Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1902-02-20
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-
ton 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 $515, 600.
The Senate has confirmed the nomi-
nation Of Medical Inspector Presley Nj.
RiXey, U. S. N, 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 n 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
as commandant of the Pensacola navy
yard and ordered him to relieve Rear
Admiral Louis Kempff, the Junior
squadron commander on the Asiatlc
station.
Full authority is given for the state
ment that the protocol now being pre-
pared by Admiral Walker, chairman of
the Isthmian canal commission, and
DIR. Silva, the Colombian minister here,
will not contain any provision for the
REIMBURSEMENT of sovereignty over the
isthmus. 1t is understood that the ter
ritory for the canal, which will be pro-
vided for in the protocol, is strip
eight miles wide, four miles on either
side of the canal. -
The House committee report on Rep
resentative Corliss' bill to provide for
the government construction of a 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. r
The subcommittee of the Senate
committee on foreign relations, which
had been giving especial attention to
the legal aspect of the reciprocity
treaties, has reported its findings to
the full committee, and Senator
SpoOner was authorized to prepare a
written report on the subject. The
committee concludes that the power
to make commercial treaties rests with
the President and the Senate, and that
the fact that they involve questions of
do. hat
the House of Representatives should
have equal opportunity to consider
them.
The War Departments bill for the
reorganization of the army stan
branches and the creation of a general
staff corps was transmitted to-day to
Chairman Hull, of the House military
committee, and by him introduced 1t
consolidates the quartermaster, sub
sstence and pay departments into di-
vision of supplies, under an officer
ranking as major general, with briga-
der generals in charge of the branches
of supplies. commissary. finance and
transportation. The general staff
CORPS is to consider the military pol
icy of the country and prepare compre-
hensive plans for the national defense
-
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. A lieutenant
general is at the head of this board,
with one major general, one brU,adier
general, four colonies and numerous
officers of lower rank.
NJ StD n
cluded in the membership of the Senate
committee on interstate commerce. No
other committee can boast of such a
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 out of four en-
deavors. Senator Tillman, as everyone
knows, went from his pillow to the
governors mansion, being nominated
and elected as the farmers candidate
after most exciting campaign against
the Bourbon regime. The governorship
was the first political office he ever
held. Senator McLaurin was governor
of Mississippi from 1895 to 1899. He
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 anti-lottery
ticket. And when Senator Elkins. ms
chairman OF the committee, looks down
the long table and says governor.
five senator at once give him theil
distinguished attention.
Regarding government ownership OF
cables REPRESENTATIVE Corliss author OF
the Hawaiian cable bill, says England
for fifty years has been constantly ac
quiring, by purchase or construction
cable connection with her vast posses
sions. until she has expended upwards
of n S10O,O00.OOO for this purpose, and
operates her own cables connecting hel
colonies. England is now constructing
n Pacific cable from Vancouver tc
A uStrnlla ut cost of nnarlY xQ.NlM.