Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-04-05
THE WASHINGTON NEWS
WHAT OUR NATIONAL LAW MAX
ERs ARE CONSIDERING.
Some Of the More important Work OF
the National congress-eiiIs That
the Committees Report Favorah'y
upon--WashIngto Topics.


upon--WashIngton Topics.
Representative Hay, of Virginia,
has prepared bill to create out OF
the militia of the several States re-
serve volunteer army for use in time
of war. There will be Government
appropriation and measure OF Gov
ernmental control. The bill is de.
signed to obviate the necessity of a
large standing army after the present
law expires in July, 1901.
The Secretary of State and the
Spanish Minister in Washington have
signed a protocol extending for six
months, the time allowed Spanish
residents in the PHILIPPINES to elect
whether they shall remain Spanish
subjects or adopt the nationality of
the territory in which they reside.
The United States Senate continues
the consideration Of the Porto Rican
measure. Mr.. Beveridge, of Indiana,
advocates reciprocity between the
United States and Porto Rico. but
announces that if all efforts to secure
free trade should fail he would sup.
port the pending bill.
Senator Platt has introduced an
amendment to the Indian Appropria-
ton bill, providing for a congress OF
the various Indian tribes Of the Unit
ed States at the Buffalo Pan.American
Exposition, and appropriating $4,000
therefor.
The House Committee on Commerce
directed favorable report on the
Sherman bill, to prevent the false
branding or marking Of food and
dairy products.
The secretary Of war has created
new military Division Of the
Pacific" embracing all of the Philip
pine islands, under the command of
General Otis. 1t will be sub.divided In
four departments-North Luzon.
under General Bates; the Viscayas,
under General Hughes, and Mindanao
and Jolo, under General Kobbe.
Fifty-one senators, under pressure
from the Administration, will vote for
the Porto Rican Tariff bill.
In the Senate March 26 the Alaskan
Civil Code bill was under considera-
ton during greater part Of the ses-
sion. An amendment was agreed to
fixing license upon almost every
kind of trade and commerce in the
District of Alaska.
Senator Foraker, in charge of the
Porto Rican bill, announces that he
will press the measure to a vote as
soon as possible.
The House has begun the considera-
tion of the Army Appropriation bill.
A bill to provide for the absorption
OF the Hawaiian silver circulation has
been reported by the House Commit
tee on Territories.
Senator Allison has introduced a
bill amending the National Bank act
so as to allow banks of deposit to be
designated in cities of $4,000 popula-
tion.
Senator Davis, of Minnesota, has
introduced a substitute for the Porto
Rican bill, providing for free trade
between the United States and Porto
Rico, and extending the internal rev.
enue laws, with amendments. over
the island. The act is to continue for
two years only.
1t is intimated at the War Depart
ment than $4,000 men will be given
employment in public works in Porto
Rico under the operation of the Re-
lief Appropriation act.
The military post at Cayey, Porto
Rico, will hereafter be known as
Henry Barracks, in honor of the late
Brigadier General Guy V. Henry, Unit
ed States Army, who was Military
Governor of the island