The Somerset reporter., 1902-04-24
At w ashingtOn.

The members of the House who have
been chiefly interested in advancing the
Chinese exclusion bill after informal
conferences have decided to accept the
Senate substitute, continuing In force
the present laws and applying them to
our lnsular possessions.
The President has nominated James
S. Clarkson to be surveyor of customs of
the port of New ork.
The President has nominated Colonies
Charles Bird, Simon Snyder and William
Auman TO be brigadier generals in The
regular army to fill existing vacancies
The Senate has confirmed the nomi.
nation of James r Garfield of Ohio, to
be United States civil service commits
sioner, and William Williams of New
York. to be commissioner of lmmgra-
ton for the port of New York
The Democrats and the Republicans
who joined them rode rough shod over
the House leaders, Friday when the
voting began ON the Cuban reciprocity
bill. They overthrow the ruling of the
chair in committee of the whole on the
question of the germaneness of an
amendment to remove the differential
from refined sugar during the existence
of the reciprocity agreement provided
for in the bill. The vote to override the
decision of the chair, made by Mr.. Sher-
man of New York, was I'll to 1870, Re
pubicans to the number of thirty seven
joining with solid Democratic vote to
accomplish this result. Having won
this preliminary victory, the amendment
was adopted in committee, 164-111 and
later in the House by still larger ma
jority, 1919 l05. On this occasion sixty
four Republicans voted for the amend
meut. The bill then was passed by an
overwhelming majority 247-52. An
analysis of the vote shows that 124 Re
pubhcans and 123 Democrats voted for
the amended bill and az Republicans
and ten Democrats against it. The bill
as passed authorizes the President, as
soon as may be after the establishment
of an independent government in Cuba
and the enactment by said government
of immigration, exclusion and contract
labor laws as restrictive as those of the
United States, to negotiate a reciprocal
trade agreement with Cuba by which in
return for equivalent concessions, the
United States will grant reduction of
twenty per cent from the Dingley rates
on goods coming into the United States
from Cuba, such agreement to continue
until December |, 1908
The inter state commerce commission
has issued bulletin showing for the
three months ended september 80, 1901,
a grand total of 725 killed and 1922
injured in train accidents of all kinds in
the United states. The total number
of train collisions was 1,247 and derail
ments LOOP, causing damages aggre
eating $1,S42,2 ga to cars, engines and
roadways exclusive of damage to mer-
chandise.
Representative Littlefield has been
making an examination of a resolution
for the amendment of the constitution,
80 as to change the date of Inauguration
for presidents. He was chairman of a
sub committee of the House committee
on judiciary. Their conclusion is that
there are many serious obstacles in the
way of such change and the report of
the full committee will probably be to
that effect.
The secretary of state has transmitted
to the President communication from
Minister COnger inclosng protest from
the Chinese government against the eX-
clusion of Chinese from the Philippines.
He urges the adoption of some plan
which will Sc tie the matter of Chinese
emigration in an amicabe and Just
manner
More cavalry will shortly be sent to
the Philippines to take the place of the
mounted Infantry in operations against
hostile Filipinos. Only recently Gen.
Chaffee asked that no additional re-
cruits be sent to Manila, but the depart
ment believes the infantry now doing
mounted duty should he superseded by
regular cavalry.
Gen. Miles will probably remain on
the active list until Aug. s, next year,
when he will retire for age, unless in
the mean time he commits some over
act against the administration of the
war department.
President Roosevelt has assumed
charge of all important subjects under
the war department relating to condi-
tions in the Philippines during the alb
sence of secretary Root in Cuba, and
will personally direct affairs for the next
two weeks.
Without a word of discussion of the
merits of the measure, the Senate has
passed the river and harbor bill, carry
ing appropriations of about $40, 900, 900.
The President, Monday, sent the fol
lowing nominations to the Senate: Navy
capt Joseph b. Coghlan to be rear
admiral; Capt. James II. Sands rear adj.
miral; Assistant Surgeon Will NJ Gar.
ton, passed surgeon; Howard f. Strine,
Pa, assistant surgeon; Gunner Joseph
r Ward, chief gunner.
The ways and means committee, Mon
day, offered a favorable report on the
bill OF Representative Mccall of Massa
chusetts, to refund the taxes upon lega-
cies for the use of institutions of a relig-
ious. literary, chaitabe or educational
character. or for the encouragement of
art, or for societies for the prevention of
cruelty to children.
Eating Seals In England.
I !,