The state herald., 1902-02-21
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

The Senate committee on foreign re-
lations ordered favorable report on
the treaty TO acquire the Danish West
Indies. No amendment was made TO
the treaty In committee.
Secretary Root has called the atten.
tion of Congress TO the need of pro
viding for the fifty companies of Phil
ippine scouts. comprising about 5000
men. A deficiency appropriation is re
quired of $4,000.
The Senate has confirmed the noml-
nation of Medical Inspector Presley Nj.
Rixey, U. s. ~, TO be chief of the
bureau of medicine and surgery in the
navy, with the rank of rear admiral.
Also other naval promotions.
While no definite agreement has
been reached , a vote on the philippine
tariff bill in the Senate seems to be in
sight. 1t appears likely that the vote
may be had next week, although the
matter yet is involved in some uncer-
tainty.
Secretary Long has detached Rear
Admiral Wildes from his present duty
ms commandant OF the Pensacola navy
yard and ordered him to relieve Rear
Admiral Louis Kempff, the junior
squadron commander on the Asiatic
station.
The House. hs lssed the Lacey bill
for the protection OF miners In the ter
ritories. 1t provides that in every mine
over 100 feet in depth, mine owners be
required to provide $500 cubic feet or
pure air for every fifty miners. 1t also
provides that managers of coal mines
shall employ slot ilrers.
The House committee report on Rep.
resentative Corlss' bill TO provide for
the government construction of Pac-
ific cable, strongly urges the need of
communications in the Pacific, the
one dark spot upon the face of the
earth" 1t calls attention to the ex-
amples set by Great Britain, France
and Germany in the construction of
cable lines and declares that the own
ership Of the Pacific cable by the
United States is necessary for the
maintenance of peace and the advance
ment Of prosperity of the islands.
The War Departments bill for the
branches and the creation of general
staff corps was transmitted to-day to
Chairman Hull, of the House military
committee, and by him introduced. 1t
consolidates the quartermaster, sub
sistence and pay departments into di-
vision of supplies, under an officer
ranking as major general, with briga-
dicr generals in charge of the branches
OF supplies. commlssury, finance and
transportation. The general stan
corps is to consider the military pol
Icy of the country and prepare compre-
hensive plans for the national defense
and for the mobilization of the military
forces in time of war; 1t also has
charge OF all questions affecting the
army and the cooperation of the army
and navy, plans of campaign, arma-
ment. equipment. etc. \ lieutenant
general is at the head Of this board,
with one major general. one brigadier
general. four colonies and numerous
officers OF lower rank.
Five ex-goyernors Of states are In
cluded in the membership OF the Senate
committee on Interstate commerce. No
other committee can boast of such n
galaxy OF former executives. Senator
Cullom was governor Of Illinois from
1877 to 1883. when he was elected to
succeed David Davis. Senator Foraker
has twice been governor OF Ohio. Sc
curing two victories ont OF four en-.
deayors. Senator Tillman, as everyone
knows. went from his plow to the
governors mansion. being nominated
and elected as the farmers candidate
after n most exciting campaign against
the Bourbon regime. The goyernorsnlp
was the first political office he ever
held. Senator Mcl.aurln was governor
of Mississippi from 1895 to 1899. lie
went from the Senate to the governors
chair and then came back again to the
Senate. Senator Foster was governor
OF Louisiana from 1892 TO 1900. being
the first elected on the nnil-lottery
ticket. And when senator Elklns. rs
chairman OF the committee, looks down
the long table and says governor"
five senator ut once give him their
attention.
Regarding government ownership OF
cables Representative Corliss author Of
the Hawaiian cable hill. says England
for fifty years has been constantly ne
qnlrlng. by purchase or construction,
cable connection With her vast posses
slons. until she has expended upwards
OF n SlOO.O0O.OOo for this purpose. and
operates her own cables connecting her
colonies. England Is now constructing
n Pacific cable from Vancouver 10
Australia nj n cost or nearly $1,000.
nj In. ..F.t.r IN. fFlkA h.ar traIsfs.
men and manufacturers the benefit OF
this communication Mt the least posi-.
BILE expense. has fixed the rate Of
two shllllngs or iifty cents per word
for cable messngrs from Vancouver to
New Zealand. ''frnnce, Germany and
other nations nrc not sleeping upon
their rights. rs the people OF the United
States have been" comments Mr.. Cor.
llss, "but are establishing government
telcgraphic communications with their
respective possessions. ! therefor con
tend. that the Pacific cable should be
owned. controil,Si aud operated by the
government ~ the Quilted States, II
should bc mnAe by American manu-.
fneiurcrs, laid 10y mn American ship
under the American Nag and operated
NJ the actual cost OF dissemination
of knowledge, the proper direction OF
our army nnd navy. nnd the advance
mcnt " our ifnie aud commerce IN the
Pacific. The transmission of communi'
cation should he held by the Sinic.
The memorial of the Federal party OF
the Philippine stands was transmitted
To the Senate Ills afternoon by the see.
totnfy ~ war together with letter of
irnnsmltinl hi Governor Taft In whose
chnfge the document wnH given. The
memorial was adopted nj nn cNitnor-
.Iluuss. a..ai..s. sHs IsaIaFal luYIN