The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-12-21
The National Capital.


Senate session of Congress affecting the
second-class mail rates. Representative
Loud of California who will be chair
man of the committee on postoffices and
post roads said that it was doubtful If
he would push his bill at all this session.
The commission of senators and mem
bers who have been investigating the
matter of railway post offices have not
yet reported, and Chairman Loud says
that 1t is uncertain when they will re
port, as they have not sufficient infor-
nation yet to make up their minds as to
what they should recommend.
Some of Chairman LIQUIDS comments
about second-cla mail matter will be
read with interest by Maine people
where the publishers have so much at
stake in the modification of the postal
laws. 81 see," said Chairman Loud,
indications that the reading public are
taking largely to magazines which have
for their contents literary and scientific
matter and other reading on live topics
of the day. 1t seems to me that the
circulation of novels in serial form,
which was one of the great evils that we
aimed to s,op, is on the wane. People
nowadays seem to care more for maya
zine and short.story reading than they
do for these novels which circula g In
serial FORM
Representative Burleigh has intro
duced bill to grant bill TO Mary f.
Peters. 1t was referred to the commit
tee on invalid pensions
Mr.. Edward N. Dingley, clerk of the
ways and means committee, has tender
ed his resignation to be acted upon
when Mr. Payne, the new chairman, il
reappointed. Mr.. Dingley was select
ed as clerk by his father, the former
chairman of the committee, June fst
1898, and has gained wide acquaint
ance and valuable experience.
The Senate, Thursday, by decisive
vote and practically without discussion
laid on the table the Pettigrew resolu
ton of inquiry as to whether or not the
United States forces had recognized the
Filipino insurgents flag and had turned
over the spanish soldiers to the insur
gents. 1t agreed to the House Christ
mas recess resolution.
Several new committees have beer
formed in the U 5. Senate, consequent
upon the change in our territorial situa
ton, viz: Coast and insular survey
"Pacific Islands and Porto Rico" Phil
ippines," and "Relations with Cuba.
Senator Lodge is chairman of thu
committee on the Philippines and Sena
tor Hale is member of that committee
The changes in the Senate committed
were announced, Friday.
The currency bill was passed, by thu
House, Monday, by vote of 100 to $50
1t had the united support of every Re
publican in the House and of II Demo
Gratis The Democrats who voted fol-
the bill were: clayton, N. Y Denny
Md, briggs, N. Y, Fitzgerald, N. Y.
Levy, N. Y, McAleer, Pa, Rapport, N
Y, Scudder. N. Y, Thayer, Mass, I'm
derhill, n. Y, Wilson, N. Y.-11 Tht
following Democrats did not vote anc
were not recorded as paired: Smith
Nd, Stallings, Ala, and Wheeler, Ala
Neither Stallings nor Wheeler of Ala
bama has been present, this session
The Republicans loudly cheered thu
vote.
After the vote the Speaker rather un
expectedly announced the committee
selections and the reading of the lis
was followed with intense eagerness b,
the members whose opportunities fo
distinction depend so largely upon thei
dent in connection with the reading o
the lists was Mr.. Bailey's interrogation.
of the Speaker as to whether Gen
" heeler's name had been placed upor
the committee on ways and means
Speaker Henderson responded in tn,
negative. The announcement of thu
death of the late Representative Blanc
of Missouri, which occurred last sum
mer, was made by Mr.. Dearmond, Mo.
and the House, out of respect to hii
memory, Immediately adjourned.
In the senate, Monday, in opposition
to the retention by the United States o.
the Philippine islands, two resolutions
were introduced, one by Mr.. Tillman
S. G., and the other by Mr. Bacon, Ga
While they differ ia phraseology, theil
intent practically is the same-to yielc
the islands to government to be estab
lished by the Filipinos themselves
Both senators gave notice of their inten
ton to address the Senate on their re
spective resolutions.
The Senate has agreed upon Jan. a
for opening the debate on the fnancia
bill.
Hon. w. V. Allen, appointed by Gov
Poynter as senator from Nebraska, tool
the oath of office, Tuesday.
Senator Hale and Congressman Bou
telle, Burleigh and Littlef1eld are ex
pected to spend the holiday vacation il
Maine.