The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-03-12

WASHINGTON WHIspEEINGs. Elkins,
Rep, OF West Virginia, Thursday intro
duced in the Senate a bill imposing an ad-
ditional duty of 10 per cent. on articles
imported in vessels other than American,
to take effect ID months after the passage
of the act..... The Massachusetts delega-
ton in Congress met Thursday to take
suitable action with reference to Governor
Greenhalge's death. All the members in
the city were present. Senator Lodge
presided. 1t was agreed that all those
present should attend the funeral, if the
condition of public business permitted. E.
General Miles appeared Thursday before
the subcommittee on Notifications of the
House appropriations committee. His
argument followed the general line of
that recently advanced by him before the
Senate committee on coast defences. He
reviewed the estimates for the board of
ordnance and Notifications, and presented
some general considerations as to the ne
cessity for increased fortitication. .... Com
plete reparation has been offered by the
Spanish minister of State for the recent
damages to the American consulate at
Barcelona by the mob. .... The bill to in
crease the navy by 1000 men passed the
Senate March I'd. Hale urged the bill.
Said he did not think war imminent, but
in view of the course of the United States,
he regarded it as desirable. .... The bill
providing for the abolition of compulsory
pilotage is still in the hands of the Com
mttee ON Merchant Marine and Fisheries,
of which Serene E. Payne of New York is
chairman. 1t is probable that it will be
favorably reported by the committee and
that it will pass the House. What the
Senate may do with it is, of course, large
ly problematical. In all probability that
august body will attach free silver
amendment thereto. In the House of
Representatives the other day Mr.. Smith of
Michigan began to dwell on the horrors of
the Spanish Inquisition. Mr.. Boutelle
threw the house into commissions of mer-
riment by quietly rising and asking
Unanimous consent that the Spanish In
on the Cuban resolutions agreed, Thurs
day, to the House resolutions without
change. The conferees were not in ses-
sion over twenty minutes. There was no
dissenting vote in accepting the House
resolution. During the discussion it was
stated by prominent member of the Sen
ate committee that the second clause of
the Senate resolutions which asks Spain
to recognize the independence of the is
land, was wanton affront to the Spanish
government and her people. By adopting
it the Senate has gone out of its way to
insult Spain. The House reSOlu tionS, it was
pointed out, in addition to granting bellig
erent rights, declared the only solution of
| the trouble was to be found in an indie
pendent government of the choice of the
people of Cuba, and concluded with the
| significant words that the United States
government should be prepared to protect
the legitimate interests of Americans by
| Intervention if necessary. This looked as
of more importance than anything to be
found in the Senate resolutions and it
| took no argument to persuade the mana
gers on the part of the Senate to accept
the House resolutions. ..... Senator Frye
has presented in the Senate petitions
from about 4, 900 Maine people, protest
ing against the present evils of immigra-
tion and urging the passage of the Lodge
bill. The petitions are presented through
l.. P. bennett of Portland.