St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-01-30
THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON.
New Islands Purchased.

ratified the treaty with Spain lot inc
acquisition of the islands OF Sibutu and
Cagayan, of the Philippine group, at
cost OF 100000. There was no vote TO
spare, a two-thirds vote being needed
and the voting standing 80 to ~ IN
the debate preceding the ratihcation
number of senator's manifested disposi,
ton to oppose the further acquisition OF
Oriental territory. Senators Lodge and
Chandler spoke in behalf of the treaty
and Senators Bacon, Money and Petit
grew in opposition. Senator Lodge
speaking for the Committee on Foreign
Relations, said that the treaty was MADE
necessary by the failure to include the
islands of Sibutu and Cagayan IN the
original negotiation by which the Philip
pines were acquired, and that 1t was
necessary to acquire them to prevent
Germanys getting possession OF them
Their acquisition by any foreign power,
he said, would be an awkward circum.
stance for the United States, and should
be prevented before it was too late.
Victory for GrOut.
General Grout last week secured the
passage of the senate concurrent resolu-
ton calling on the secretary OF war tor
report showing the present condition OF
the Burlington breakwater. AS the
house committee on rivers and harbors
opposed this resolution, hoping by so
doing to keep the total of their bill
down, the victory is all the greater,
The general obtained unanimous con-
sent, recalled the resolution from that
committee and secured its passage by
the house and thus paved the way tor
an increased appropriation. Senator
Proctor will now be able to go before
the senate committee with the proof of
the absolute necessity of repairing the
damage done by the storm. 1t is be-
lieved he will be able to convince the SEN
ate committee of the danger to the wharf
property and will secure sufficient sum
TO repair the breakwater and prevent
serious loss to Burlington.
Aid for PAN American Exposition.
Representatives of the Pan American
Exposition at Buffalo, including Presi-
dent J. ]. Melbourne, Director General
Buchanan, Norman E. Mack and other
citizens of Buffalo, were before the House
Committee on Appropriations Saturday
in behalf of federal participation in that
enterprise. Many Of the New York rep
sentatives in congress accompanied the
delegation. The purpose of the hearing
was to set forth the magnitude and
progress of the work, and to urge an
amendment to the Sundry Civil Appro-
priation bill giving the government aid
to the extent of $750,000. This is not
expected to be an outright contribution,
as stock OF the exposition to the amount
of $75O,0O0 is to be issued to the gov
eminent. The financial estimates oil the
enterprise were explained at length, indi-
eating that there would be a consider
able surplus alter discharging the gov
eminent and all other obligations. The
decision of the committee will not be
known until the Sundry Civil bill is ie-
ported, but the delegation is encouraged
to believe that favorable action will be
taken.
Senate Committee FavOrs GrOut Bill
Chairman Proctor of the senate com.
mittee on agriculture Saturday present
ed to the senate the report of that COM
mittee on the Grout oleomargarine bill.
The report is favorable to the bill, but
Senator Heitfeld presented minority
report adverse to it. The majority re-
port says
"The bill appears to be unanimously
desired by the farmers of the country
who are engaged in dairying, and has
the earnest approval of the secretary of
agriculture. Your committee has listen
ed with interest to the representatives Of
the live stock interests and the cotton
seed oil manufacturers, and is unable to
see in this measure anything that can
greatly injure either. We have heard
some objection to this measure from or.
gained labor, and, while it is true that
some laboring men may prefer, as mat
ter of pride, to consume oleomargarine
that is yellow instead of white, yet your
committee believes that, while the pride
of some may suffer under this measure,
which will raise the tax in the colored
and reduce it in the uncolored, a tar
greater number are now being deceived
through the sale of oleomargarine as
butter, and at butter prices" The min
o ity report is signed by Senators Heit-
eld and Money, and Senator Bate con-
ours in their conclusions. They present
substitute bill providing more string
ent restrictions upon the retail dealer
and for proper marking electromagnetic,
but removing the restriction as to color
ing. The minority take the position
that oleomargarine is legitimate arti-
Gle OF commerce, and quotes the United
States supreme court to substantiate
this position. They find that most Of
the frauds IN connection with the o,emar.
garine trade are committed by the retail
dealers, and say that the makers of but
ter cannot rghJfulIy claim an exclusive
right to use colorlng matter. "The OBJ
Ject of the b H." they say, lis to prevent
competition between two home indus
tries by building up the one and destroy
ing the other Such use of the taxing
power OF the government is an abuse
which should not be encouraged or ever
tolerated for a moment The bill il
class legislation of the most dangerous
character"
The Naval Bill.
The neutrality-suspicious. bill, as passeC
last week, carries total OF $76, 016,635
the largest sum ever recommended by tn
House Naval Committee. More thai
$4,000, 900 OF this amount is for continu
ing the work on naval vessels authorize
by previous acts, and $3,000,000 add
tlonal is tor carrying on the rebuilding O
the naval academy, as provided in tn
Naval act for the current year. The in
crease IN actual appropriations over tn
| last act IS ST I S65 ITO The aInoun