The Holly chieftain., 1900-02-09
WASHINGTON NEWS.
What Congress is Doing-Notes From the
White House and the Departments.

! $4,000 and the subscriptions will
close in q few days.
In the Supreme Court on Friday
three attorneys were admitted to prac-
tce, one from Alaska, one from New
Mexico and one from the Hawaiian is
lands, which is an evidence of expan-
sion.
In answer 10 n Senate resolution,
Secretary Gage has sent to the Senate
report upon the coast and geodetic
survey with special reference to the
new island possessions of the United
States. He says the resources Of the
surveyor are inadequate to complete
the survey Of Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
de says the problems of the Philip
pines are much larger and recommends
the establishment of sub-otfice at Ma
Mia.
The House committee on mileage
has rejected the claim of Brigham II.
Roberts OF Utah for mileage in con-
nection with his contest for seat in
the House. Mr.. Roberts puts in a
claim for mileage from Salt Lake City
TO Washington. 2,597 miles, and return,
at the usual rate of 20 cents a mile
each way, making total Of 81, ,03S.SO
Mr.. Roberts was not present to-day
and 1t was understood he had gone to
Chicago.
Representative Bell is making in
quiry of all the state treasurers in the
United States regarding the interest
paid upon deposits of state funds and
VIII use the Information in presenting
arguments upon his bill requiring de-
positories Of government funds to pay
interest on the same. Mr.. Bell says
the interest on government funds held
by the various banks of the country
under the rates proposed by his bill,
would yield an income of upward of
S3,0oo,000 per annum to the govern
ment.
For more than three hours Tuesday
Mr.. Bacon Of Georgia occupied the at
tention of the Senate with discussion
of the Philippine question. His argu-
ment. which had for its basis his own
resolutions declaratory of the govern
ments policy toward the Philippines,
was listened to carefully by his fellow
senators, and by a large gallery audi
ence. He maintained that the United
States owed as much TO the Filipinos
as it does to the Cubans, to whom by
resolution of Congress self-government
had been promised, and he strongly
TO be the intention of this government
10 confer the right of government upon
the Filipinos be adopted as means
not only of terminating the war, but of
extending to q strugslig people justice
and freedom.
Speaking of the lack of courts in
Alaska. Lieutenant Jarvis of the reve-
nue. marine service says that on his re-
cent voyage down from the Bering sea
country he brought several prisoners
and witnesses in charge of a United
States marshal who were compelled by
the government of the United States to
go 1000 miles to attend court and to re-
main away from their homes all winter
because there We're no means by which
they could return home after their tes-
timony was taken. Some of them will
have to be away from their homes for
nearly year unless they are able to
find passage upon a whaler early In the
spring. This injustice is due to the neg
iect of Congress TO provide courts for
Alaska, and Lieutenant Jarvis thinks it
ought to be corrected as soon as possi-
BILE.
Much interest attaches to the ap-
preaching investigation by the House
committee on military affairs in the
matter of the trouble In the Coeur
d'Alene country. This hearing is to
commence on the 18th of February.
Among those already summoned to
give testimony at that time are State
Auditor Bartlett Sinclair of Idaho,
Governor Steunenburg of the same
state, and General Merriam. who COM
manded the department at the time of
the troubles. The witnesses on behalf
Of the Miners Union have not yet been
summoned, although ii is known that
President Boyce and others will be
called. The investigation will take a
wide range and the testimony is likely
to prove very interesting. owing to the
peculiar political ramification of the
case, involving each Of the several par
ties in Idaho.
The United States and Great Britain,
1t was definitely learned tonight, have
reached an amicable agreement re-
specting the operations Of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty as affecting the right of
construction and control by the United
States Of the proposed Nicaragua canal.
The result marks the termination of
conferences between the officials Of the
state department and Lord Pauncefote
OF fully years duration, during
winch huHiper ol meetings were held
and the subject fully discussed by the
representatives of the governments in
terested. Great Britain agrees to q
modification of the Clayton -Bulwer
treaty by which she practically relin-
quishes any claims respecting a legal
control of the Nicaraguan canal after it
shall have been constructed. The result
therefore Is to eliminate that feature
Of the treaty bearing on the subject of
dual control, and to leave the United
States free to construct and therea fter