The Meeker herald., 1899-01-14


Representative Dlngley, who has
been very sick, was reported better on
I the 3rd.
| So many OF the members Of Congress
are sick that the attendance is very
small at the sessions.
President and Mrs. Mckinley gave
brilliantly successful New Years re-
ception on the 2nd.
Senor Agoncillo, who ia In Washing
ton as the representative of the Philip
pine government. has asked to be rec
ognized by the United States ns such
and to be accorded the same rights as
the other diplomats. His request is
now in the hands Of Secretary Hay.
The grippe, and the ailments attend
ant anon 1t, that are now included in
its train of ills, have prnstrated an un-
usual number Of residents OF Washing
ton. An observant pharmacist esti-
mates that ten per cent. OF the districts
population is suffering in one way or
another from the new generic grippe.
Three members of the Senate commits
tee on appropriations are so III that
they will not be able to leave their
homes for several days.
The revenues Of the government dur
ing the half-year ending December
31st. were larger than for any six con-
secutive months since 1867, aggregat-
ing s245 061 $50, against S20I.1GO.514
for the corresponding period last year.
The receipts from customs amounted to
s96. .O45. $50, ms compared with $G2, $685.
O2l last year The receipts from Gus
toms for December amounted to $16,-
7G4, ,325, which were the largest month
ly total since the Dngley tariff bill was
passed and the largest since 1892, when
under the Mckinley tariff act they
reached $16,36S,334.
orders have been sent General Mil
Ter to avoid hostilities at 1lOilo at all
hazards, but If he is compelled to fight
he is instructed to deal such blow as
will be felt by all the insurgents In the
philippines, in order that they may see
they are not dealing with Spain any
longer, but with power that is capa-
BILE of enforcing It's policy. Aguinaldo
and his associates are so eated by their
success thus far that 1t is impossible to
reason with them. and they are rapidly
running their own cause by exactions
and blackmall imposed upon their fel-
low-countrymen, who are suffering
from these causes much more than at
any time during the Spanish rule.
The time of the House will be fully
occupied from this time forward until
the conclusion of the session. Appro-
priation bills, which are already In an
unusually advanced stage. are to be
kept to the fore. but there is deal of
OTHER Important legislation which will
press for consideration at every oppor-
tunity. Perhaps the most important
single measure is the bill for the reor-
ganization of the army. 1t was the
general understanding before the recess
that this bill would be given considera-
tion Immediately after the holidays,
hut the Illness of Chairman Hull OF the
military affairs committee. will delay
this measure until he is sufficiently re-
covered to attend the sessions Of the
House. His illness will also delay the
military academy and army appropria-
tion bills.
An important suit, involving the va
lldity of county bonds In Arizona, was
decided in the Supreme Court of the
United States Tuesday. The case val
dates S2s9,964 worth of bonds, issued
by Pima county. in aid of the Arizona
narrow gauge railroad. 1t was based
upon petition for mandamus upon
the governor and other territorial off,
GERS to compel them to issue bonds in
lieu of those originally issued in 1888.
The Supreme Court of the territory
denied this petition, but the opinion of
the federal Supreme Court. which was
handed down by Judge Brown, re-
verses this decision and remands the
case for further proceedings in compli-
ance with the original petition. The
opinion of the court Is based upon the
authority Of the act OF Congress of
June @. 1896.
Senator Lodge has introduced. by re-
quest, bill to provide for subma-
rine cable between the United States,
Hawaii, the Philippines, Japan, China
and Australia. The postmaster general
is authorized to contract with the Pa
cific Gable Company Of New York for
the payment of $125,OOO a year for.
twenty years for transmission of Off
cial messages from San Francisco to
Honolulu. the line to be laid by Decem-
Der 81, 1900. Before December 81. 1902,
the company shall construct line
from Honolulu to Manila with an adj
ditional sum of S125,OOO to be paid by
the government. Within four years the
company shall lay connecting lines to
Japan, for which $125,OOO year for
twenty years shall be paid. The rates
fixed between San Francisco and Hon.
olulu are rs cents a word and to the
further points 81 word.
The War Department has finally de-
cided to continue in force, for a time
at least, the system of collecting taxes
in Cuba practiced by the Spanish au-
thorities. The burden of collection,
amounting to 5 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
I'll