Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-29
UNCLE SAM
NOT BUYING.
West India Islands Drug on the
Market,
SANT0 DOMINGO FOR SALE.
Congress In Trouble over Rival Teie-
phone Companles-Col.W Weston
and Senator Pettus,

Special Correspondence.
Washington, March 26-Thls does not
seem to be a propltious time to sell
Uncle Sam more tropical territory, We
have heard from time to time about the
visits of certain agents Of the Danish
government who desire 10 sell to this
country the Danish West Indies Not
very long ago gentleman came from
Boston and told number Of influential
members OF Congress that II was a
pity the government did not open ne
gotiations FOR Santo Domingo, which
he described as the very flower Of the
West Indies, standing at the gate Of the
proposed Nicaragua canal and having
a climate and productions unequaled,
with magnificent harbors, where great
defenses could be built and the United
States be enabled TO control the gulf
OF Mexico. BY the payment Of GER
tain Indebtedness and fixing" certain
powerful people the acquisition could
be made. think the Danes want about
s5,0OOOOo for their Islands 1t would
cost more than this to take in Santo
Domingo. Both might be called rare
bargains. Probably they are, but II
seems quite evident that the United
States is not in the market for any
more tropical Islands. OF course there
does not seem TO be the slightest inten-
ton OF letting go Of any We have, but
II Is evident that We do not want any
more until il Is demonstrated that we
can make success In governing those
We have.
STRUGGLING WITH THE TELE-
PHONE.
Congress has a telephone trouble on
Its hands. The House has got rid OF
the matter for the time by passing a
bill authorizing q rival company The
Senate Is celebrating. Congress two
years ago attempted TO fix the tele-
phone charges In the District Of Column
bia and place a limit OF $50 per year on
the present company. The company
refused to obey the law, took the mat
ter into the courts. got a decision, and
that ended the matter. Then came
along rival concern. II offers tele-
phones at sis for business houses and
$50 In resid ances. The House has au-
thorized this company to begin bust
ness. But the Senate committee hopes
that COMPROMISE can be reached by
which the old company can do business
at a reduced rate and the rivalry Of
the two companies over a public con-
venience be avoided.
PETTUs AND WESTON.
Two men less alike than solemn, SOL
ID and oracular Senator Pettus. OF Ala
bama. and Iovial clever witty and airy
Jack Weston, colonel and chief COM
missary Of subsistence, could not be
imagined. These two came together
the other day. Weston wants TO get
some additional officers for his corps.
and as Senator Pettus is a member Of
the military committee he called upon
him to explain the measure. Senator
Pettus Is against the army staff as a
whole and began al once TO talk against
t. lie made some reference 10 the
good thing" which a commlssary had.
Bless your life, Mr., Senator" said
Weston ~ am living In Washington
boarding house and II there was any
thing like a snap to my place | would
not be doing that. you bet" Senator
Pettus made some other allusIons
which Weston PARTED In the same
manner. and before the Interview
closed they were the best OF friends.
I'VE ARE SEVEN"
Nothing could really be more serious
than the situation OF the Republican
party In the Senate over the Puerto
Rican bill. Yet after the first day or
two the humorous aspect Of the case
showed itself and grave senators could
joke about the situation. When the
caucus authorized committee to
bring about an adjustment Of differ |
enees, II was at once designated as a
steering committee Some facetious
newspaper man called them the pail !
bearers" giving his guess that the bill |
was dead. Then for time by general |
consent II was called the Harmony |
committee because II was trying 10 |
harmonlze differences in the party. II |
remained Tor Senator Plat Of New |
York TO give II designation that last
ed Tor some time. He called IL the /
committee On cores" I am inclined |
10 think that Il was Senator Spooner OF |
Wisconsin who, when asked about
something concerning the committee. |
said, with Tennysonian sadness. I'VE
are seven"
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.
Senator SDooner Is one OF the most
attentive men In the Senate especially
when constitutional and governmental
questions are being discussed. He
likes nothing better than a brisk de-
bate upon anything involving these
questions and listens closely 20 the
more elaborate presentations by men
Of legal learning In the Senate.
Il was never In a place where I
could not find some way out" remarked
Senator Elklns, while discussing the
Puerto Rican bill. 1T does not seem
TO make much difference which way
we turn There Is opposition 10 every
that comes up. Nothing
seems 10 NJ just right"
When Congress becomes saturated
With an idea, II becomes the sole topic
of conversation. For several weeks
now there has apparently been little
Else In View than the Puerto Rican bill
A few weeks before that II was the
Philippines. The islands acquired from
Spain have successfully held the
boards during the session.
TO CURE COLD IN ONE DAY.
TAKE larativa Tlrou,o Ouinina Tahia.e |