The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-12-26
At Washington.

rlly Tor the Philippine ISLANDS passed
the House Friday by a vote of 163 to
128. Five Republicans, Messrs. Nc all
of Massachusetts, Littlefield of Maine,
Heatwole, Eddy and Stevens of Mime
sofa, voting with the Democrats, against
the bill and three Democrats, Messrs.
Robertson, Davey and Broussard of
Louisiana, voted with the Republicans
for it.
Congressman Littlefield voted against
the Philippine tariff bill which passed
the House on Wednesday, on the same
grounds that he acted and voted two
years ago when the constitutional issue
was first projected, now settled by the
court. The bill which was passed by
the House imposes the Dingley bill rates
on Philippine imports entering the
United states and the Philippine COM
mission rates on Philippine exports-the
proceeds being expended for Philippine
improvements.
The Maine Senators have place on
committees, as follows: Hale, chair
man of the Naval committee and on
Appropriations, Philippines and Census
Frye, chairman of committee on Com
MERGE and on Foreign Relations, Fish
cries and establishment of University
of United States
President Roosevelt has appointed the
following postmasters in Maine: Frank
NJ. Hume, Houlton; John V. Lane,
Augusta.
The House has agreed to consider the
Nicaraguan canal bill, Tuesday, Jan. 7,
and thereafter until disposed of, the
order not, however, to interfere with
revenue or appropriation bills.
Grave complications, which may in
volve the United States, will it is feared
by ad ministration officials, result from
the naval demonstration Germany con
templates making in Venezuelan waters.
While there is no intention on the part
OF this government to interfere with
Germanys purpose to collect the claims
held by her subjects against Venezuela,
apprehension exists that President Cas-
tor will declare war, and it is to be pre-
pared for complications that may ensue
that the United States is gathering in
the caribbean sea one of the most for
midable squadrons that ever sailed
under the American flag. The battle
ship Illinois now at Algers, La, is to be
added to the fleet there.
1t is expected that Secretary Gage will
retire from the cabinet very soon. Feb.
LIST is named as the date it will take
effect. He has been looking forward to
this for some time.
The Maso party in Cuba have asked
Secretary Root to postpone the election
and reconstruct the Central Board of
Semtiny demonstrates clearly that to
grant the demand would be to interfere
with the election in precisely the way
which the Maso party deprecates, and
would prolong the period of American
occupation which it wishes to abridge.
A large amount of merchandise adj
dressed to people in Porto Rico has been
held up by the New York Post Office
and large quantity of it sent to the
dead letter Office, pending instructions
as to whether to dispatch it in the same
manner as throughout the rest CT the
United States. The department will
forward all such m alter to the address
in Porto Rico, and the Postmaster at
New York will be notified that all mail
matter is mailable to Porto Rico in the
same manner as to any part of the U. S.
One of the numerous bills before Con
gress, this winter, for the erection of
monuments to men of prominence in
public life is by Representative Bull of
Rhode Island, to rear a statue here of
the late James e. Blaine. Dir Bull
offered the same bill, last year, but was
unable to get it considered. lie pro
poses an appropriation of $50, 900 for the
purpose and his bill provides for a COM
mission of prominent people to select a
proper site somewhere on the public
reservations of the city. Nearly all the
monuments of that character, now erect.
ed in Washington, are to military he
roes. One exception is in the case of
Daniel Webster, but the statue to him
was only erected year or two ago.
Representative Jenkins of Wisconsin,
who proposed a constitutional amend
ment to control trusts liz the last Con-
gress, has introduced a measure of SINH.
lar character providing for constitu-
tional amendment providing thst Soon
gress shall have power to regulate
commerce in the United States; all
private corporations, co-partnerships
and joint stock companies in the United
States shall be under control of Con
gress. Congress shall have power in the
United States to regulate, control, pro.
hibit and dissolve all contracts and
combinations in restraint of trade and
The division of insular affairs of the
War Department has issued a statement
showing that the customs revenues in
the Philippines for the nine months end
ed Sept. 80, 1901, we're S6,275 1906, as
compared with So ,4S4 900 for the CORE.
spending period of 1900, and So, 462, 1873
for 1899
>ecretary Root and Representative
Cooper of Wisconsin, chairman of the
House Committee on Insular Affairs,
wilt plan an important legislative meas
ure for a complete civil government for
the Philippines. Already the measure
is framed in the rough, and the perfect
ed bill will be ready for introduction in
the House soon after the recess.
The Maine Senators and Representa-
tives are domiciled In Washington as
follows: Senator Hale in his residence
ut 1901 10th street N. w. Senator Frye
in his old apartments at the Hamilton;
Mr.. Allen at 621 Maryland avenue, n.
E.; Mr. Littlefield at the Hamilton; Mr..
Bur,eigh at the Richmond, and Mr..
Powers at the New Wizards.
Gov. Crane of Massachusetts has de-
clined the treasury portfolio rendered
to him by President Roosevelt, last Fri
day. 1t was officially announced at the
hite House that he declined for bust
ness and domestic reasons.
In line with the determination al
cussion of the Schey case, so far as to
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