Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-28
rEDERALLAW MAKERS.

3 Washington, JAM 1S.-Secretary
Francis nomination was unanimousiy |
confirmed by the senate. 1t had pre-
viously been opposed by silver demo- I
Gratis because Francis was for gold.
The army appropriation bill
was passed. 1t carries S23, 129, 344,
which is $4,000 more than when passed
oy the house. Mr.. Pettigrew rep,
\. ID offered a resolution, which
went over, directing the secretary of
state to send to the senate statement
Of the proceedings Of the commission
appointed to investigate and report on
the true divisional line between the re-
public of Venezuela and British Guiana
together with copy of treaty between
the United States and Great Britain
on the subject of the boundary which
agreement has been submitted to the
government of Venezuela for consider
alton. Senator Morgan moved to take
up the Nicaragua canal bill the purpose
finished business of the senate On a
yea and nay vote the motion prevailed,
Sc to IA. This is considered a test vote
which foreshadows its passage.
Washington, Jan. 1S-The bill to
amend the patent laws was passed
by the house. Among the more
important changes are those making
foreign patent two years old unpat-
antable in this country and placing
general Limitation of six years on pat
ents. Another bill from the same COM
mittee passed, which provides for use
by the government of patents secured
by naval officers at a compensation to
be fixed by board of three officers.
officers.
The report of the deepwater-
| ways commission was laid be-
fore both the senate and house.
| The conclusions of the commission
are as follows: TT is entirely feasible
to construct such canals and develope
such channels as will be adequate for
any scale of navigation that may be
desired between the great lakes and
the seaboard, and to conduct through
the same domestic and foreign COM
merce, and it would be wise to provide
| for the securing of a channel of navi-
able depth of not less than % feet.
| Starting from the head of Lakes Mich
igan and Superior the most eligible
| route is through the several great
! lakes and their intermediate channels
and the proposed Niagara ship canal
| (Tonawanda to OlcotD to Lake Ontario
! The Canadian seabord may be reached
from Lake Ontario by way of the St
Lawrence river and the American sea-
board may be reached from Lake On
tario by way Of the st. Lawrence and
Lake Champlain and the Hudson river
or by way of the Oswego valley
and Hudson river.
Washington, Jan. 19.-In the SEN
ate Mr.. Hale rep, Me- called up the
bill providing for the organization of
a naval battalion in the District Of
Columbia. 1t was passed A bill
was passed also for a public build.
ing at Altoona, Pa, to cost $125,000
The Nicaragua canal bill was taker
up and Mr.. Turpie (dem., Ind) ad-
dressed the senate in opposition tc
it.
Washington, Jan. 19.-The ole
soldiers had a field day in the house
to the consideration of private
pension bills. Of the 900 on the cal.
endar fifty-two were disposed of
Among those favorably acted
on we're bills to grant pen
sions to Major General Julius Fl
Stahl at the rate of $1O0 per month
to the widow of Major General Erastus
B. Tyler, s75; to Hannah E. Rodgers
daughter Of a revolutionary soldier
$12; . the widow of the late Gen
Matthew NJ. Trumbell Of Iowa, s100 a
month; and to Hans Johnson of the
9th Iowa infantry, $50 a month
Washington, D. c., Jan. 20.-The
senate proceeded with the considera-
ton Of the Nicaragua cana
bill Md. Turpie (dem., Ind) continu.
ing his speech in opposition. The
legislative, executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill carrying approximately
s23,oOO,OOO passed. Mr.. Pettigrew
(rep., S. d. severely criticised the ex-
ecutive authorities for concluding the
Venezuela boundary agreement which
he said was a complete surrender Of
Venezuela to Great Britain Sen
ator Cannon rep, Utah) intro.
duced the following bill: 'That with
in ninety days after March 4, 1897, the
president shall invite the leading com
mercial nations of The world to appoint
representatives to an international
monetary conference to convene Oct
1, 1897, in the city of Washington, and
also within the said ninety days after
March T. 1897, the president shall ap-
point five commissioners to represent
the United States at such conference,
the duty of which United States COM
missicners shall be to urge the adop-
ton by said conference of a plan for
free and unlimited coinage of silver
and gold at some fatio ranging be-
tween Is and Is to 1, by the nations
represented at such conference"
Washington, D. c., Jan. 20.-The
house spent the day in debating the
Yost-Tucker contested election case
| from the tenth Virginia district Much
interest was manifested in the case