Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-02-05

Mr.. Roberts was present ana only lett
after the result of the last vote mad
been announced. AS he did so he
gave out a statement justifying the
retention of plural wives on the
ground of a moral obligation more
binding upon the conscience than tech
nical obedience to statutory law, say
ing there was little excuse for the ex-
traordinary efforts to crush a system
already abandoned and practically
dead He said he was martyr to a
"spasm Of prejudice" He would not,
he said, attempt to run for congress
again, although he would go back
home with light heart and confident
of the future.
Washington, Jan Ex-senator Ma
son rep, I'D arose soon after
the senate convened to a question
of privilege. He sharply attacked the
British government and the British
vice-consul at New Orleans because of
an interview in which the vice-consul
had assaulted Mr.. Mason for the posi-
ton he had taken in behalf of the
Transvaal republic. Senator Mason at
tackled not only the consul but the
policy of Great Britain in levying war
upon an inferior nation. Senator Hoar
(rep., Mass.) thought theconsul's pur-
ported remarks SO serious the matter
ought to be investigated by the gov
erEment but at the same time he dep
recated the attack upon Great Britain
with which the American people ought
not only to live in peace, but as de-
voted and loving friends Senator
Lodge (rep., Mass) sharply arraigned
the British consul for his utterances
against Senator Mason and believed
they ought not to be lightly passed
The matter was then referred to the
committee on foreign relations
The resolution of Senator Pettigrew
(pop., S. D., declaring food products
not to be contraband of war, was re
ferred to the committee on foreign re-
lations Senator Carter presented the
conference report of the census admin
istration bill and it was agreed to.
The joint resolution granting permis-
sion for the erection in Washington of
a monument in honor of Samuel
Hahnemann was passed. Senator Till
man (dem., S. O. delivered a force
full and characteristic speech
on the Philippine question in which
he maintained that this government
ought to extend to the Filipinos the
right to govern themselves, the United
States guarding them against the ag-
erosion Of other nations. The SEN
ate then passed % pension bills. In
executive session it was decided by
vote of q to SO not to reconsider the
vote by which the Samoan treaty was
ratified and then removed the in
junction of secrecy from the vote.
Washington, Jan. 29.-The bill for
the reorganization and improvement
of the weather bureau which includes
and provides for pensioning disabled
employees of the service received a
black eye in the house. The bill was
bitterly fought by the opponents of the
civil pension rolls on account Of the
life tenure provisions it contained and
was sidetracked on a test vote of 81 to
~. Although the speaker fuIed thaC
it remained unfinished business, the
opponents Of the measure believe the
action of Monday kills it. The
early portion Of the day
was devoted to lively
scrimmage over the Sulzer resolution
to investigate the actions of Secretary
Gage, which the committee on rules
recommended should be sent to the
ways and means committee, as the lat
ter committee has the response of the
secretary in it's possession. There
was no opposition to the proposed ac-
ton but Mr.. Richardson, (dem., Tenn
and Sulzer (dem., N. - used it as a
pretext for renewing their attacks up
on Secretary Gage, who was defended
by Messrs. Hopkins (rep., ILL, Hill
(rep., Conn.,, Da1zell (rep., PENN.