The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-13

that the Republicans had abandoned
the position for international bimetal-
lism taken by it in the st. Louis con-
vention. The vote on the amendment
showed a strict division on party lines,
Senator Jones of Nevada not voting.
The President has appointed Judge
william II. Taft of Cincinnati, and
United States judge of the Sixth judi
cial circuit to be president of the new
Philippine Commission. Judge Taft's
place on the bench will be filed by the
appointment of Judge Henry II. Sew
Grams of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The appointment of Judge Taft marks
the first selection for the new Philip
pine Commission. There will be five
members on the commission. Mr..
Schurman, president of the existing
commission, has declined. for business
reasons, to remain on the commission,
so Judge Taft will be president in his
place. Mr.. DENLY and Professor Wor-
cester have been invited to accept ap-
pointments, but so far have not signi-
fed their intentions. Admiral Dewey
will not go back to Manila, and Gen
eral Otis will give way, like him, to Il
civilian. Secretary Root said Tuesday
that no instructions had been framed
for the new commission as yet, but it
would be easy to perceive from the SEN
timents set out in the Presidents mes
rage on the subject what these in
structions would be.
Mortimer f. Taylor, n representative
of Governor Thomas of Colorado, is in
Washington making arrangements for
the participation by the Rocky Noun
tain states in the Paris Exposition.
Some time ago the state of Colorado
procured unusually large space at the
vi iS
of having 1t properly utilized. He has
made the suggestion on behalf of Gov
ernor Thomas to senators from other
mountain states that they unite with
Colorado in making proper presenta-
ton of the industries and products of
the mountain region. An informal con
ference was held Thursday afternoon
between Mr.. Taylor and senat6s from
Utah, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
at which the plan was discussed. II
was favorably received by all the sen
ators present, and they will join in
recommending the joint use of the
valuable space which Colorado has ac-
quired. The matter will be favorably
referred by the gentlemen who attend
ed the informal. conference to the gov
ernors of the several states, and they
feel that there Is no doubt that the
space will be fully utilized along the
line suggested by Mr.. Taylor.
The reports on the bill framed by
the ways and means committee, impos-
ing duties equivalent to twenty-five
per cent. of the American tariff on
goods imported into Puerto Rico from
the United States and vice versa, Were
submitted TO the House Thursday. The
Republicans of the committee, except
Mr.. Mccall of Massachusetts, agreed
tn I'm of 40
ing n considerable portion of their ar
gument to sustaining the contention
that the clause of the constitution de
claring that "all duties, imposts and ex-
cises shall be uniform throughout the
United States" Is not applicable to our
new possessions, which they say are
not United States territory within the
meaning of that declaration. The
Democrats, together with Mr.. New
lands of Nevada, took the contrary
view. Mr.. Mccall, dissenting Republi-
can, practically holds with them. He
made separate report. saying he can
not support the bill, because it does
not follow the rule of uniformity pre-
scribed by the constitutions rule
which, in my opinion, governs Con
gress in legislation for the territories
of the United States" Mr.. Mccall is
unsparing in his denunciation of the
policy to which the bill will commit
the government. The minority report
was submitted by Chairman Payne. 1t
says the twenty-five per cent. duty is
necessary to prevent United States
manufacturers of spirits and cigars
from being at a disadvantage.
Secretary Hay is determined that the
State Department shall observe with
the most scrupulous fidelity whatever
obligation may rest upon 1t toward Nj
caragua and Costo Rica in the matter
of the construction of the Nicaragua
canal. 1t has not been possible to
move in that matter pending the re
moval of the obstacle in the way of
canal building presented by the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty. There has not been
the slightest disposition to ignore the
governments of our sister republics in
the matter. but in the view of the de-
partment, it would not have been dig
nified or safe to make overtures to
them before the United States had ac-
quired the power 10 deal with n free
hand with the canal problem so far as
Great Britain was concerned. Now,
however, the department Will address
itself TO the governments of Nicaragua
and Costo Rica, looking to the acquire
ment of whatever privileges are
deemed essential to the construction
of the canal and its operation. About
the same time, or rather as soon as the
Senate shall have ratified the treaty
ard the ratifications shall have been
exchanged, the department will address
identical notes to the great maritime
powers of the whole world, to secure
their adhesion TO the project for the
perpetual naturalization of the canal.
Miss Susan b. Anthony has arrived
in, Sh N a.
the annual convention of the National
Woman Suffrage Association, which
opens there next week. 1t will be as
socIated with two interesting occur
rences in the life of Miss Anthony
the celebration of her eightieth birth