The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-01-30
AT asIiingI0n.

|
ident said that he recognized that there
was merit in the request, and he would
take up the matter with the cabinet and
do what he could to carry their views
into practical operation.
The secretary of the navy has ordered
the acceptance of the torpedo boat Bid
die, built by the Bath Iron Works.
During the discussion of the bill pro
viding for department of commerce, in
the Senate, Senator Hanna made a speech
in which he insisted that the wonderful
prosperity of America in the commercial
world had only just begun. He urged
that department of industry and com
merce be established, on the ground
that it was necessary to the increasing
business of the nation.
Senator Mason presented joint reso-
luton of thanks to Admiral Schley and
provided for the presentation of sword
by the Secretary of the Navy. 1t was
read twice and referred to the commit
| tee on naval affairs.
| The House passed the urgent def
cheney appropriation bill Friday and de-
voted the remainder of the session to
private pension legislation. 1t then ad
| journed until Monday. The Repubi-
| CtDs lOTCtu u GeCOTu NOle On inc dutuu
ment to the deficiency bill to appropri
ate 100000 for the protection aud
shelter" of American soldiers in the
Philippines and 10 Democrats voted
for it.
Brig Gen Henry G. Merriam, U. S. A,
retired, is at the capitol much these
days, seeking to persuade the House
committee on military affairs to promote
| ~ , 3 ha L. VI Of inr
era on the retired list He had prom
Use of promotion from President Nc
Kinley, who purposed that Maj. Gen.
Wheaton should retire a little in advance
to allow Gen. Merriam a chance. But
President Mckinley died and Gen. Mer-
ram WAS unable to establish that
arrangement with the new administra-
ton. Furthermore Maj. Gen. Wheaton
refused to retire according to the first
understanding and the War Department
would not force him to do So
The Democratic members of the
House of Representatives, in caucus re
Gently, after short but spirited contest,
declared that they were without power
to promulgate platform owing to the
binding character of that heretofore
made at a national convention.
Though Prince Henry will stop at the
German embassy while in ashington,
he will be the guest of the nation dur
ing bis stay in this county. This means
that all his expenses will be paid by the
United States government. To provide
the funds a provision apprOpriating
$40, 900 has been inserted In the urgent
deficiency bill This sum is to be dis
bursed under the direction of the secre-
tary of state
The Senate is devoting attention this
week largely to the Philippine tariff
measure. 1t is the purpose of Senator
Lodge, who is in charge of the bill,
to keep it before the senate persstently
until it is disposed of 1t is understood
that a majority of the senators on the
Democratic side of the chamber will be
heard before the bill is passed. Among
those booked to speak are Senators
Carmack, Money, Teller, Jones of Ar
kansas and Bacon.
Most of the stumbling blocks in the
way of an agreement between the
Colombian and the United States
governments are in a fair way to be
removed, unless it be the question of
the price we shall pay for the right of
way, on which point no formal overtures
have been mace on either side. The
concession is likely to take the form of
a lease for two or three hundred years
with privilege of renewal at the same
terms. oombia is very DESTROYS that
the Panama route shall be adopted.
In introducing in the Senate resell
ution providing for tue appointment
of "a commission of experts to ascertain
the cost of an isthmian canal tunnel
five miles in length by what is known
as the Darien route, MIR. Scott of West
Virginia gave notice that at some
later time he would address the senate
upon the subject
The war department has been in.
formed that the troops which are to
return home from the Phi ippines will
sail from Manila as follows: ~ infantry
February LIST; Goth infantry, February
10; headquarters and first and second
battalions of the 18th infantry, February
29. The third battalion of the 18th
infantry will sail from Manila after The
arrival there of the second battalion
of the 9th infantry between March l
and 10.
The House Ways and Means Com
mittee, have begun their hearings on
revenue reduction The brewers and
tobacco merchants will urge restora
tion of the internal revenue conditions
which prevailed before the imposition
of the war tax, and there will be a
general pressure from taxed interests
for general restoration of ante bellum
conditions. Republican leaders, both
in the Senate and the House, are of
the opinion that something must be
done to reduce taxation.
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest g Walker, the
former a native of Emblem, Me-, were
among the guests invited to Mrs.
Roosevelts tea at the White House,
last Friday.
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana, has
/ proposed an amendment to the urgent
deficiency bill, which recently passed
the House and which is now before the
Senate to pay the State of Maine $131-
515.Sl for interest on money borrowed
to meet expenses in raising volunteers
for the ivil vi ar. The amendment
contains other provisions for Penn
sylvania and likewise for Indiana.
A change has been made by the war
department in the rules for the admis-
sion of candidates for West Point, and
beginning this year entrance examDa-
tious will be held in Nay, instead of
March 5. Candidates will be accepted
upon presentation of credentials from
high schools and other institutions OF
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