Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-01-27
DoINGs OF CONGRESS-.
Paragraphic Chronicle of the Acts OF
the Nations Lawmakers.

A Paragraphic Chronicle of the Acts OF
the Nations Lawmakers.
Senator Wolcott, chairman, of the
international bimetallic commission,
delivered an address in the Senate in
which he spoke of the status of the
negotiations with the foreign govern
ments by the commissioner last year in
the interests of international bimetal-
lism. He said that it is apparent that
for the time being it is hopeless to
count on any cooperation from Great
Britain towards a bimetallic agree.
ment, and that while France actively
desires to see silver restored To its old
position as a standard Of value equally
with gold, she insists that the problem
is one which demands international
action and the cooperation to some
adequate extent of other leading COM
mercial nations of the world. He
thought it might be necessary to
change the ratio to omething like 90
to l. He referred to the attitude of
Secretary Gage on the financial ques-
ton, contrasting it with the Presidents
position, and said Secretary Cages bill
will reach limbo before it reaches the
Senate. In conclusion Mr.. Wolcott
said it would be cowardly to abandon
hope, and added: international BIZ
metallism is to the gold monometallists
a stumbling block, and TO the silver
monometallists foolishness, but it is
nevertheless splendid possibility; It's
accomplishment would be the great
est blessing that could befall our peo-
pie, and to achieve it we might well
afford to sink for the time the hostilities
and chickering's of factions. At the con-
clusion of the speech Mr. Wolcott was
instantly surrounded by his Republican
colleagues, DESTROYS of rendering him
congratulations.
The immigration bill passed the
Senate by vote of As to rs after the
following amendments by Mr.. Spooner,
of Wisconsin, had been adopted: Pro-
viding that the ability on the part of
the immigrant either TO read or to
write should be accepted as a sufficient
test of his literacy; providing that the
members of the family accompanying
an immigrant rejected under the con-
ditions of the bill should be returned
to the country whence they came by
the steamship companies. The bill, as
passed, provides that all immigrants
physically capable and over 16 years of
age sballbe able TO read or write the
English language or some other Ian
guage; but n person not able to read
or write, who is over so years of age
and is the parent or grandparent of a
qualified immigrant over 81 years of
age and capable of supporting such a
parent or grandparent, may accom-
pany the immigrant, or the parent or
grandparent may be sent for and come
TO join the family of the child or
graEdchild over 81 years of age quail
fed under the law; and wife or minor
children not able to read or write may
accompany or be sent for and may
come to join the husband or parent
who is qualified The act does not APP
ply to persons coming to the United
States from the island of Cuba during
the continuance of present disorders
there, who have heretofore been in
habitants of that island
Senator Morgan, in his speech on
Hawaii, predicted that if the United
States did not take advantage of the
present opportunity to acquire the is
lands there would be war between
this country and some other power
within 10 weeks. 1t was not, he said,
within the bounds of possibilities, in
view Of the present European competi-
tion for territory in Asia, that the Ha-
waiian islands should be allowed to re-
main independent for any length of
time after the United States should
finally announce their determination
not to make them part of American
territory. The senator displayed a
number of large maps from which he
contendcd that the islands were
in the roadway of commerce be-
tween our western coast and the
Orient, and said that all ships,
whether laden with the articles of
commerce or the munitions of wa.
must necessarily pass them in going to
and fro between this country and the
Asiatic coast, and thus, he said, the
nation which controls Hawaii will con-
troll the commerce of the east.