Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-12-20
coNoREs sIoNAL NOTES.

CONCRES SIGNAL NOTES.
The adjournment for the Christmas
holidays at the end OF this week viii
see but little completed legislation by
the congress- but il is, nevertheless,
true that great deal has been accom-
plished. The Hay-Pauncefote treaty
has been so handled that il will prob
ably prevent the passage Of eanaR
bill. 1t is not meant TO say that any
thing has happened that will absolutely
prevent legislation authorizing the
construction Of the canal, but the ques-
tion has become so complicated that IL
can hardly be disposed OF at "a shor.
session Of congress, especially when
the appropriation bills are as impOr-
tant as at this sc ssion. The President
has set his foot down upon any legis-
lation TO reduce the southern represen-
tation in congress. This ends thm
Crumpacker program. Senator Hanna
finds himself involved in q dispute
with fellow Republican senator's abous
the shipping subsidy bill, and thaE
measure is probably dead so far as this
session is concerned.
Robt. W. Wilcox, the new delegate:
from Hawaii TO congress who was
sworn in on the 18th. is not ont OF
trouble and his case may attract almosx
as much attention as that of Congress
man Roberts of Utah, who was ousteG
at the beginning Of last session. Some
years ago Wilcox while studying in
Italy married yong Italian princess
who thought he was "A prince. When
she found he was plebian with mixe0
blood, the princess left him. The mar
rage was afterwards annulled by the
Pope, but before this was done, Wilcox
married a Kanaka girl in Hawaii
These circumstances are the basis Of a.
protest fled in the house against Wilcox
by Honolulu people. The charges ares
polygamy and bigamy.
Congressman Corliss had n confer
ence with the river and harbor com
mittee on the 18th and got promise
that his proposition for an appropria-
tion of $40, 600 for the survey OF Lake
Erie with the view of damming the
Niagara river so as 10 deepen the water
in channels and ports, would be incorS-
'poratcd in the committees general bill
This doesn't necessarily mean that the
appropriation will be made. A single
objection can defeat it for this session
More or less private pension bills
have been introduced in the house since
the session opened. With the great
number of public bills on the calendar
there is very little hope of any Of these
new bills reaching a vote before the
life of the present congress expires
They of course will die with the SEES
sion.
The President has approved the lists
submitted by the governor of Hawaii
of the sales and other dispositions Of
the public domain, made by the Ha-
waiian governor, between July Z, 1905
and Sept. 2s, 1898. The approval is
made under section 70 of the act pre-
viding a government for Hawaii.
Secretary of the Treasury Gage on
the 18th sent to congress letter rec
ommending reciprocal arrangements
for steamship boiler inspector between
the u. S. and Canada. AT present..
Canadian inspectors charge for inspect
ing American velsels. Americans in
spect Canadian vessels free.
The pension appropriation bill was.
completed on the 18th by the house.
subcommittee on appropriations hav-
ing it in charge. 1t carries about s145,-
$50, 900. of which about S144, 600, 900 is
for pensions and the balance for i'd
ministration.
A treaty has been concluded between
the t. S. and Great Britain, amending
the extradition treaty. The changes
are trifling, the chief item being to
make an extraditable offense of the
obtaining of money under false pre-
teuses.
The amendment to the HayPaunce-
fote treaty, authorizing the u. S. to
fortify the canal SO as to protect her
interests, was passed by the senate oD
the 18th by vote of 65 to II.
The house has passed the pension
appropriation bill. 1t carries Sl45,-
145, $50
Another contingent of Canadian