Middletown transcript., 1901-01-26
Washington Letter.

l - A1eAC AOo0AAO0 III
regular duties, but his physician ha
warned him not to work too hard for
while. As a precautionary measure, al
his social engagements for week or tw,
ahead have been Cancelled. He shows n,
bad effects of his wrestle with the grip.
~
Secretary Root is now having a turr
with the grip, but his assistants in the
war Department are working over time
SO as to rush the enlistments under the
Army Reorganization bill, which is now
IN conference, but is expected to become
a law during the present week. As there
has never been any doubt that the bill
would become law, all the arrangements
have been made in advance, as far as
possible.
~
The action of the Republican Senator
ial caucus in deciding not to take I'D the
Nicaragua Canal bill until the British
government had signifed its intentions
concerning the amended Hay-Pauneefote
treaty, is regarded as delicate hint TO
the British government, that the Senate
would like to know as soon as possible
what it intends doing with the treaty.
The House, after passing the Postal Codi-
fication bill, will at once take up the
Naval Appropriation bill, which is expec-
ted to be promptly passed, as there are
no features of the bill calculated to call
for any extended debate.
~
Senator Hanna who has a very credi-
table War record, although he never
mentions it in talking, and has not in
cluded it in his biography in the Congress
,ional Directory, has been persuaded by
Gen. Rassieur lending his aid to the PEN
sion Committee of that organization, to
promise that he would become member
of the G. A. r.
Secretary Hitchcock is strong advo-
cate of Congressional legislation for the
irrigation of the arid lands of the West.
In letter to the House Committee on
Public lands, the Secretary urges the
policy of public irrigation, taking the
ground that a vast acreage, capable of
supporting population of fifty million
people, should not be allowed to remain
a desert. In support of his argument
he cited the case of Egypt, which has in
recent years been practically redeemed
from condition of bankruptcy by a
general system of irrigation.
~
A single Republican Senator voted
against the Army Reorganization bill
Wellington, and he is not considered a
Republican by his colleagues-while
four Democrats - Lindsay, McLaurin,
Morgan and Sullivan-voted for it.
~
Senator Perkins seldom loses an on
portunity to back up his arguments with
a story. Here is one he told, to show
why he opposed attempting to prohibit
the shipping of intoxicants to the Philip
pines: ''When Alaska was prohibition
territory, everybody was engaged in
On every ship that went up
to Alaska, the fremen, engineers, walters
and sailors tried in every way to smuggle
liquor. I was the Representative of a
ship that went up there and was wrecked.
She sank. We rescued the vessel, and
among the goods saved were thirty bar
rels that formerly contained sugar. In
twelve of the barrels there were five gal
Ion kegs of whiskey that had been hid
den in the sugar. The sugar had melted,
but the whiskey was still there"
~
The Army Reorganization bill author
ICES the President to enlist not exceeding
twelve thousand natives of the Philip
pines for service in those islands, and
army officers think there will be no
trouble in getting as many recruits
among the natives as it may be deemed
advisable to enlist. The number is not
likely to reach half of those authorized,
for while at least.
~
Senator Proctor, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Agriculture, says the Oleomar-
garine bill will be reported to the Senate
this week, and that he will insist upon
getting vote upon it, if it be possible to
10 so, before the end of the session.
~
Senator Aldrich, Chairman of the Fl
nance Committee, disposed of all the idle
ak about the revenue reduction bill be-
ng hung up in that committee, when he
aid that the bill would positively be re-
ported to the Senate in few days, pro-
oably this week.
~
Senator Mcmillan, who has been classed
~ some newspapers as an opponent of
he Ship Subsidy bill, which is again the
unfinished business of the Senate, thus
lefines his attitude toward the measure:
I have been for the bill from the begin
ling and, in connection with several Sena-
ors, urged certain amendments solely for
he purpose of perfecting the measure in
uch details as seems necessary, and which
will undoubtedly improve the prospects
f the bill. l will give the measure my
arnest support, and have little doubt
hat every Republican Senator will do
he same" The amendments referred
o by Mr.. Mcmillan, have been agreed to
nd the bill is to be considered whenever
ppropriation bills are not before the
enate, until disposed of. There is little
any, doubt of the passage of the bill.
~
The equestrian statue of Gen. John A.
.ogan, made by franklin Simmons, the
amous American sculptor, has arrived in
Washington, and workmen are engaged
n placing it on the handsome pedestal
4 Iowa Circle. President Mckinley
as promised Mrs. Logan that he will
reside at the unyeiling exercises and de-
yer short address. The unveiling will
Al Al.