Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-02-13
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.

Washington, Feb. 1.-Messrs. Gray
[dem., Del.) and Money (dem., Miss.)
occupied the entire executive session
of the senate in speeches on the peace
treaty, Mr.. Gray favoring ratification
and Mr. Money opposing it.
Washington, Feb. 1.-The bill to re-
organize and increase the standing
army to about 100000 men, but giving
the president authority to reduce the
size of infantry companies and cavalry
troops to 80 man each, thus fixing the
minimum at $4,000 enlisted men,
passed the house by a vote of 1913 to
128. Only six republicans voted against
the bill, as follows: Messrs. Barber
(Md.). Connolly IllO, Loud (CaL),
johnson Qnd.), McEwan IN. j. and
Wadsworth IN. ". This republican
detection was almost offset by five
members of the political opposition
who voted in favor of the bill as fol-
lows: Messrs. Berry (Ky), Mcclellan
IN. ", McAleer (Pa.) and Taylor
(Ala.), democrats, and Skinner (pOp.
N. c.. Among the important amend
taken was one to exclude the appoint
ment of civilians to positions in the
engineering corps; one to abolish
canteens and the sale Of liquor in
camps; and one to strike out the
provision for additional pay for COM
mands serving in the West Indies,
Philippines and Alaska. The amend
ment of Mr.. Cummings IN. " to pro-
hibit the use Of troops in the several
states to sag, esq riots, etc., except
upon the application Of the states, was
defeated by a large majority.
Washington, Feb. 2.-For few min
utes in the senate it seemed as IL a
vote might be taken on one or more
of the resolutions relating to expan-
sion pending before that body. Mr..
Bacon (dem., Ga.) had called up his
resolutions and Mr.. Chandler (rep.,
N. HI had withdrawn his motion to
refer them to the committee on for
eign relations. Mr.. Sullivan (dem.,
Miss) had entered a motion to sub
stitUte his resolution for those of Mr..
Bacon, while Mr.. Davis (rep., Mimi
chairman of the foreign relations COM
mittee, had announced that he was
willing that a vote be taken tmme-
diately. At this stage the whole ques-
ton was left suspended
Mr.. Rawlins (dem., Utah) addressed
the senate upon the Vest anti-expan-
sion resolution, devoting the greater
part of his time to a defense of his
position that the constitution applies
as we'll to the people of our territories
as to those of our states.
The committee on naval affairs re-
ported favorably joint resolution re-
vlwing the rank of admiral in the in
terest of Dewey. The resolution is so
amended as to extend the time Of his
retirement ten years.
Messrs. Teller and Hoar were the
speakers in the executive session. Mr..
Teller devoted especial attention to
the incapability of the Filipinos for
self-government at the present time.
Mr.. Hoar defended Aguinaldo, whom
he compared to Simon Bolivar, the
South American patriot. He said
the argument had been advanced that
the United States had to be near at
hand to participate in the predicted
partition of China and proceeded to
say that this argument indicated a
disposition to grasp even more terri
tory than has yet been taken.
Washington, Feb. 2.-The house has
entered upon the consideration of the
river and harbor bill. Fifty of the IS
pages of the bill had been completed
when the house adjourned. The bill
appropriates directly about $12,50O,0 OJ
and authorizes contracts to the extent
of Sf8,000,000 additional. The general
debate was unusually brief. It's fea-
,ture was a speech in opposition to the
bill by Mr.. Hepburn (rep., Ia.) who
has fought every river and harbor bill!
for the last six years.
favorable report on the Brosius
bill covering the financial features in
line with those recommended in the
presidents message was made by the
committee on banking and currency.