Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-12-30
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON
Speaker Reed Recites Little History
Nicaragua Canal-Government
of Cuba.

OQDds
Washington, Dec 26, 1898. Speak
er Reed surprised the House and Rep.
resentative DeArmond of Missouri,
who attacked the rules of the House,
10y making little speech in reply.
The surprise was an enjoyable one to
the House. but not to Mr.. DeArmOnd.
Mr. Reed began bv saying that Mr.
DeArmond had misstated the relations
of the Speaker with the committee on
rules, and then convulsed the House
with laughter by saying that the House
must have noticed that however much
despotism is exercised 10y the rules,
there was no subject in the heavens
above or in the earth beneath that had
not been discussed by the House, even
in the present Congress; ard cOnclud-
ed by saying: Now, if the gentle
man from Missouri will tCrn to the au-
mails of Congress, away back in 1916,
during the period of liberty such as he
thinks he desires, he will find that
John Randolph. who certainly was
hesrd enough To become famous for a
century, was complaining about the
despotism of the rules at that period,
and was also complaining that even
the arch inquistor himself would have
been satisfied with the wickedness of
them. So you see that human nature
is the same in all time" The uproarI-
Gus laughter OF the House as Mr.. Reed
stopped did not augur well for Mr..
Diamonds aspiration to become In,
leader of the minority in the next
House.
The senators who have taken part in
the Nicaragua Canal debate have al
declared themselves IN favor of tn,
canal but the most of them wish t.
amend the Morgan bill. Senator Mer
gan seems disposed to accept any
amendment in reason, inst SO the Sen
ate willgo ahead and pass the bill.
Representative Hepburn of Iowa ha,
offered a joint resolution proposing
constitutional amendment that no new
state, the territory of which was not a
part of the United States January |.
1898, shall be admitted TO the Union
| s., h., - . knr a
the House and Senate sinai! vote affirm
atively. 1t has been referred to the
House Judiciary committee. Whether
such amendment is necessary is Il ques-
ton, but 1t ought to be adopted so that
those who are kept awake 10y the night
mare OF colonial states could get some
sleep.
There is no other significance 10 the
ordering of four war ships 20 Havana
than the intention of the adminstra-
ton to protect the persons and inter
ests of the large number of Americans
now in that city, pending the change
from Spanish to American coutrol.
Major Gen. Beooke, who was this
week made Military Governor of Cnba,
received his last instructions from the
war department and will proceed at
once to Cuba Each OF the six prov
inces of Cuba will have military gov
ernor. General Wood has been mill
tary governor OF Santiago province for
sometime, and Gen. Fitzhueh Lee is
now in Cuba arranging TO assume the
position OF military governor OF Ha-
vana province, but Gen. Brooke viii
be over them all.
Another proof that Americans al.
ways lead when they enter competi.
ton is shown IN a consular report JUS
received by the department of state
from Dawson City. This report says:
"Strange 10 relate, in this Canadian
town and vicinity, with 4 population
OF some 2O,000, and transient popu-
lation Of Is many more, not single
trading on commercial company is
owned by Canadian capital. Every
business is operated by Americans.
The House naya' committee has ia
vorably reported the bill to revive the
rat k of Admiral and Vice Admna in
the navy. And it Is probable thu tie
former will be conferred upon Dewey.
The sentiment is all that way now.
There is some prospect OF another
addition to the presidents family. This
announcement during the Cleveland
administration might have been misun-
derstood; but everyone will of course
understand that this refers only to the
official family. a bill has been intro
duced in congress for the creation of IA
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