The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-12-29
A Cosby Letter About What
TRANSFERRED at the Capital
Last Week.
SENATE FINANCE BILL
Observation-Disclosures POlicy-New
Mexico and ArizOna--The Vice
Presidency--ROberts' Case.
Special Correspondence to The Gazette.

Special Correspondence to The Gazette.
Washington, Dec. 2S.-President Nc.
Kinley, Secretary Root, General Miles
and other officials have contributed to
the fund that is being raised to pay off
a mortgage Oh the home of General
Lawton, ut Redlands, California.
whose death at the hands Of a Filipino
sharpshooter has caused much regret
and sorrow in Washington. The kill
ing Of General Lawton has been an
nounced in a general order issued BY
Secretary Root, which is an honor only
paid to distinguished officers. Before
congress adjourned a bill was introduce
ed in the senate by Senator Fairbanks
and in the house by Representative
Lands, Of Indiana, who represents the
district in which Lawton's first reyi-
ment was recruited, to allow the widow
of General Lawton a pension Of $4,000
a year.
The senate finance committee report.
cd it's own financial bill rs a substitute
for the house bill, and Senator Aldrioh,
chairman of the committee, gave notice
that it would be called up January 4,
and be kept before the senate as the
unfinished business until disposed of.
The democratic senators say they will
not attempt to filibuster against the
bill; that they will only offer some
amendments at the proper time. II
they live up to that, the bill ia likely to
be passed by the senate about the first
of February.
Just before congress adjourned there
was a regular Philippine Island resolu.
ton epidemic among the senators who
are opposed to the administration pol
icy, although it is difficult to see what
these gentlemen expect to accomplish, as
the senate has already shown that it
endorsed the presidents policy, by a
two.third's vote.
With a view to thoroughly testing
the Holland submarine torpedo boat,
Secretary Long had the boat brought to
Washington. The destroying as we'll
as the submarine qualities Of the boat
will be brought out in these tests.
which will be made OH the Potomac
river, a few miles below Washington,
in order that congress may act intelli.
gently OH the bill providing for the
purchase of the little boat. with the
privilege Of building duplicates.
Senator Shoup, chairman Of the sen.
ate comlnitte on territories, before
which are bills for the admission Of
Arizona and New Mexico as states,
heads a party Of officials which has gone
to those territories to gain personal
knowledge of existing conditions. The
other members of the purity are Senator
CLARK. of Wyoming; Chairman Hull, Of
the house military committee; Land
Commissioner Herman, Assistant SEQ
rotary of War Meikeljohn, Governor
Murphy, of Arizona, and Governor
Otero of New Mexico. The party will
return to Washington before the reas-
seinbling Of congress, January 3.
Democrats having introduced resolu.
tions in both senate and house antngon.
istio to President MoKinley's Philip.
pine policy, Representative Gibson Of
Tennessee, just before the adjournment
for the Christmas recess, offered a reso.
luton in the house endorsing the presi-
DENTS Philippine policy and declaring
it to be the policy Of congress, after
peace is secured, to give the inhabitants
Of the islands as large a share in the
government as will promote their hap.
piness and welfare.
Mr.. r. A. Harrison. secretary Of the
republican state committee Of Nebraska,
who is now III Washington, says the ap.
pointment of Allen to be senator by the
popullst governor has made the demo.
Gratis, who regarded themselves entitled
to the appointment. SO mac that he ex.
poets to see many Of them refuse to sup.
port fusion electors next year.
Mr.. I. l.. Requa, president Of the
Central Pacific railroad, who is now in
Washington, was asked if he was an
e%xpansionist. He replied: "Of course
I am an e%xpansionist. Every man on
the Pacific slope wants n broader Union
and more llustling room. We all ren-
lie what such a port as Manila means
to II commerce, and the only thing
worrying us is how soon the insurrec.
tion will be quelled."
Senator Hanna has no candidate for
the vice-presidency, although. like
other prominent republicans, he has
said that Secretary Root would make Il
strong candidate. In Senator Hanna's
own words: Il am not making candi.
dates. / lave trouble enough of my
own without biting off others. 1t Is
too early to begin talking about the
vice. presidency
A subcommittee of the Roberts in
vestigatiug committee will sit during
the congressional recess to take the ties.
timony Of witnesses summoned from
Utah. who have not yet reached Wash
ington. and January ) has been set ms
the day on which the whole committee
will hear arguments from counsel.
Several witnesses have testified posi-
lively to Roberts having lived in polyg-