The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1900-12-21
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.

The ad journmeut for the christmas
holidays at she end of this week will
see but little completed legislation by
the congress, but it is, nevertheless,
true that great deal has been accom-
plished. The Hay-Pauncefote treaty
has been SO handled that it will prob
ably prevent the passage of canal
bill. 1t is not meant to say that any
thing has happened that will absolutely
prevent Legislation authorizing the
construction of the canal but the gues-
ton has become so complicated that il
can hardly be disposed of at a short
session of congress, especially when
the appropriation bills are as impor-
tant as at this session. The President
has set his foot down upon any legis-
lation to reduce the southern represen-
tation in congress. This ends the
Crumpacller program. Senator Hanna
finds himself involved in Il dispute
with fellow Republican senator's about
the shipping subsidy bill, and that
measure is probably dead so far as this
session is concerned.
Robt. w. Wilcox, the new delegate
sworn in on the 18th, is not out of
trouble and his case may attract almost
as much attention as that of Congress-
man Roberts, of Utah, who was ousted
at the beginning of last session. Some
years ago Wilcox while studying III
Italy married yong Italian princess,
who thought he was a prince. When
she found he was q plebian with mixed
blood, the princess left him. The mar
rage was afterwards annulled by the
Pope, but before this was done, Wilcox
married a Kanal<a girl in Hawaii.
These circumstances are the basis of a
protest filed in the house against Wilcox
by Honolulu people. The charges are
polygamy and bigamy.
Congressman Corliss had confer
ence with the river and harbor COM
mittee on the 18th and got promise
that his proposition for an appropria-
ton of $40, 900 for the survey of Lake
Erie with the view of damming the
Niagara river so as to deepen the water
in channels and ports, would be incor-
porated in the committees general bill.
This doesn't necessarily mean that the
appropriation will be made. A single
objection can defeat it for this session.
More or less private pension bills
have been introduced in the house since
the session opened. With the great
number of public bills on the calendar
there is very little hope of any of these
new bills reaching vote before the
life of the present congress expires.
They of course will die with the ses-
sion.
The President has approved the lists
submitted by the governor of Hawaii
of the sales and other dispositions of
the public domain, made by the Ha-
waiian governor, between July 7, 1898,
and Sept. 20, 1898. The approval is
made under section 73 of the act pro-
viding a government for Hawaii.
Secretary of the Treasury Gage on
the 18th sent to congress letter rec
ommending reciprocal arrangements
for steamship boiler inspector between
the L. S. and Canada. At present
Canadian inspectors charge for inspect
ing American velsels. Americans in
spect Canadian vessels free.
The pension appropriation bill was
completed on the 18th by the house
subcommittee on appropriations hav-
ing it in charge. 1t carries about $145,-
$50, 600. of which about Sl44, 100000 is
for pensions and the balance for adj
ministration.
A treaty has been concluded between
the u. S. and Great Britain, amending
the extradition treaty. The changes
are trifling, the chief item being to
make an extraditable offense of the
obtaining of money under false pre-
lenses.
The amendment to the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty, authorizing the U. S. to
fortify the canal so as to protect her
interests, was passed by the senate on
the 18th by a vote of 65 to II.
The house has passed the pension
appropriation bill. 1t carries $l45,-
1920.