Gilpin observer., 1900-03-08
WASHINGTON NEWS.
What Congress Ia Doing.-Notes From the
White House and the Department..

is to have the tariff laws of the United
States applied to Puerto Rico upon
foreign imports, but allows absolute
free trade between the United States
and Puerto Rico.
The Federation of Labor has sub
mitted Its anti-injunction bill to Con-
gress through Mr.. Ridgely of Kansas.
1t provides that no injunctions or re-
straining orders shall be issued by any
court of the United States in any terri
tory or state to Interfere with any trade
dispute between employers and em-
plOyes.
The House committee ON military af-
fairs has acted favorably on the bill
giving II chaplain for each regiment
and giving the adjutant general of the
army the rank of major general. Fav-
orable action was also taken on the
bills providing dentists for the army
and establishing Il military hospital ut
Hot Springs, South Dakota.
The Paris peace commission cost the
government S1J5, 1O2.12. The Philip
pine commission cost S13G.4 81. The
investigation of the conduct of the war
by the commission of which General
Greenville NJ. Dodge was president
cost $1O5. .144.J4. The work of the Sc
cret service during the war cost SIS
S62.96. The investigation of conditions
in Cuba and Puerto Rico by Robert F.
Porter and Gonzalo q. Quesada. which
resulted in the dissolution of the insur-
gent army, cost S13.2Ii.35. The inves-
tigation into affairs of Puerto Rico cost
S12,631.J1.
Acting Secretary Meikleiohn has
sent to the House of Representatives
statement of expenditures by the
ttt l.it b.. nil
rary operations in the Philippines. in
Guiding outstanding liabilities. from
May |, 1S.)S. To November |. 1899. The
total is given at S4S.92S. .OGO. the prin-
cipal items being: Quartermaster's
department. 25.T15,90l. of which SIT
l36,S64 is for army transportation;
subsistence department., SS.95O.OO0:
medical department. Sl.2O6. l3I: pay
department. so. S33 1:t4: ordnance de
partment. S1.StO230
Secretary of State Hay has declared
that there WAS absolutely no founda-
tion for the report that either Mica
ragua or Costa Rica had made any
protest against the proposed neutarh-
zntion of the projected Nicaraguan
canal, nor had there been the slightest
evidence of dissatisfaction on tl,rir
part with that section of the Hay
! lTtHlN WHICH htIlS WIN
the subject of fortitications. official
and otherwise. which had reached the
state Department from the parties in
tcrcsted. testified To their unqualified
approval of every line of the conven-
tion.
Secretary Root expects to turn over
the municipal affairs. of Cuba to off
cialS chosen at an election to be held
some time in May. whicla after all mil
itary officers now engaged in municipal
offices will be recalled. A. this is an
experiment. the provincial govern
ments and the general control of af-
fairs in the island will remain in the
hands of GovernorGeneral Wood ana
his subordinatcs until such time us the
President and secretary of war conSid-
er the people of Cuba able to maintain
order and discharge their international
obligations without the supervision of
the United States.
As the authorship of the Puerto
Rican tariff bill has been aScrihpd TO
Secretary Root by II member of the
ways and means committee, IL may be
proper to state that the secretary him
self drew up the bill. hut only as an
alternative measure upon representa-
tions by some of the Republican mem
that it was the only possible legisla-
tion. While consenting To draft the
bill under these circumstances. Secre-
tary Root declared he still held to the
opinions on the subject expressed in
his annual report and favored doing
all that could be done for Puerto Rico
These facts are from the highest au-
thority.
Not probably in the history of the
Senate was there ever shown SO little
real Interest in the final vote on n
great measure as was manifested Tues |
day in the vote on the conference re |
port of the financial bill. The report |
was before the Senate for nearly two |
weeks, yer only four speeches were de !
livcred on it. including Mr.. Aldrich'S |
explanation of the changes made i'm |
the Senate bill by the conferees. Dis |
cussion ceased on the bill fifteen min
iitcs before the time fixed for the vote,
and the Senate actually began the con
of minor bills ON the calen-
clar to consume time. The conference
report was agreed to 10y II vote of "A
to % the report thus having ma
Jority of Is.
The bill providing n form of govern
lncnt for the territory of Hawaii WAS
passed by the Senate Thursday with
out division. Mr.. Cullom has had
charge of the measure. Mr. Clay of
Gcorgia delivered carefully prepared
speech on the Philippines. He favored
the adoption of the Bacon resolutions
declaring II to he the policy of the Unit.
rd States TO turn over the islands to
The FllipinOs as soon rs II stable gov
could he established by them
under the protection of this country.
At the Instance of Mr.. Foraker, the
Puerto Rlcan tariff hill was made the
unfinished business and will he consid-
cred as soon ns the conference report
III the finance bill shall have been dis.
posed of. next Tuesday.
Lord PHuncefotc has received "A