The Washington herald., 1913-02-18
Congress in Brief
SENATE.

After anHnding the Connecticut River
dam bill SO as to make 1t Objectionable
to many of those who favored 1t in its
original form and providing that the
transmission of hydro-clectric power
across State lines shall be subject to
the jurisdiction of the Interstate Com
merce Commission, the Senate by a vote
Of 72 to Il passed the measure. which
permits the Connecticut River Company
TO construct a dam across the Connect
cut River at Windsor Locks.
Senator Lodge called UP the Burnett
Immigration bill and moved its consld-
Grafton for passage over the Presidents S
veto. After discussion it was agreed to
vote on the measure not later than }
o'clock to-day.
| The Senate Committee on Interoceanic
Canals voted to lay on the table with
out action Senator Roots bill eliminat-
ing the free tolls provision OF the Pan
ANA Canal bill which kills the measure
for this session.
The Committee on the Judiciary au-
| thorize'i favorable report on the bill
TO Incorporate the Rockefeller Founda-
ton.
The Committee CT Pensions voted to
report the Crago bill, granting pensions
of So month to INDECENT widows Of
Spanish war veterans, with the McCum-
ber bill added, extending the existing law
to widows OF civil war veterans who
| married subsequent to 1880. and three
years prior to the death Of the soldier
also the Russell bill. automatically ex-
tending the prov isions of the Sherwood
pension bill without the application Of
the soldier for the increase provided un-
der the measure.
Senator Clapp announced that a COM
mission would be sent TO Franklin, Pa.
to take the testimony of former Rep
resentativc Joseph c. Sibley. in regard
TO the Standard Oil correspondence.
The Senate Committee or Interstate
Commerce completed hearings on the La
Toilette bill. providing for the physical
valuation OF railroads.
The post-office appropriation bill was
reported
Senator AsnUrst introduced a rcsolu-
ton reriting the conditions in Mexico
and calling Ipon the President for all
official correspondence In the mattcr
and orders which have been issued II
United States officials III the premises
HOUSE.
The House passed the public buildings
bill, carrying appropriation of a little
more than S2j.OOOc. by vote of 1S4 To
IS 4 hot fight had been exected against
the measure, but the opponents OF the
bill lacked sufficient votes to do any
lfilibust"rinG and it went through afcr
about three hours consideration. Rep
resentative Fitzgerald. OF Now York. de-
nounced the bill as gross cXtravaganCc
and a wilfull waste of the public funds
Representative Ayres Of New York In
troduCed resolution calling upon the
President to transmit to the House in
formation relative to the situation in
Mexico City.
The sundry civil appropriation bill was
reported from the Appropriation Commit
tee. II carries appropriations OF about
Sll3G0.O01. and among the items is one
of $4,000 for new furnishings for the
White House. II also provides for a
heating and lighting plant In the Dis
trict of Columbia to furnish light for
all public buildings.
President Taft sent a message in re-
sponse to a special resolution of inquiry
by Representative Bradley of Georgia.
explaining the amount Of importations
of Manila hemp under the Philippine
tariff law.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs
heard Secretary of War Stimson. in re-
gard to legislation for the regulation Of
water-powcr companies at Niagara Falls.
Owing to its inability to get a new Mag
ara Falls law through the House. the
committee will recommend the extension
of the old Burton law.
Sir Edmund Walker. Of Ottawa. Can
ada. was n witness before the Glass cur
rency investigating committee, testifying
In relation to proposed currency reform
legislation.