The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-02-16
AT WASHINGTON.

other matters involved in the charges
made by Gen. Miles against the admins
tration of war affairs. The court of in
quiry will consist of VI ajor General Wade
oil. Geo. ". Davis, 9th Infantry, ant
{ oil. Gillespie, corps of engineers, nov
stationed in New York.
The Senate committee on military
affairs has agreed to report the bill IN
trodueed by Senator Fairbanks for til,
REIN bur sement of governors of States fol
money expended in connection with the
recent war with pain. The bill il
amendatory of the act of July Is las
| and extends the provisions of the act s.
as to include expenditures made sub
sequent TO July sth and prior to Angus
/ Il, 1898.
During the entire open session, Fri
day, the Senate had under consideration
the legislative, executive and judicia
appropriation bill. Little progress was
made, the time largely being occupied
with debate ON minor topics.
The official copy of the treaty of peace
with Spain, bearing the signatures OF
! the Spanish and American commits
sioners, which was ratified by the sen.
ate, last Monday, as certified by Vice
President Hobart, was signed by the
President and secretary Hay, et 2.3j
. clock Friday afternoon.
In message to Congress the Presi-
dent Informs that body that submarine
telegraphlc cable from the Pacific coast
of the United States To Manila by way
of Hawaii and Guam, with communica-
ton wholly under the control of this
country, has become an imperative ne
cessity. and that congress should take
measures at the present session; and he
suggests that the cable may be con
structed and maintained either by the
United States government or by pri-
vate corporation under Congressional
regulations.
Members of the Cabinet declare that
the report of the War commission is to
be in no sense a whitewashing report.
On the contrary, it is stated that the
Commission has not failed to point out
where there was error or fault. For in
stance, it has not passed without criti-
cism the arrangements made for trans
portation of the troops, and it also has
found some things to have been amiss
in the supply of medicine stores and as
sistance to the troops, though it has set
out the palliating circumstances, such
as the state of unpreparedness of the
difficulty of suddenly training green
men to discharge heavy duties. Touch
ing the much discussed question as 10
the character of meat furnished to the
army, the commission declares that the
food generally was of good quality and
censures Gen. Miles for his alleged
failure to acquaint the War Department
with the faults said by him to have been
discovered at Porto Rico.
The memory of the late Representative
Dingey was fittingly honored in the
House of Representatives. Saturday by
those who had been closely associated
with him. The tributes came from both
sides of the House and expressed sincere
personal regard as well as an admiration
for the scholarly qualities of Mr.. Ding.
ley. The exercises began at 1.30. Hr.
Boutelle OF Maine spoke feelingly of the
long and intimate personal association
between Mr.. Dingley and himself in
public and political life, in journalism
and in their every day relations He
sketched the useful and notable services
of Mr.. Dingley, the work he had done in
Congress and the esteem in which he
was held at home.
Mr. Payne of New York, long associ-
ated with Mr.. Dingley as member of
the ways and means committee and his
successor as chairman, gave an interest
ing recital of their services together,
and paid high tribute to the ability and
sterling worth of the former charm an.
Euloges were also delivered by Rep
resentatves Burleigh, Grosvenor. Swan
son, Dalzell Deliver, Hopkins, Tawney,
Dockerty, Evans. Me- lellan, Johnson of
North Dakota, Cousins, Linney, Clark
of Missouri, Clark of New Hampshire,
Alexander, Hamilton, Bell, Lacey, w.
A. smith, Williams of Mississippi, Faris
and Moody and Walker of Massachu-
sets. AT the conclusion of the eulogies
and as a further mark of respect, the
House at ) As adjourned.
Monday the attendance at the Senate
and House was very small because of
the storm.
MIR. Hale, chairman of the naval at.
fairs committee, fayorably reported a
bill creating an Admiral of the navy.
The bill read: THAT the President is
hereby authorized to appoint, by selec-
ton and promotion, an admiral of the
navy who shall not be placed upon the
retired list except upon his own applica-
ton; and whenever such office shall be
vacated by death or otherwise the Office
shall cease to exist >
The bill, it is we'll understood, is made
to fit Rear Admiral Dewey and it is ex-
pected that when the bill becomes a law
he will be nominated by the President
for office.
Speaker Reed was unable to reach the
Capitol aud to Mr.. Payne of New YORK
fell the honor of being elected Speaker
pro tempore of the House.
The whole day was spent upon the
sundry civil bill, 50 pages having been
completed when the House adjourned.
The Senate of Tuesday removed the
injunction of secrecy from the record
in the case of Admirals Sampson and
Schley which had already been publish
ed The document was referred to the
committee on naval affairs. 1t was
stated that a statement would be pre-.
pared in Admiral Schley's behalf and
this also will 60 to the naval committee
The vote on the McEneny resolution
IN regard to the policy of the govern.
ment in the Philippines was passed
Tuesday, and adopted by vote of % &c
%. 1t was noticible that several Demo
Gratis who were present and not paired
RETAINED from voting. An amendment
offered by Mr.. Bacon, Democrat oil
Georgia, several days ago, was defeated
The vote on the amendment was a tie
20 to 90 and President Hobar;
cast the deciding vote against the propo
sition.
Following is the resolution: