Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1900-02-02
the COM iftee Oh military al
Ted 4 snbS pte for Pettigrew's
calling fof FORMATION regard

and to all officers under him, and espec-
tally any proclamation Sof Merriam, and
as to the treatment and care of civilian
prisoners. The resolution passed.
In the senate Thursday the house bill
authorizing the Rock Island railroad to
use certain right of way through the
Fort Reid and Fort Sill military reserva-
tons was passed.
The proposition made by the Filipino
leader, Senior Mabini, for a civil commits
sion to treat with the Filipinos will not
be considered by the administration until
Aguinaldo surrenders, and in official cir
cles the general disposition is to regard
Mabini's request as another play for de-
lay. as
1T is the purpose of President Mckinley
to inaugurate a civil government to super
sede the military rule in the Philippines
at the earliest possible moment, and he is
favorably inclined toward commission in
lieu of governor general, and is discuss
ing the question of available men for such
a commission. If his present plans are
carried out, the Filipinos will have all of
the commissions they want to confer with
for in addition to commission for the
government of the islands, it is not I'M
likely that congress will appoint joint
commission to investigate the islands next
summer and report to the next session as
a guide for future legislation.
A great deal of interest was manifested
in congressional circles in the communica-
ton from Senior Mabini. There is some
diversity of opinion over the proposition
and its feasibility.
The Senate committe on Commerce
Friday gave hearing to the represen-
tatives of number of business organ
izations throughout the country In sup
port of the bill to amend the interstate
commerce law.
The subcommittee of the senate COM
mittee on commerce appointed to con-
slider the ship subsidy bill, agreed to
recommend several changes in the bill.
One of the amendments agreed upon
limits the amount to be paid in any one
year for 20 and 81 knot vessels to ST.
100000 in the aggregate. Another
change places vessels Of II, IL and 10
knots speed in the special premium
class. this action being taken to encour-
age low-power freight vessels. A
third amendment provides for the ad-
dition of foreign built ships of certain
classes where a majority Of the stock
Is owned by American citizens. The
requirement in the bill as introduced
was that 80 per cent of the stock should
be owned in this country.
On Saturday the senate committee on
Puerto Rico decided so far as it can decide
that the island shall be known as Porto
Rico and not Puerto Rico as fixed by a
recent executive order. The committee
went over the Foraker bill in detail, decid-
ing upon many changes in phraseology
and some alterations in the provisions OF
the bill. Probably one of the most i'm
portant changes was to strike out the
word Constitution" wherever it occurred,
as it extended the provisions of the con-
stitution as well as the laws to the island.
Another important amendment provides
for the retirement of the Puerto Rican
coins and substitutes for them the coins
of the United States.
In the House.
Thursday was the last day of the de-
bate on the Roberts issue and interest
continued undated.
Mr.. Sims of Tennessee was the first
speaker. He made a legal argument
in favor of seating and then expelling
Roberts.
Mr.. johnson of West Virginia advo-
Gated the expulsion of Roberts. Several
short speeches We're made thereafter for
and against Roberts.
The house COMMITTEE on interstate
and foreign commerce Friday recon-
sidered the Nicaraguan canal bill,
which had been reported with an ap-
preparation Of $4,000, 900, and chang
ed the appropriation section so as to
make $10,000,0O0 available. with au-
thority to contract for the entire exca-
walton and completion of the canal at a
total cost not to exceed $140,000,000.
The greater portion of the session of
the house was devoted to eulogies on
the life and public services of the late
Vice President Hobart.
The house committe on military af-
fairs agreed to proceed with the inves-
tigation of the Idaho labor tdoubles on
February 14th, and it was arranged
that the Governor and Auditor of the
state and General Merriam should be
asked to appear at that time. Mr..
Sulzer of New York and Mr.. Lentz of
Ohio, who had been urging the inquiry
are to furnish the names of additional
witnesses to be examined.
Secretary Hay has sent to Speaker Hen
derson for submission to the house copies
of comnlaints of the German ambassador