Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1900-03-02
WITH THE NATIONAL LAWMAKERS


| TO congress with Secretary Hays reply
| To the house resolution asking whether
there was any truth in the charge OF
| Mr.. Macrum that his mail as United
States consul at Pretoria had been
opened and examined by British mill.
tary officers, stating that SO far as
known the charge was without sub.
stantial basis. Secretary Hays answer
says: Sat no time while at his post
did Mr.. Macrum report 10 the depart
ment any instance of violation by
opening, or otherwise, of his official
mail by the British censor at Durham,
or by any person or persons whatSO-
| ever, there or elsewhere, neither has
he 50 reported since he left Pretoria. "
Answering the second clause OF the
resolution Secretary Hay says: "There
Is no truth in the charge that secret
alliance exists between the republic Of
the United States and the empire Of
Great Britain: no form Of secret all-
| ance Is possible under the constitution
Of the United States, inasmuch as
treaties require the advice and consent
of the senate: and, finally, no secret
alliance, convention. arrangement or
understanding exists between the
United States and any other nation -
The senate committee on foreign re-
latiOnS has made a favorable report on
the reciprocity treaty with France.
Owing to Senator Lodge being at home
to attend the funeral of his mother,
the committee did not take up the
Nicaragua canal treaty at last week Is
meeting. The senators feel that there
is no occasion for hurry in acting upon
this treaty, which is steadily gaining
strength.
Several amendments to the bill pro-
viding territorial form of govern,
ment for Hawaii have been adopted
by the senate. One of them gives a
majority of the qualified voters the
right to change the qualifications for
suffrage by a majority vote at any time
after January l, 1903, and another pro-
hibits the issuing of bonds or the con-
traction of any indebtedness by the
territorial government without the
consent Of the president of the United
States.
The conference committee on the
finance bill is holding daily meetings.
and its members are confident that an
agreement will be reached in few
days
Only one plausible explanation can
be made of the activity displayed in
Washington in behalf of the scheme
providing for the purchase by the gov
eminent or the entire south side of
pennsylvania avenue, to be used as
sites for future public buildings and
that is that such purchase would be
very profitable to the present owners
OF lot OF very undesirable property.
1t has been fully demonst rated that
the nature of this ground makes il
necessary to spend more To get stable
foundation for large buildings, which
can only be secured by driving piles
through 30 or 40 feet of mud. than
sites upon higher and dryer ground
can be bought for. While it is to be
desired that the national capitol
should be beautitied. there are WAYS
In which it can be done without The
absolute waste of money that would
be involved in this proposed purchase.
Representative Hopkins of Illinois.
speaking IN favor of the Porto Rico
tariff bill. now before the house. said.
Il believe the United States govern.
ment is entering upon new era of
greatness, OF expulsion, of glory. The
constitution possesses the elasticity of
the tabled tent of the Arab. II was
framed and adopted for the govern
men' OF the Is original states, yet it
has expanded over continent. Under
the Interpretation given to it by the
great legislators of our country and nv
VIII enable lis to acquire this TERRITORY
IN the Orient. and, If we are as wise rs
those who have preceded us. will ON.
able us to give those people rights of
Tree citizens, without infringing i'm
the least upon the privileges and i'm.
munitie> OF our own people"
senator Foraker read the fareyoI,
address Of Washington in the senate
on the 22d. In accordance with the old
custom, and afterwards senator pom.
rose called up the Quay case and made
Il speech thereon.
The democratic national COMMITTEE.
met IN Washington on the I'D and
named the time and place for holdino
the national convention OF the mart,
ihey apparently succeeded in conyinc.
my themselves that they were on.
gagged IN doing something Important
ihat somewhat oNerworked hupahnn.