The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1899-01-31
pOiNos OF CONGRESS.

The river and harbor bill has been
completed. 1t carries appropriations
for the ensuing fiscal year aggregating
S12. .503, ,13s, and in addition to this con-
tinuing contracts are authorized ag-
gregating 6,79l, ,53s. Other condi-
tional appropriations contingent upon
securing certain results, amount to
$77o, 900. but the payments on these
would probably be postponed beyond
the ensuing year. OF the above amount
Michigan gets s2,e3s,175, which is di-
vided as follows; Cash for harbors.
S573, 900; new continuous contracts for
three harbors, s6l5, 900; cash for rivers,
1894, $50; new continuous contracts for
Hay lake and Detroit river 81, ,055, ,615.
The house coinage, weights and
measures committee has made favor
able report on the substitute for Rep.
Hills bill to Ak the standard of value
In the United States and for other pur-
poses. The bill provides in substance
that the standard of value in the
United States shall be the gold dollar,
that all contracts existing and In the
to that standard, that there shall be
established In the treasury a depart
ment of issue and redemption, that the
greenbacks shall be retired and upon
retirement that gold bills shall be sub
stituted therefor.
By request of the secretary of the
treasury the war department has or
ha NaQ ,o1a L.
Rico to enforce the Chinese exclusion
laws of this country in Porto Rico.
Under this regulation no Chinaman
can be admitted TO Porto Rico without
compliance with the laws Of the United
States. Cinnamon will be allowed to
60 backward and forward between this
country and Porto Rico without re
Q .ction. They will not be allowed
to go from Cuba to Porto Rico.
The senate spent one whole day in
executive session wrangling over the
promotion Of Sampson and Schley and
other naval officers engaged in the
Santiago campaign. The main talk
was over the policy OF advancement,
and the navy department and the
whole system was attacked, but moth
Ing only talk was accomplished.
The only action of public Importance
In the house was the passage of the bill
TO extend the navigation laws of the
United States to the Hawaiian islands.
One of the provisions of the bill grants
American registers TO all vessels flying
the Hawaiian flag owned by Hawaiian
citizens, July z. 1898.
The first assistant postmaster-gen-
eral has issued an order increasing the
salaries of all the regular free delivery
carriers who provide their own horses
or other modes of conveyance, from
$500 TO s400 per annum, beginning
January last. This applies to all
free delivery Offices.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Caffery
Oa.), requesting from the President
any information he may have received
from agents or representatives of the
so-called Philippine republic relative
TO conditions In the Philippine islands,
was adopted.
After spending IS minutes in execu-
tive session the senate decided to vote
on the peace treaty with Spain Feb. 6.
A portion of each days session previ-
Gus TO that date will be spent in execu-
tive session discussing the treaty.
There was no obstruction and pen
sion bills were passed with great dis
pstoh- In all exactly so, most of them
senate bills. were passed. No promi-
pent people were beneacisries.
A house Joint resolution was passed