The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-01-24
At Washington.

AZ WasnthRtOH'
Hon. Matthew Stanley Quay, re
elected, Wednesday, as Senator from
Pennsylvania, Thursday, presented him
self at the bar of the Senate and took
the oath of office. His election was &C
complished after a most memorable con-
test, and the scene of his induction into
Office was no less memorable. The
galleries of the Senate were thronged
by gay and brilliant assemblage long
before the hour of meeting. Scores of
Mr. Quay's friends, personal and politi.
cal, had come from all parts of Penn
sylvania to witness the final scene of
great contest.
The President has signed the bill
making an apportionment of Represent.
atives in Congress from the several
States under the 18th census.
Although the Presidents progress
towards recovery from his recent attack
of grip has been uninterrupted, it is
probable that, acting upon the advice Of
his physician, the official receptions
which were announced for the winter,
as well as the cabinet dinners, will be
cancelled. One or two of the official
dinners may be given later in the season,
but it is believed it would be imprudent
for the President to undergo the fatigue
of a long reception for some consider
able time.
The mandate of the United States
Supreme court in the Nicely case was
issued, Thursday, and turned over to
the Attorney General, to be forwarded
to the District Attorney for the Southern
District of New York. II no further
steps be taken in Neely's behalf before
the writ is presented to the New York
court, Nicely will be sent to Cuba in
compliance with the courts decision.
Just before 6 o'clock, Friday evening,
the Senate finally disposed of the army
re. organized bill. The measure having
originated in the Senate, the final ques-
ton was not upon its passage but upon
agreeing to the Senate amendments.
They we're agreed to by vote of 43 to
%. While party lines were drawn on
the measure, four Democrats voted for
it, Lindsay of Kentucky, McLaurin of
South Carolina, Morgan of Alabama,
and Sullivan of Mississippi. Sena or
Hoar of Massachusetts, who was detain.
ed at his home by illness, was paired
against the bill with Senator Spooner, of
Wisconsin. The bill has occupied prac
tically the entire attention of the Senate
since the third of January, when it was
made the unfinished business. With
the exception of the elimination of the
canteen clause, it is not widely different
from that reported to the Senate.
Every effort to prevent the increased
strength of the army was defeated by a
decisive majority. The measure was
sent to conference between the two
houses, Senators Hawley, Rep, Conn.
Proctor, Rep, Vt, and Cockrell, DEM,
Mo, being appointed conferees on the
part of the Senate.
A message was received, Friday, from
Minister Conger at Pekin, stating that
the Chinese plenipotentiarIes had signed
and delivered the protocol. This re.
moves the last doubt that had arisen as
to the sealing of the aglt ement for it
would not have been accepted by the
Spanish minister who is the dean of the
corps unless it bore all the seals and
signatures necessary to give it full force.
Saturday the naval appropriation bill
was reported to the House, with an
elaborate statement of it's provisions by
Chairman Foss of the naval committee.
The bill carries $76,018, 635, the largest
amount ever reported to the House from
the committee on naval affairs. This is
$11 1856, 718 above the bill of last year
and $40, 229, 1896 below the estimates sub
mitted by the navy department.
The caucus of Republican Senators
has decided that it would not be advis-
able to take up the Nicaragua Canal bill
until the British Government had had
IN nrft ~ fn onf ha
ments of the Senate to the Hay. Paunce-
fote treaty. This action means the
postpOnement of the pending bill for the
construction of the canal until the next
session of Congress.
Admiral Dewey was so much improv.
ed, Monday, that be was able to leave
the house for a short time. Secretary
Root, although reported TO be some
what better, is still confined to his
house.
The House committee on military
affairs, Monday, disagreed to all the
Senate amendments to the army reor
ganzation bill and authorized the chair
man to move similar action in the
House with request for a conference.
The President, Monday, sent the fol-
lowing nominations TO the Senate: War
Lieut. Col. p. II. Ellis, 9Th Infantry,
to be colonel; Major d. j. raigie, 18th
Infantry, to be lieutenant colonel; Zap
tain D H, Brush, 7th Infantry, to be
major; First Lieut.. Douglas Settle, 10th
Infantry, to be captain.
Senator Lodge, for the foreign rela-
tions committee, called up in executive
session, Tuesday, the treaty with Spain,
providing for the purchase of the Island
of Sibutu and Cagayon Sulu in the Philip
pines, and after lively debate secured
the ratification of the treaty without a
vote to spare.
The measure to be reported by the
investigating committee in the West
Point hazing matter it is understood
will provide for expulsion from the
Military Academy for sending or accept
ing challenge; exclusion from subse
quent appointment to the army of any
one dismissed from the academy on &C
count of hazing or fighting; more tao
tical officers to give greater supervision
to cadets and closer relations between
these officers and the cadets.