Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-01-12
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS
AND WASHINGTON GOSSIP

twenty years for transmission of off.
cial messages from San francisco to
Honolulu, the line to be laid by Decem
ber 81. 1900 Before December 81, 1902
the company shall construct line
from Honolulu to Manila with an ad-
ditional sum of S125,OOO to be paid by
the government. Within four years the
company shall lay connecting lines to
Japan. for which S125,OO0 year for
twenty years shall be paid. The rates
fixed between San Francisco and Hon
olulu are 30 cents word and to the
further points 81 word.
The War Department has finally de-
cided to continue in force, for time
nt least, the system of collecting taxes
in Cuba practiced by the Spanish au-
thorities. The burden of collection,
amounting to per cent. of the tax, Is
now assumed by the government, in
stead OF being imposed upon the tax
payers, while the 10 per cent increase
In taxation, which was levied as one
of the last acts of the Spanish admin
istration, is remitted, as well as all
accrued penalties. The order designat-
ing the Spanish Bank OF the Island of
Cuba rs the governments agent for
the collection of taxes in all parts of
the island, the bank also becoming cus-
todlan Of the funds, but 1t Is provided
that daily statements shall be made to
the military governor of the island, and
that the moneys 81 collected shall be
at all times subject to the draft OF the
military governor.
Senator Hoar of ssachusetts, ad-
dressed the Senate Monday In opposI-
tion to the expansion policy. Although
tad tI,.,t ts,,n s,ft Snv.
ate for more than two hours. he was
accorded the unusual compliment Of
close and undivided attention by his
colleagues on the floor and by a large
audience In the galleries. He confin-
ed himself closely to his manuscript.
but his address was delivered with or
atorlcal fire, earnestness and animn-
tion. Mr.. Hoar Is n master of the sub.
tleties OF the English language, and
n rhetoricinn of notable ability. and his
keen sarcasm and wit were thoroughly
enjoyed by his auditors. His speech
was in answer to that recently deliver
ed by Mr.. Platt, Republican. Of Con-
necticut, and had been most carefully
prepared. He took strong ground
against the position assumed by the
Connecticut senator, maintaining that
1t was In violation of the constitution
and the Declaration OF Independence,
the great eNpounder OF the constitu-
tlon," for this country to acquire for
eign territory to be held and governed
rs colonies.
Secretary Wilson says he Is watch
ing anSlously TO see that the soldiers by
their foolish jealousies do not destroy
the results of his efforts In behalf Of
the farmers In foreign markets. He Is
confident that the packers of Chicago
can make a clear case. and when they
appear before the war inquiry COM
mission he expects them to do SO. He
says: "The Chicago packing houses.
the refrigerator ears and the refrigera-
tor ships have made the cattle indus
try profitable in this country. and we
have been shipping S25,OOO.0OO or $780,
100000 worth of dressed beef to Eng.
land annually for years without ever
having heard of this cmbalming bust
ness before. The armies of Europe. In
the tropics. in India, Tonquin and Afri.
ca. have been fed on American canned
beef. and we have never heard com.
plnint from that source. They are glad
to get 1t. 1t has proven the best ration
they could furnish to their men. and
1t seems very strange to me that 1t is
not good enough for our own troops