, 1902-01-02
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

lOMlu E ODlulDH. ne llSuTIttllOH III
the Philippines against the sovereignty
of Il United States and the author
ity of the government of the Philip
pine islands is of such character and
extent as requires the United States to
prosecute its rights by military force,
and, therefore. creates the condition
of war In said archipelago" The
claim in question Is that of First Lieu
tenant Horton w. Sickle, corps of en-
gineers, for certain books thrown over
board in order to tighten the transport
Centennial when 1t ran aground. Sec
rotary Root has recommended to the
secretary of the treasury that Lieuten-
ant Stickle's claim be included in the
recommendations of Congress respect
ing the general deficiency bill.
1t is said at the Navy Department
that orders will go forward in n few
days directing the cruiser Brooklyn,
the flagship of Rear Admiral Remey.
commanding the Asiatic station, which
is now at Nagasakl, Japan, to proceed
home to the United States. The Rain
bow, now at New York, will leave
shortly for Cavite. where she is to take
the place of the Brooklyn as the flag
ship of the commander-in-chief of the
Asiatic station. On her way to Ca
vite by way of the Suez the Rainbow
will put ashore n detachment of sea-
men drafted for service on the Eu-
ropean station. When Admiral Remey
leaves for home the command of the
Asiatic station will fall upon Rear Adj
miral frederick Rodgers. Admiral Re-
mey's departure will be followed at n
short interval by that of Rea Admiral
Kempf, junior squadron commander
on the station.
The preliminary report of the Inter
state Commerce Commission on the in
come accounts of railways in the
United States for the year ended June
Both, 1901, shows returns of railway
companies operating 1872, 1913 miles Of
line. The passenger earnings of these
railways were S426.9 09, 210 and tlr
freight earnings 81, ia, $40, 10. The
total sross earnings were S1,5TS, ill.,
205. or SS,211 per mile of line, against
81, 14T,0i4,614 in 1900. Operating ex-
penses amounted to $1,023, 1885, S1, or
S5,323 per mile of line, making net
eutiings of $3.50 1924. or S35,5.T,2lS
In excess of the fiscal year 1900. The
amount of dividends declared during
the year We're S121, 1OS,63I, or S13,O00,-
600 more han for the same roads in
1900. The surplus from operations was
SIi,544, I35. The complete report for
Nb' Bh'N'NAAS s'hA ShoN'u " VI
SST, 1857 1913. The preliminary report is
confined to returns of operating roads.
The dividends paid by the operating
and leased lines annually include about
S3O,OOO,OOO paid on the part of leased
lines.
The Navy Department has taken the
initial steps toward the adoption OF
wireless telegraphy as a means of sig
mailing between warships at sea. To
this end Admiral Bradford of the Blu
reau of Equipment has asked that the
armored cruisers of the Pennsylvania
class have their masts and rigging so
arranged that the wireless system can
be introduced. This will necessitate
the frightening of the masts of the
ships and the Insulation of the metal
rigging by the use of hemp covering
for halyards. 1t is intended to get
test sets of instruments of the various
wireless systems now being operated.
These include the Marconi system.
Thus far, however. the Navy Depart
ment has not adopted definitely any
system, but the construction of the
new ships is regarded as a preliminary
to the adoption Of Il system whenever
Its practicability is established. The
British navy already has a number GS
its ships equipped with the wireless
system, but this is the first move on
the part of h American navy to make
use Of a wireless plan.
Senator Warren is limited as a leader
in ~antagonizing the proposition to alter
the method of introducing bills in the
Senate. Others named as opposed to 1t
are Allison, Hale, Gallinger and Proc
tor. They claim that the proposed
amendment will simply open the flood
gates and swamp the committees and
the Senate itself in n deluge of bills.
The amendment spoken of will be Of
fered by Senator Lodge. 1t will pro-
vide that all petitions, memorials, bills
and resolutions may be Introduced by
merely preparing the documents and
endorsing rhcm with the name of the
maker and the title of the committee
to which they are to be referred. Tn
present method provides that the Sen
ators themselves must personally in
troduce all bills and resolutions, must
be recognized by the presiding officer,
and mus have the bills read by title,
and the measures must be referred TO
proper committees by the presiding
officer himself. The proposed amend
ment will do ava with the old order
of things, and Is very Objectionable to
many of the more influential senators.
China will be relieved of the pay
ment of S1S,OOO,OOO Of the S25, 900
demanded by the United States as in
demnity for the outrages perpetrated
upon American citizens during the
boxer revolt. The administration. af-
ter consideration of all claims filed by
Americans who suffered injury, or
whose property was damaged, and of
the expenses incurred by the army and
navy. has concluded that S7,0OO,0oU
will cover the American bill. Presi-
dent Roosevelt submitted to Congress
Il few days ago n recommendation that
an appropriation Of 100000 be made
to enable the satisfaction of claims for
injuries received by Americans. The
naval and military expenses were less
than $5,O00,OOO. In justice to China,
therefore, the administration believes
she should be relieved of the payment
Of the remainder, or that it should be
restored after the United States re-
ceives its share of the bonds to be is
sued to tine powers At the same time
| tho nnthprttfaG buva no InfantInn 80