The Somerset reporter., 1898-03-17
AT WASHINGTON.

H0 jOiDI IcbOiuAiOu W ICNifo bbt
grade of lieutenant general of the army
was reported from the military affairs
commmittee by Mr.. Warren and Mr..
Cockrell, Missouri, said he desir, it to
be understood that the report was not
unanimous.
A resolution was adopted directing
the secretary of war to loan to the citi.
zens' committee of Cincinnati tents for
the use of the the thirty second grand
encampment of the Grand Army of the
Republic.
1t has been voted by the House naval
affairs committee to authorize the build.
ing of three new battleships. 1t will
require at least two years to complete
these vessels and they will not be avail
able for any naval operations which may
grow out of the present crisis. But they
will be powerful additions to our fleet
when they are finished and will help to
bring it up to its proper proportions.
Projects for the settlement of the
Cuban question are numerous, but the
majority of them are looked upon in
official circles as unworthy of serious
consideration. One plan, however, has
been presented to President Mckinley
which, in general way, has received
the approval of men whose counsels
have weight with the administration,
and there is reason to believe it is the
subject of studious reflection in the
cabinet. The proposed plan give to Cuba
all rights, privileges and immunities en-
joyed by canada, spain reserving to
herself only such rights as England ex-
ercises over her colonies.
MI. @,t author
lied by the president Saturday: The
president has received no lntimation OF
what the court of inquiry into the Maine
disaster will report The president has
not had word from any man directly
or indirectly connected with the court
either as to the trend of the testimony
or the opinions of the members of the
court. The president, it can be stated
further, would consider it highly unbe'
coming to obtain any advance informa.
ton as to the findings, as he declares
that the courts verdict shall be above
above all suspicion of being influenced.
Unon the verdict of that court will hang
momentous actiOn-action on which it
is desired to have the approval not only
of this nation, but of the world.
The naval committee of the House
has agreed to provide for the construc.
ton of five dry docks. The docks are
to be located at Boston, Portsmouth,
Algiers, La, Mare Island, Cal, and
League Island. Pa.
The gunboat Machias has been order
ed to Boston. 1t is supposed the trans
fer was made because the work on her
could be done more expediously in Bos-
ton, this yard devoting all its energies
to the Newark. A large number of new
men were taken in, making the total
about 100.
The Republican leaders in the House
are pressing for an early adjournment,
and it is said their course meets the full
approval of the President. All save
three of the appropriation bills have
gone to the Senate. The post Office bill
was taken up in the House, Friday, and
the appropriations and naval committees
are working daily to get the last two
bills, the general deficiency and naval,
into the House.
Consul General Lee has notified the
State department of the death, Monday,
at Sagua la Grande, of the wife of Sena-
tor Thurston of Nebraska, on board the
yacht Anita. Senator and Mrs. Thurs
ton were members of Congressional
party which left for Monroe, March 2,
for trip on the yacht Anita.
A weeks negotiations closed Monday
with the purchase by the navy depart
ment in London of the two fine cruisers
built and building at Elswick for the
Brazilian government. Spanish agents
had been striving to secure these ships
The United States flag will be hoisted
over the new ships within week prob
ably and as soon as the crew can be put
aboard the Amazonas she will start for
the United States. The other vessel
will start at the earliest possible mo-
ment
During the session of three hours,
Monday, the Senate passed consider
able number of bills from the general
calendar, among the number being one
authorizing the construction of 8 new
revenue cutters not exceeding in aggre-
gate cost the sum of $1,025, 900. The
national quarantine bill was made the
regular order of business and will be
taken up probably, Wednesday.
Senator Hoar introduced bill, Mon
day, prohibiting the importation into
the United States of birds or their
IedtneTS lot OTDdineHtdi puIpObob anu
imposing fine of $50 for each offense.
Senator Lodge gave notice, Monday,
of an amendment he will offer to the
naval appropriation bill appropriating
$25, 900 for making soundings for a
cable line from the Hawaiian islands to
Japan and also to Australia.
Preparations have been made by
Director Walcott of the Geological sur
vey, for an extensive exploration of the
geological, Typographical and other
features of Alaska. This will be done
under authority of Congress, which APP
propriated $4,000 for the purpose.
Ten officers of the survey will be as
signed to the work in prospect.
Preparations for defense of the extern
sive seacoast are being pushed to
the utmost by the departments both
as to land Notifications and vessels of
war The government is negotiating for
the Brazilian war ship, De Maio.
Spain protests against our country
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