The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-03-22
At Washington.

1
ate, Friday, passed the Puerto Rlcan re.
lief appropriation bill without amend
ment. AS passed, the measure carries
81, 095, 600 the President being authorlz
ed to use that sum flor public eduoa-
ton, public works and other govern
mental purposes" in Puerto Rico.
The House committee on militia, Fri
day, drafted a favorable report on the
| bill of Representative Marsh of Illinois,
| increasing the appropriation for the Ma
tional Guard and militia of the country
from 800, 600 to $2,000.000 annually
The bill has attracted widespread at
tention In militia circles, committee
representing the officers of all the States
having been here recently to carry the
movement begun at their national con-
venton.
Senator Allison, chairman of the Re-
publican caucus of the Senate, Friday,
announced the steering committee on
Puerto Rcan legislation. 1t is compos
ed of Senators Foraker, Hale, Davis,
Mcmillan, Warren and Keane.
Secretary Long has cabled instruc-
tons to Admiral Watson at Cavite, to
send a warship to Taku, hna, at the
mouth of the Ticho river, to look after
American missionary interests that are
threatened. He has left the selection of
the ship to Admiral Watson.
Chairman Ray of the House judiciary
committee has appointed the following
special sub committee on trusts: Messi s..
Ray, Rep, n. Y; Jenkins, Rep, Wis !;
Overstreet, Rep, Ind ; Littlefeld, Rep +,
Me-; Terry, Dem Texas; and Elliott,
Dem, S. &.
The first important test vote on the
question of the government of the
new lossessions was taken, Friday. An
amendment to the Puerto Rican relief
bill, offered by Allen of Nebraska, de-
claring that by force of the treaty be-
tween spain and the United States the
constitution was extended over Puerto
| Rico and its inhabitants was laid on the
table by "A vote of SO to II Lindsay,
Democrat of Kentucky, voted with Re-
pubicans against the proposition that
the constitution extended by its own
| force over outlying territory. The ques
| ton may, therefore, be regarded as
settled, so far as this ongress is con
cerned. Alter the defeat of Aliens
amendment the relief bill was passed
! without division, as reported from the
| preparations Committee AS passed,
the measure carries 81, 095, 900 the Presi
dent being authorized to use that sum
for public education, public works and
other governmental and public pur-
poses" in Puerto Rico.
The 6Sth annual meeting of the con
gressional temperance society held also
as memorial in bonor of the ninety
sixth birthday anniversary of Hon Neal
/ l. nyy tn..lK tlaoa in fhn Nan,,rta1 I
| theran Church, sunday evening Rep
reseutatiye Grout of Vermont presided
and addresses were made by Represen.
talive Littlefield of Maine and others.
The secretary, Rev. Fred ID Powers,
| tribute to Neal Dow and review of the
results of his work in Maiue.
Admiral and Mrs. Dewey are on a
trip south. They expect to visit Savan-
nah, Macon, st. Augustine, Jacksonville
and Palm Beach. They probably will
not return to this city until the latter
part of the next month, at which time
it is said they will sail for Europe, visit
! ing the exposition some time during the
summer.
| In the official and diplomatic circles
| here denial is authorized of published
reports that there have been conferences
with view to the dispatch of additional
| warships and United States soldiers TO
| China, and that news of the gravest
character had been received from the
United States Minister to China. There
is said to be no fear that any serious
| danger to American interests is impend-
| ing
Two measures of national importance
and many of slightly lesser interest were
passed by the Senate, Monday. The
legislative, executive and judicial APP
preparation bill, carrying more than
| $25 ,000 900 was passed without debate
| The measure providing for the appoint
ment of commission to adjudicate and
| settle claims to citizens of the United
States growing out of the war with
spain was also passed without opposi
ton.
| For a brief time the Puerto Rican
government and tariff measure was
under consideration. Foraker in
charge of the bill submitted some COM
mlttee amendments A few of them
were agreed to but the important ones
are still pending. A free trade amend.
ment to the bill was offered by Senator
Beveridge.
The House, Monday, refused to con-
| cur in the Senate amendments to the
| Puerto Rican relief bill. The Democrats
| supported a motion to concur on the
ground that it would avoid further delay
in extending relief to the inhabitants of
the island, but the Republicans stood
| firmly behind Chairman arnon in his
demand that the House should insist
upon its original provision to appro
| pirate not only the money collected on
Puerto Rican goods up to Jan. l, but all
subsequent money collected or to be
collected. The remainder of the day
was devoted to District of I columbia
| business.
The total amount of old bonds turned
inlo the treasury Tuesday in exchange
for the new 2 per cents was S27, 100000,
making total To date of SIT 600 600
| OF the entire amount all but 81, 1863, 800
was on behalf of national banks which
already have the bonds on deposit to
secure circulation or public deposits or
both.
Senator Lodge in the Senate and
| Representative Moody in the House
have introduced a joint resolution max
| ing the senior major general of army,
while commanding the army, lienten
ant general and the adjutant general OF
the army major general
| The conferees on the Puerto Rican
appropriation bill have agreed upon a
| npmprDmiaa .maasura The Senate con.