Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-02-05
BlSMARCK'S PROPOSAL.
He Wants Another Conference
 at Berlin
TO PRESERVE SAMOA'SAUTONOMY

The United States, Germany and Great
 Britain to Be Represented-Matters Dis
 cussed Without Action in the Senate and
 House-Generai Capital News.
 WASHINGTON, Feb 5.-Comt Arco. the German minister, called at the state depart ment and submitted the outline of the proposi- tion just received by mail from Prince Bis marck
 In 1t the German government proposes a re- sumption at Berlin of the conference begun here ill June, 1887, and which terminated last July, with a view to the settlement of Samoan matters and the preservation of the autonomy of the government of those islands
 The United States, Germany and Great BIitai' are to be represented in the conference
 IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
 The senate discussed the Sherman anti trust bill and the Pacific railroad funding bill without disposing of either.
 The house ordered another conference on the interstate commerce bill, and discussed the Nica.augua canal conference report
 When the senate took up Mir Sherman,s antitrust bill Mir. Jones (Ark) made n speech in favor of it.
 Mir. George criticized the bill as one which would have brought within its punitory pro- visions the southern farmers who combined Ast year against the jute bagging trust
 Mr. Sherman said that this was not his idea, nor did he believe it was a fair construc- ton of the bill.
 MT. George contended that the bill would apply to temperance societies and to far,ners who agreed not to sell products below certain prices. He would offer amendments looking to the suspension or reduction of import duties on the articles as to which trusts are formed, and he summed up his objection to the bill by saying that its provisions would be inefficient, and that it was without constitu- honal authority.
 The presiding officer laid before the senate petition from an alleged citizen of Wash ington Territory, signing himself John Smith, asking that the appropriation for the erection of court house in Whitman county be in- creased to s3OO, and that an appropria- tion be made, also, to "build a balloon to get down into the county seat"
 SECRETARY wHIrNEY's DINNER
 Governor Hill is here to attend the dinner to be given this evening by Secretary and Mrs. Whitney to the president and the cabinet. Besides the president and his cabinet and Governor Hill, there will be present also: Hon. W. l.. Russell, the Demo cratic candidate for governor Of MaSsachus- etts in the late election; the Hon. Smith M Weed, of New York; Henry M Whitney, the brother of the secretary; Speaker Carlisle and Mrs. Carlisle; Senator and Mrs Black burn, and Mir. and Mrs. D. Willis James, of New York.
 OUR FIGHTING POPULATION.
 The secretary of war transmitted to con gress yesterday an abstract of the militia force of the United States, organized and m- organized. The report shows that the aggre- gate organized strength is divided as follows: Commissioned officers, s,379; enlisted men, 9S,- 1O9; number of men available for military duty unorganized, S,1o4, OPS. Of this number the territories furnish 399 commissioned officers, 3,S1S enlisted men and 2S4, 900 unorganized mon available for service. Of the states New York has the largest representation 769 commissioned officers, 12,763 enlisted men and 613, 4G9 men available for service. Pennsylvania comes next with 572 conlmis- stoned officers, 7,779 enlisted men and 6l3, ,469 available men unorganized.