The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-15
Some Senators of Opinion that Britain
Should Have No Voice in Con-
~struction OF Canal. s.
SENATE REPUBLICAN, CAUCUS
STEERING COMMITTEE TO DECIDE
ON FUTURE LEGISLATION.
''Billy" MasOn Anxious to Have His
en- Protest Against C~anteens.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE best opin-
ion about the fate of the H~ay-Pauncefote
| treaty is that unless 1t be amended 1t will
not be ratified. There is a majority in the
Senate ready to vote for it just as they
will vote for anything else proposed by the
administration, but there are enough indie
| pendent of such influences who. unless 1t is
| amended to suit them, will vote to encom-
| pass it's defeat. There is a minority who
will not vote for it at all, no matter how
it may be amended. They are those who
do not believe England should have any
voice in the construction or control of an
thmia canal built by the United States.
SO
The Senate Republicans caucused to-day.
| senator Allison, chairman Of the caucus,
was authorized to appoint a steering COM
mittee of seven who will decide what meas
ures shall be considered and in what or
der. The financial bill will be voted on
| tomorrow and passed. Senator Cullom
announced to the caucus that he would
Immediately move to take up the bill to
| provide a permanent government for
Hawaii, a matter unfortunately left over
from last winter. Legislation is absolutely
| needed for Porto Rico and for Alaska.
Conditions In Porto Rico are worse now
than under Spanish rule owing to the fail
ure of Congress to act last winter. Alaska
needs legislation to meet the new condi-
| tions created by the discovery of gold In
large quantities. Governor Brady, former
ly of Upton, has been here some time urg-
ing Congress to early action. His labors
bid fair to be rewarded. These matters.
the appropriation bills and some other
legislative affairs promise to delay action
on the quay case to a late date in the
| session If they do not prevent action al
together.
Most of the senators at the caucus ex-
pressed themselves as favorable to early
final adjournment. Senator Chandler urged
the necessity for action on the bill amenda-
| tory of the interstate-commerce law, say
ing that 1t was important that means
should be speedily found for the control
of the railroads. Senator Sewall retOrted
that the railroads needed no especial sur
| veillance. Senator Mason demanded that
| time should be given at an early day for
discussion and action upon the Boer reso-
luton. Senator Depew considered the
Philippine question of pressing Importance,
and in making his position known took
occasion to impress upon his colleagues the
interest felt in this subject by the people
at large. The plan for the distribution of
the patronage of the Senate recommends
the allotment of thirteen Senate messen-
gers to the Democratic senators. Under
the present arrangement each senator has
a messenger.
Representative Miers to-day introduced a
bill to purchase a site and erect a public
building at Vincennes.
Representative Crumpacker to-day intro
duced a bill increasing the pension of Hen
ry Stansel, Thirty-lrSt Ohio Infantry TO
$50 monthly.
Representative Watson to-day introduced
bills increasing the pension of Sarah ].
Appleton, widow of James r. Appleton,
seaman United States navy, to s2 month
ly; increasing the pension of Janetta Dun
lap, widow of James Dunlap, Company c,
Sixth Indiana Infantry, to $2 monthly,
and increasing the pension OF Mary Good
rich, widow of John Goodrich, Company +,
Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, to $2 month
ly.
Senator Thurston to-day introduced a
bill to pay the Western Paving and Supply
Company $4,006. 70 for paving the streets
adjacent to the Indianapolis public build
ing. "
E. B. Nebeker, former treasurer of the
United States, Tobias Hert, warden of the
Indiana southern penitentiary, and ]. p.
Henley, of Charlottesville, are in Wash
ington. 50
At the hearing on the subject of the army
''canteen," before the House committee on
military affairs to-day. Captain Frank M.
Wells, late chaplain of the First Tennessee
Regiment, testified in detail as to the prev
alence of drunkenness on army transports
and in the Philippines. Mr.. Wells repeated
his statements which he has made in
lectures, relative to the sale of liquor on
the transports Zealandia and Indiana, and
related instances of alleged drunkenness at
Manila, Iloilo and Cebu, as well as on the
ships. When he referred. by name, to a
Tennessee officer alleged to have been
drunk, Representative Cox, of Tennessee.
interposed an emphatic protest, saying
that he would not hear this officer ma
ligned. Something of a sensation was
I caused by the statement and the protest,
but the committee determined to avoid per-
sonal disclosures by not allowing specific
names to be used. Mr.. Wells proceeded
with his statement, emitting names. and
related many instances of alleged immoral
ity. He also stated that at the request of
the secretary Of war he had filed a formal
statement with the War Department con-
Of the w. c.. T. U. and other organizations
also were heard as to a congressional enact
ment making more clear the present law
abolishing the army canteen. The COM
mittee did not take final action on the sub
ject.
Among the names of other persons, tenn
porarily considered by the President for
appointment as one of the Philippine COM
missioners, is Bartlett Trip, of North
Dakota, and there is reason TO believe that
unless geographical considerations inter
fere, Mr.. Trip will be one of the new COM
missioners. He was formerl United States
minister TO Vienna and later represented
the United States on the samoan commits
sion.
The river and harbor' committee to-day
gave a hearing on the proposition to
construct a dam for the purpose of raising
the level of the great lakes. George Y.
Wisner, a member Of the deep waterway
commission, who reported in favor of the
project, explained II in detail and urged its
feasibility. j. Symonds. Of the Engineer
i corps, in charge of operations where the
proposed dam would be located, said the
project was so vast that a commission of
eminent experts should be appointed to
make special investigation of the plan.
Representative Corliss, of Michigan, also
spoke in favor of the project.
The ways and means committee of the
! House to-day agreed to report a bill of
much interest to the brewing interests.
a%bolishing What are known TO the trade as
sixth and eighth barrels. making quarter
barrels the smallest packages of this char.
acter authorized by law. The small sizes
| have been easily lost and as the commits
! sioner OF internal revenue reported that no
| diminution of revenue would result from the
| the request of the trade I'm this particular.
Mr.. Dolliver was authorized to report a
substitute which differs from the original
only in phraseology.
! The monthly statement of the iuno~t.