St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-01-16
THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON.


The Army CanIeen.
The week has been marked with much
hard work in both branches OF Congress
In the senate the army Reorganization
| bill has been under discussion and has
been the subject of lively debates and
some notable speeches. One matter was
| disposed OF that has been the subject OF
much comment, that is, the army canteen
question. To all appearances the canteen
is soon to be thing OF the past. 1t VIII
| be remembered that when the Dill was
| before the house declaration was adopt
ed in favor OF the prohibition OF the SAFE
of beer, wine or any Intoxicating liquors
in any post exchange or canteen or army
transports, or upon any premises useo
Tor military purposes by the Unlteu
States. The section of the bill contain
ing This prohibition was amended IN the
senate committee on military ahalrs SO
as to confne it to to the sale OF wine ana
distilled spirits, so that under the amend
ed prohibition, beer was permitted to be
sold. This action Of the committee was
brought about in no small degree by the
vigorous arguments OF the secretary OF
war in favor OF the maintenance OF the
canteen. The senate itself, however, has
declined to sustain this action OF Its COM
mlttee by voting on Wednesday last TO
lay the amendment proposed by the com
mittee on the table. This is believed to
( dispose of the matter finally, tor, even III
case of the bill being sent to conference
committee, the question OF the canteen
could not be considered, inasmuch as
there is no disagreement between the two
houses on this particular point,
The Future House of Representatives.
So far as the house is concerned, the
question Of the method OF reappOrton'
ment has been decided. Up to week or
ten days ago the so-caled Hopkins bill
seemed to have the fairest chance of pas
sage. That measure was framed TO keep
the house at its present number, 3oG
but owing to changes in the distribution
of population shown by the census, under
it's operation some states would have
gained and some would have lost mem
bers. This measure has now been shelly
ed in favor Of the so called Burleigh sub
sttute, a measure which increases the
size Of the house by twtnty-nlne members.
The substitute bill was passed by vote
of 165 to 1902. The vote was not on
party lines, but was quite evenly divided.
Upon the affirmative side were recorded
80 republicans and 76 democrats, while
SO republicans and 40 democrats voted
against it, The reasons for the dispIaCe-
ment of the Hopkins by the Burleigh bill
are not far to seek. Under the latter bill
no state suffers any reduction and 20 re-
ceive increases, while under the former,
one some states had their representation
decreased. Under the Burltigh bill ma
jorty Of the states remain with the same
membership in congress as hitherto.
Twenty states, however, score increases.
Illinois, New York and Texas gain three
membe each; Minnesota, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania have two additional
members, Will. one additional member
is given to each of the states OF Arkan-
sas, California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mis-
sissippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North
Dakota, Washing on, West Virginia and
Wisconsin.
Filipino Petition Read.
In the Senate last week petition was
presented by MT. Ieller. 1t was SlSneu
by 1000 Filipinos and peaceful inhab
tants of the islands, appealing to con-
gress that an end beput to the "msfor-
tunes which aff1jct them and which COM
pei them to struggle for their rights, and
to continue, if necessary, to pour out
their blood" The paper goes into long
statement to show that the idea OF Fill.
pino independence is not new, but dates
back several years before the advent of
the Americans; and it speaks of Aguin-
aldo as "a great man" and az "the idol
of the people, because be understands the
aspirations of the country" The Fill
pino nation, the paper says, bearing in
mind the history of America and its hui
manitar1an doctrines, asks America to
cease her persecution of men struggling
to be free-struggling against greater
odds and greater wrongs than those
which inspired the fathers of the republic.
This they ask in the name OF Washing
ton, of JEFFERSON, of Lincoln, in the name
ofJustice and in the name of God Eternal
Mr.. Teller asked unanimous consent that
it should be printed as a Senate docu.
ment.