The Somerset reporter., 1900-03-29


The navy department has issued or
ders for the repair of the cruiser Boston
now at the Mare island navy yard, the
cost of which will be about 100000
Mrs. Esther M. Allen, the wife of Rep
resentative Allen of the First district,
died here, Saturday morning. She WAS
born at WATERFORD, Me-, II years ago.
but in recent years had been a confirmed
invalid and great sufferer. An attack
of the grip FASTENED her death. Three
children survive her: Herbert NJ. Allen,
superintendent of schools at Dalton,
NJ ass, DIR. Edwin II. Allen of Boston
and Miss Laura E Allen, who was with
her mother in Washington. The re-
mains were taken to the family home at
Alfred, for burial.
Among the bills and resolutions in
troduced in the House, Friday, were the
following: achter, Md, to codify the
laws relating to the revenue marine ser
vice; >hafroth, Col, admitting Nieara-
qua into the Union as a State, the pur
pose being to acquire the right to CON
struct the Nicaragua canal through that
country.
Portland seems to be in fair way to
get her light ship, owing largely to the
exertions of Congressman Allen.
The Republican peace committee of
the Senate met after the adjournment
of the Senate, Friday, and pra otically
ratified the offer of senator Foraker in
the Senate, to separate the House Puerto
Rico tariff bill from the Senate govern
mental bill and to take a vote ON the
House measure.
The Loud bill restricting second class
matter in the mails was defeated in the
House, Thursday, by "a decisive vote.
1t is understood that the latter part of
this week will be devoted to the Naval,
the Agricultural or the Fertilization
Appropriation bill, although no exact
order has vet been fixed foT taking them
up. The Naval bill and report are
ready aud Acting Chairman Foss is
rather DESTROYS of having the naval dis
cussion follow that on the army. The
short notice, and the Fertilization bill
is already on the calendar.
The Republican members of the Sem
ate spent Two and.a half hours in caucus
Monday, in an effort to reach an agree
ment upon the Puerto Rican legislation
now pending in the Senate The caucus
was apparently, however, without ma
terial result. the only accomplishment
being decision To- proceed with the
general bill as it now stands, without
separating the tariff feature.
The President, Monday, received
Lady Minto, vile of the governor gen
1 IL L., II.
governor generals aide de camp and Mr.
Moreton Frewen. They were introduce
ed to the President by Senator Wolcott.
Mrs Mckinley, who is still suffering
from cold, was unable to appear.
secretary Root said, Saturday, that
while he was in Havana arrangements
were male for the consolidation of the
departments of the provinces of Havana
and Pinar del Rio, commanded by Brig
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, with the depart
ment of Havana, commanded by Brig
Gen. William Ludlow, into one depart
ment, under the command of Gen Lee,
to be known, probably, as the depart
ment of Havana and Pinar del Rio.
Secretary Root also said that gradual
reduction of the military force now oc
cupying Cuba will follow. The ranking
officers of these forces are too many in
proportion to the number of enlisted
men. The surplus will by degrees be
dispensed with and the officers assigned
to duty in this city and other military
stations
congressman Burleigh was confined
to his hotel, several days, with the grip,
and Congressman Llttlefeld has been
,,ro ,,t .
from the same trouble.
secretary Root has sent correspond
ence relative to the open door policy
and the Chinese question to Congress.
Little progress was made by the SEN
ate, Tuesday, with the Puerto Rico bill.
1t was under discussion for nearly three
hours bat the greater part of the time
was consumed In the consideration of a
free coinage amendment offered by
Morgan.
AT the cabinet meeting Tuesday sec
rotary Root presented proposition
which had been submitted by General
Otis looking to the establishment of four
geographical divisions of the Philippine
archipelago, each to be under the imme-
date supervision of a military govern
ment. This plan, it was thought, would
relieve General Otis from much routine
work and at the same time result in a
better and more satisfactory admins
traton of the affairs of the several
divisions The proposition met with
general approval.
The new Philippine commission held
a preliminary meeting here Wednesday.
Judge Taft, the president, called the
body to order and in discussion which
lasted about three hours the plans for
the movements of the commission were
thoroughly canyassed.
The President sent to the Senate
Wednesday the nomination of F. II
Atwood to be postmaster at Rumford
Falls, Me.
Charles f. Nacrum, the ex-consul at
Pretoria, appeared before the House
foreign affairs committee Wednesday.
When he gave out his statement here
several weeks ago, declaring that his
official mail had been opened by British
officials Mr.. Macrum was summoned to
Washington to testify. The committee
held lengthy session considering the
matter.
The library at the University of Maine
has RECENTLY been So fortunate as to come
into possession OF a tp1utitul COPS at