Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-21
LATEST NEWS OF THE WORLD TELEGRAPH AND
man Burton, OF the, River and Harbor
Committee, authorized the following

man Burton, Of the River: and Harbor
Committee, authorized the following
statement to-day:
There will probably be no River and
Harbor bill at. the present session. One
strong argument against a bill Is the
fact that the engineer force will be oc-
cupied during the coming year With
projects already provided for. In many
cases plans for improvements are not
even completed. In others ADVERTISE
ments for bids have not yet been
made Another fact Of Importance is
the increase in the prica of material in
the last year. Some OF the projects al
ready authorized cannot be completed
for the amounts estima ted by the engl-
neers. OF course, the demands upon
the Treasury and the amount of reve-
nue. are facts to be taken into consid-
ration, although do not mean to say
by that river and harbor improvements
are less important than others 1t is
only because, con rary to usual custom,
the bill was passed during the last ses-
sion OF the last Congress. recognize,
however, that on many accounts 1t is
preferable that the bill be considered
at this session. There is so large an
amount OF detail and the settlement of
disputed questions arising from amend
mcnts of the Senate make It desirable
to have~plenty OF time. This Is hardly
possible during the short session. Also
there are several projects of, urgent
Importance, among them are the i'm
provemcnt of the southwest pass of
tnS Mississippi, the deepenlng of the
delaware river below PHILADELPHIA. and
the providing OF further facilities in the
channels between Lakes Superior and
huron. The continuing contracts on the
Nalssisslppi river run out June 30, 1900
ihsse are the arguments on both sides,
put as have said, there will probably
DC no River and Harbor bill .at this
session."
HOUSE CONTESTS.
Washington, D. c.. Dec 2O.-Elections
committee No. of the House held Its
irst meeting to-day and arranged TO
pegin the consideration OF contested
erection cases soon after the HOLIDAYS.
The case Of William r. Aldrich. CON
testant. vs.. CASTOR A. Robbins. Fourth
alabama district. was set for hearing
January 8th; the case of Walter
Evans. contestant, against Oscar FUR
ner, Fifth Kentucky district was set
Tor January 11th. Later the committee
VIII fix times for hearing the Davidson
Gilbert. Eighth kentucky, and the
Walker-Rhea, Ninth Virginia. contests.
There are six other contests before the
other two election committees not yet
assigned. These are Jones' Catchings,
Third mississippi; Whlte-Boreing,
Eleventh Kentucky Dockery-Bellamy'
Sixth North Carolina; Pearson Craw-
ford, Ninth North Carolina; Talbert-
Latimer, Third South Carolina; Wise
Young, Second Virginia,
THD HAGUE TREATY
Washington, d. c.. Dec. 2o,-The
President to-day sent to the Senate the
treaty negotiated by the powers at
The Hague last July for the pacific set
tlement of disputes between nations
and the declaration to prohibit for five
years the launching of explosives from
balloons. The Senate Immediately re-
moved the Injunction of secrecy. The
fresiaent's message was a formal let
ter of transmittal, except that IL Invited
attention to an accompanying report
from the Secretary OF State urging i'm
mediate action by the Senate.