Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-01-23
WASHINGTON Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent. |

ing general callers, but his personal
friends have no difficulty in getting
access to him. Secretary Hay, who
had the grip before the president. has
been back on duty for several days.
Democratic senators are understood
to have secretly encouraged the fill
| buster against the army reorganization
bill which the Populist senators kept
up for several days this week, but
they were ashamed to publicly aid it
| on the floor of the senate
Now that the army reorganization
bill is out of the way, the senate steer
ing committee has decided to give the
| ship subsidy bill the right of way
again. and Senator Hanna expresses
the opinion that it will pass before the
close OF next week, Notwithstanding
the threats that have been made to
f1llibuster against it. Republican sena-
tors who have offered amendments to
the bill which they believe will i'm
prove it, are inclined to be indignant
because their having done so has
| caused them to be classed as opponents
OF the bill by it's newspaper enemies.
Senator Frye. the author of the bill,
has never claimed that it was a per-
feet measure and has from the first ex-
pressed a willingness to accept any
amendment that promised to help in
carrying out his only object-the in
crease of our merchant marine.
General Theodore Rassieur, COM
mander-in-chief of the G. A. R., has
been in Washington several days, in
connection with congressional pension
legislation, especially the bill provid-
ing for the establishment of a perma-
nent court of pension appeals. Mem
bers Of the Department of the Potomac
gave him cordial welcome in the
shape of an informal reception.
Democratic editors who have been
sharply criticising Republican senator's
because OF the non-action of the senate
on the Nicaragua canal bill can now,
il they wish to be consistent, turn
their batteries upon the Democratic
senator-Daniel, of Virginia-who OBJ
jected when Senator Morgan, chair
man of the canaLcommittee, which has
charge Of the bill, sought to obtain
unanimous consent to vote on the bill
February IL. DIR. Daniel considered
it necessary to explain to the news
paper men that his objection was
based on what he was pleased to call
1.-THE latest phases of the question,
but he neglected to say what those
phases were. Surely if he knows any
reason other than the opposition of the
Panama Canal Co., why the Nicaragua
canal bill should not be passed, he
ought to tell that reason to the senate
and to the country.
AS a result of a communication from
Secretary Root, stating that the sub
ject was too intimately connected with
diplomatic negotiations in China to be
made public, the house voted to lay on
the table the resolution offered by
the secretary Of war for information as
to what protest, criticism, or sugges-
ton General Chaffee or any other
American officer in China. made con-
corning footing or other improper con-
duct; to whom it was made and the
result. Secretary Root said signif-
cantly in his letter to the committees
The time doubtless will come when
the whole subject will be proper
| matter for report, but that time
| clearly has not yet come. - The ''sub-
ject'' is the vigorous action of General
4 hoH yryh MT cfn fn
looting by foreign troops in China. and
was entirely creditable to him and to
this government, but, OF course, it
must not be officially talked about
while negotiations are pending.
The senate committee on finance is
now holding daily meetings for the
consideration of the revenue reduction
bill and will continue them until the
work is completed.
Chairman FOss, of the naval com
mittee, reported the naval appropria-
ton bill to the house. It carries
! ST., 900, 900, $21, 10000 of which is
for the continuation of work upon
ships now in course of construction.
Two new battleships and two new
cruisers are authorized. It provides
the money to carry out the contracts
for armor plate recently made by
Secretary Long. Some members of
the committee were inclined to favor
providing for the construction of more
submarine boats of the Holland type,
but Secretary Long advised against
authorizing the construction of any
more until those already contracted for
have been completed, and the com
mittee decided after a full discussion
to accept the advice.
Senator Stewart said of a Filipino
| petition which Senator Teller present
&c and sought to have printed as a
| public document, and which was re-
ferred to the committee on the Philip
pines: The war began by treacher-
ously conspiring to obtain arms from
Dewey, and then they used these arms
on the soldiers of the United States.
This petition is simply defy, as the
J senders threaten to accept nothing
| save independence. 1t should not re-
ceive any recognition since it comes