The Meeker herald., 1900-02-17
WASHINGTON NEWS.
what Congress II OoinE.-Notes From the
white House and the Departments.

The La,<ton fund. which amounts to
$9S, 900, has been placed in bank here
subject to Mrs. Lawton's order.
The Colorado State Board of Horti-
culture recently chose successor to
Mrs. Martha A. Shute as secretary.
| There IL likely to be contest over the
| matter, as Mrs. Shute is very popular.
The House committee on public lands
has heard Colonel Buffalo" Jones IN
favor of bill for buffalo reservation
in New Mexico. He stated that the
American buffalo was almost extinct,
the entire number the world over being
300 or 400.
Bishop Satterlee of the Episcopal do
cese Of Washington Is visiting Philadel-
phia, New York and other eastern cities
for the purpose Of raising funds for the
erection Of a national cathedral in this
city of dimensions and style of archi-
lecture corresponding to the wealth ana
dignity of this nation.
Judge Barnard of the United States
Court of the District of Columbia has
/ rendered decision which has caused
sensation In Congress and Is likely
to be the subject Of earnest discussion.
He holds that Congress has no power
to fix the rates to be charged by cor
poration holding public franchise and
using the public thor6ughfares. The
case in point is that Of the telephone
rates, which Congress cut from $125 to
$50.
The treaty with Great Britain rela.
tive to the building of the Nicaraguan
canal was received by the Senate Mon
day and was read In executive SEES
sion. Senator Davis, chairman of the
committee on foreign relations, moved
to make the treaty public. as 1t was
subject in which all were greatly In
terested, but after some discussion II
was decided to refer the matter to the
committee on foreign relations before
taking that step.
Special Plenipotentlary Kasson for
the United States and Baron Faya, the
Italian ambassador, for the govern
ment, at the State Department Thurs
day, signed a reciprocity arrangement
under the third section Of the Dingley
act. This arrangement does not re-
quire the action of the Senate, but II
does need the ratification Of the Italian
chambers. Until that has been obtained
1t is deemed well to withhold the text
of the agreement from publication.
1t is reported that the Democrats in
Congress have decided to cast solid
products. They will nccept the Presi-
dents recommendations, while the Re
pirblicnns will reject them. with three
or four exceptions in the House. and
dozen or more in the Senate. If seven
or eight OF the Republicans in the
House vote for free trade with Puerto
Rico 1t can be carried, but in the SEN
ate 1t will require Mt least fifteen he
publican votes to overturn the commit
tee.
Although no one would begrudge
Mrs Lawton penny Of the money that
has been contributed by the admirers
of her husband, there are other wild
ows equally deserving and even more
destitute Of the worlds blessings. Bills
granting pensions to the widows Of
these officers have been introduced In
both houses Of Congress and will no
doubt he passed, but they will not
carry more than $50 or $40 month,
and that, as everybody knows. will not
go far toward the support and educn-
ton of children.
Senator Caffery of Louisiana, in
discussion of the Philippines in the
Senate Monday, broke new ground in
developing his position as an anti-ex-
panslonlst. In response to question
MS to what in the present clrcum-
stances he would do with the Fillpinos.
he snid with characteristic courage of
conviction: Turn them loose as soon
as we can get rid of them. That would
be better for them and Infinitely better
for U.S." Mr.. Caffery's argument was
mainly discussion of the constitution
al question. He maintained that the
constitution extends absolutely over
the Filipinos and that they We're en-
titled to all the rights and privileges
Of citizens of the United States guaran-
teed by the constitution.
The nomination of Mrs. Potter Pal
mer of Chicago to be one of the com
missioners of the United States to the
Paris Exposition has been decided up
on md will be sent to the Senate Mt
the same time the other commission
ers are named The President has Sc
lected twelve commissioners under the
| authority ut present granted him. but
a proposition is before Congress to per-
init him to add six other commission
ers to the list. and as lie prefers the
names of the full commission shall be
| sent to the Senate in one list lie has de-
| cided, for the present ut least, to de-
| fer nominating any of the commits
siOners until Congress indicates its
I final intentions with reference to the
| size of the commission.
| The Senate finance committee has re-
ported n new section to the financial
| hill MS follows: .'rhat the provisions
of this net are not intended to place
any obstacles in the way Of the accom-
| plishment of international bimetallism,
provided the same be received by con-
| current action for the leading COM
mercial nations of the world and at a
/ ratio which shall insure permanence of
relative value between gold and sill
YER" When the committee met, Sena-
tor Aldrich. chairman. offered the
amendment declaring for international
agreement for the recognition of BIZ
metallism. The Republican members
manifested no surprise and the Demo
Gratis received the amendment with Il