The Springfield herald., 1900-02-16
WASHINGTON NEWS.
what Congress- Ii DoinE.-Notes From the
White House and tho Departments.

"A0t SOukFeeb N ousHks-NOLos fOk19 StAO
White House and tho Departmsnts.
The Lawton fund, which amounts to
$4,000, 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 Is 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
BOO 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 and
dignity Of this nation.
Senator Morgan, chairman Of the
Senate committee on the Nicaragua
canal, says lie expects the canal bill to
pass the Senate this month. Rrepre-
sentative Hepburn, chairman OF the
House committee, says he expects 1t to
pass the House during this month. A
poll of both houses show that when 1t
comes to n vote the bill will pass both
houses by overwhelming majorities.
Judge Barnard of the United States
Court of the District of Columbia has
rendered decision which has caused
q 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 n public franchise and
using the public thoroughfares. 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 ses-
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 Plenipotentiary Kasson for
the United States and Baron Fava, the
italian ambassador, for the govern
ment, at the State Department Thurs
day, signed n 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
It Is deemed well to withhold the te1t
Of the agreement from publication.
1t is reported that the Democrats In
l.. 10
vote against duties on Puerto Rican
products. They will accept the Presi-
dents Recommendations, while the Re-
publicans will reject them, with three
or four exceptions In the House, and q
dozen or more in the Senate. II 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 ut least fifteen Re
publican votes to overturn the commit
tee.
Although no one would begrudge
rs.Lawton a 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 be passed, but they will not
carry more than $50 or $40 month,
and that, as everybody knows, will not
20 far toward the support and educa-
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-
pansionist. In response to question
as to what In the present circum-
stances he would do with the Filipinos,
he said with characteristic courage OF
convictions: 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 n discussion Of the constitution
al question. He maintained that the
constitution extends absolutely over
the Filipinos and that they were en-
titled to all the rights and privileges
of citizens of the United States guaran-
teed by the constitution.
The House committee on interstate
commerce is trying to decide whether
the government shall build
cable line to connect our new
possessions In the Pacific, or
whether we shall pay subsidy
Of $500 900 year to Il private corpora
ton which offerS to 90 so on those
terms and send free of cost all mes
sages relating to government business.
Surveys have already been made, and
the naval authorities recommend that
a cable be laid from San Francisco to
Honolulu, 100 nautical miles; to Mid
way, 1,18O nautical miles, and to Lu-
zon, 1872 nautical miles, with a land
line from Lingaynn bay TO Manila.
This makes a total distance OF 6.192
nautical miles. A nautical mile is g.
O67.16 feet, while the ordinary geo