The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-12
WASHINGTON NEWS.
The Case Of Naval Cadet bennett
Before Congress.
THE CRUISER CASTINE ORDERED
TO MADAGASCAR AT ONCE.

| American Interests in that Island are
Important and Need the Protection of
a War Ship-Yesterdays Business in the
House and Senate
Washington. January L 1l.-when the
cruiser Castine leaves New York next week
| she Will be under orders to proceed directly
to the West coast of Africa by way of the
Cape OF Good Hope to protect American in
\ terests at Mozambique and Madagascar. Her
former orders to take draft of fifty men
| to the Newark and fanJic of the South
Atlantic squadron have been revoked. The
Immediate necessity for orders to the
| Castlne are said Il lie In the desirability of
| having an American warship in the
Portuguese colony at Mozambique in case
the American consul there requires her
| presence. Last September Consul Hollis,
who represents the United States at Mosam-
bique. shot and killed a Kafir who had
| broken into his kitchen during the night.
hor this he was tried by local authorities
| and sentenced TO six months in prison un-
der unique provision of the Portuguese
colonial war. The prosecution appealed to
the royal government. and pending the
decision on this appeal Mr.. Hollis was
| liberated on bail. He is still at liberty and
pursuing his functions as representative of
\ the United States at last accounts. No
4 doubt is expressed at the State Department
| that the consul is ameanable TO the local
| law. 1t is thought desirable to have an
American warship show a flag which has
| not been seen on the African coast for
several years. Another reason for sending
| the Castine TO that part of the world is the
departure of the French expedition of 1900
| men to Madagascar. American interests in
that island are very much larger than gen.
orally supposed. The export trade of that
| island with this country is second only to
| her export trade to Great Britain. India
rubber is one OF the chief commodities. The
| late American:consul general to Madagascar
Mr.. Waller, secured from .the government
a sweeping India rubber monopoly, which is
said to be one ofsthe causes of the quarrel
between Francs and the Queen of Madagas-
car, and the dsapatchfng of the formida BILE
| French force now on its way to operate
| against the H6yas.
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
| Several Suggestions Regarding the In
| crease in Revenue.
| Washington. sJanuary l1.-Mr. Reed of
| Maine, suggested at this mornings meeting
| OF the ways and means committee
apropros of the money bill to increase the
| tax on beeI from 81 to So a barrel, that a
| horizontal increase of IL per cent on all
customs duties be made for two years to
! help the United States treasury out of the
| present embarrassing condition. The sng-
| gestion was not put in the form of motion.
and therefore was not formally acted upon,
| but was related subsequently IS one of the
| incidents of the day. The Money bill Was
| referred to the sub committee consisting of
| Messrs. McMillin. Montgomery, Bynum,
| Democrats; and Hopkins and Payne, Re-
| publicans.i A bill for the repeal of the
| differential duty on sugar was referred to
the sub committee of which Mr.. Wilson of
West Virginia, whoY prepared the bill is
chairman. When the Pence resolution
| calling on the, Serretary-of the Treasury for
! information as to the deficiencies in the
| revenues and whatremedy he would suggest
| to bring the receipts up to the expenditures,
| and recommending an increase of the ta don
| beer of fifty cents a barrel was called up.
| Mr.. Hopkins, Republican of Illinois, moved
| it be favorably reported.
Mr.Tarsney, Democrat of Missouri, moved
an adverse report be made claiming that
| the information called for in the resolution
| could be obtained from the reports of the
1 Secretary of the Treasury and commissioner
| of internal revenue. The Tarsney motion
| was adopted by strict party yoto.
OBJECT TO SOUTHERN BRlGADIERs.
Northern Democrats Slaughtered on Ac-
count of Pension Speeches--A Lively
Night Session.
Washington, January 1.-THE House
went into committee of the whole on the
private calendar bill to pay $13,37S for
stores and supplies used in the late war,
TO the administrator of Thomas l. John
son. deceased, Union man, of Fayette
county, Tenn, as found due by the court
| of claims. 1t caused a discussion which
drifted into the general policy of paying
| these claims. By 81 to IA, the committee
agreed TO the motion by Mr.. Dockery
| that the bill be reported to the House
| with the recommendation that it be in
definitely postponed.
The recommendation was disagreed
to in the House by unanimous consent,
and the bill was allowed to retain it's
place on the calendar.
The bill to remit penalties against the
contractors of the dynamite cruiser Yes
uivus was laid on the table.
The House took recess.
There was AN unusually large attend
ance upon the night session of the
House. which was devoted to the consid-
Grafton of the private pension bills. Mr..
Springer asked favora bic action upon the
Senate bill to grant pension of $1O0 a
month to Major General John A. Nc
Clernand. Mr.. Jones of Virginia made
a point of no quorum. Mr.. Springer crit
icise with severity the course of those
of his southern colleagues who persisted
in maintainingl an attitude of hostility
toward the pensioning of Union soldiers.
He said but 13 Democrats were returned
to the 54th Congress from the North
ern States. If this course was not
changed there would be no northern
Democrats in the succeeding Congress-
Mr.. Pence of Colorado appealed to Mr.
Jones to withdraw his point and referred
to General MoClernand's gallant conduct
and high reputation for patriotism.
Mr.. Waugh of Indiana asked if this
was the same General McClernand re-
moved from command in front of vicks-