The Dolores star., 1902-04-04
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

sidering the advisability of presenting
to the full committee proposition for
a visit to the Philippine islands during
the next vacation for the purpose Of
Investigating conditions there and Of
taking the testimony Of leading Fill
pinOs.
The resolution adopted by the House,
providing for the election of United
States senators by direct votes of the
people, was again considered by the
Senate committee on privileges and
elections, but the committee adjourned
for two weeks without taking action.
The discussion revealed the fact that a
majority of the committee was op-
posed to the resolution. The oppon-
ents Of the measure assure Its friends,
however, that they will not object to
the making of report to the Senate
when the discussion shall be con-
cluded.
President Roosevelt declared the 9TH
er day that so long as he is in office
no deserter from the army or navy
| would find favor with him. The state
ment was made to Captains Frank
Bruner and Fred McDonough of Lytle
Post, G. A. r., of Cincinnati, who
handed in n set of resolutions from the
ex-Union soldiers of Cincinnati con-
demning the restoration of deserters to
/ the rolls, and approving his course in
vetoing certain bills recently passed by
Congress. They also arranged to pre-
| sent to the President at the next an
nual encampment of the G. A. X. the
resolutions passed by the Lyle Post
thanking him for the stand he had TAX
en- in giving preference to Civil War
veterans In the matter Of appoint
| ments.
Major General E. s. Otis closed his
active career in the army March 25th
by reason of age and will go into re-
tirement at Rochester, New York. The
War Department paid the unusual
tribute to him by issuing general or
| der reciting his distinguished services,
not only through the Civil War, but in
his management at Manila. The order
recites President McKinley's congratu-
uatory messages on the occasions of
Otis success over the Filipinos at Ma
lalOs and when Manila was captured,
and concludes: General Otis goes in
to his retirement with consciousness
of duty well done during forty years
Of continuous exceptionally meritoriOus
service, which entitle him to the grati-
tude and best wishes of his country
men,"
The answer of the State Department
to the Richardson resolution directing
an investigation into the charges that
$5OO,OO0 had been used In bribery,
made in connection with the Danish
West Indian treaty, will disclose the
fact that the United States govern
ment has refused to have anything to
do with any persons not directly con-
| tod xx.ftI <l,. ,t,I,
The failure of Congress to appropriate
the $5,OOO,OOO which was to be the
price paid for the islands would not
cause n failure of the transfer of the
territory. The construction of the
treaty by the State Department is that
| directly upon the exchange of ratifica-
tions the islands become the property
of the United States without waiting
for the payment Of the money, and
| the failure of Congress to make the ap-
preparation would simply leave out
standing debt of honor.
The Republican members of the
| House committee on insular affairs are
rapidly perfecting the bill providing
for civil form of government for the
Philippines. In the main the measure
as perfected follows that introduced by
| Chairman Cooper and favored by
Judge Taft, but subcommittee has
made n number of changes in matters
OF detail. In its present form the bill
| provides for the institution of civil
| government in the Philippines when
the governor shall certify to the Presi-
dent that n state of permanent peace
has been secured. Thereafter n census
is to be held and the islands divided
into districts. A legislative assembly
is created, consisting of two houses.
The upper house is to some extent a
continuance Of the Philippine Com
mission. The lower house, or Philip
pine Assembly, is to be elected by the
people. The discussion has indicated
a strong preference for applying the
gold standard to the Philippine coin
age, allowing the native coins to be
made of silver, but in all cases having
their value measured by the gold
standard. 1t is intended also to have
the new coins made of silver bullion
now In the United States treasury.
this being purchased by the insular au-
thorities. This gold standard plan is
along the lines recommended by the
War Department, as the silver coin
, age plan proposed before the Senate
Philippine committee found no sup
porters in the House committee.
Representatives Mondell of Wyo-
ming, Shafroth Of Colorado, Jones of
Washington and Fordney of Michigan,
have filed n minority report against
the Lacey bill to transfer the control
of the forest reserves from the inter-
ior department to the agricultural
department The transfer of the
reserves as proposed by the bill is op-
posed on he ground that a complete
transfer is impracticable because le-
gal questions relative to the settlement
Of rights to lieu land selections, min
ing rights, ETC., must necessarily be
determined by the Interior Depart
ment. Further, that the Interior De-
partment is well adapted to admins
ter all features Of forest reserve man.
agement, including policing. while the
Agricultural Department is not well
qualified for the administrative func-
tons. The report contends that great
additional expense would be incurred