria.
ton bill, hung up in conference on
account of a drastic liquor regulation,
was expected to pass both houses in
amended form.
Looks Like Continuous Session.
h The Indian appropriation bill had
been compromised in conference
and reported to both houses. There
were still in conference the general
deficiency, sundry civil, legislative,
executive and judicial, the military
academy, naval and postofice appro-
priation bills.
To clear up these bills, furnishing
money for the government, both
houses were expected to remain in
virtually continuous session until
noon tomorrow. Much of the day was
devoted in the house to consideration
of bills under suspension of rules.
Chairman Pedgett Of the naval af-
fairs committee declared that the
house conferees purposed to main
tain their stand for one-battleship
program in place Of the senate's two
battleship plan. ..,
Meantime members of the house
called up variety of legislation to
press through in the irregular scenes
Of the closing hours of congress.
Taft Holds Open House.
President Taft held open house to-
day and with his characteristic smile
greeted political friends and foes. AL
though he was up until 8 o'clock this
morning clearing his desk Of i'm
portant business he was back at work
early and ready to receive callers.
Among the first who came to say
goodbye were Major General Leonard
Wood, chief of staff, U. S. A., and the
bureau chiefs of the war department.
Several assistant secretaries and de-
partment officials followed. Among
other callers were Governor Dunno of
Illinois and Governor Sulzer of New
York.
The first Minnesota national guard,
with band, marched into the white
house grounds and the officers shook
hands with the president. Captain Nc
Gully, commanding the presidential
yacht Mayflower, and other officers of
the ship, said goodbye today.
The president signed commissions
Of three hundred and fifty persons
whose nominations were confirmed by
the senate, wrote his autograph on
several hundred pictures of himself
f1uu bl6ucu SCO1S6 VI 1AApOI IhlI ASC-
ters. -...
suIzer Calls on Taft.
Governor Sulzer Of New York was
one of the first callers on President
Taft today at the white house office.
The governor had been invited to see
the president sign the bill creating a
of labor and adding an
other member to the cabinet Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, was with the gov
ernOr ......
It was understood that the presf-
dent will not veto the bill, but If he
finally decides he does not wish to ap-
prove it, may refuse his signature and
make use of the pocket Veto"
CuIiom Given Job.
Senator Cullom of Illinois, whose
thirty years continuous service as a
member of congress closes tomorrow,
will not go back home permanently
for some time to come. President Taft
will have before him and undoubtedly
will sign some time today a bill
passed by the house and senate unani-
mously last night making Senator Cul-
ON resident commissioner for the
of the s2,000,00O Lincoln
memorial here, at salary Of $4,000
Der annum Senator Cullom was a per
,onal friend Of Lincoln and was The
foremost advocate of a suitable
memorial to the great president.