Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-01-24
MR.ROOFSPETM MEASURES.
Militia and Army staff Bills Likely
to Become Laws.
CHANGE OF FEELING TN SENATE
Liquor Selling

fdSet , lNlutilet w tdfVi VI uN HS"suNs
Liquor Selling in Alaska-How Senator
Got Even With Jenkins.
Washington, Jan, %. - tspeciaL1
Early in the session It looked rs II two
bills which Secretary Root was 50 n
ious 20 have passed the militia bill and
the army stan bin could not get
through at this session, yet here we
find the militia bin has passed both
houses aud Il III conference over the
amendments made by the senate, and
the stan bill has passed the house
has been ~favorably reported by the sen
ate committee on military affairs and
with so little opposition there that
there is a good prospect Of its becoming
a law II time can be found IN the few
weeks yet remaining OF this session.
There has been a complete change III
the feeling Of the military affairs com
mittee on this subject, and the fayora-
BILE report was something of a surprise.
The change Il due to the persistence
Of Secretary Root in urging the legis-
lation, but what made more impression
than anything else was the advice of
Senator Alger, who. from his expert
ence as secretary Of war during the
Spanish war, said it was very impor-
tant and necessary legislation.
Changes Made.
The opposition Of southern men IN
the senate compelled the friends of the
militia bill to finally abandon section
"a. which organized the militia of the
several states into a reserve force OF
the army. This section practically ma
tionalized the state forces, and, while
the men who favored the proposition
asserted that 1t would never work to
the detriment of the states, yet they
finally decided 10 allow the section to
be defeated rather than endanger the
bill. Some changes have been made
s~4a.thasaaaag ssaG hil. but they are Of
asiiior Importance and win moi endan-
ger Is If the senate is willing to nc
cept a general staff for the army.
The house has provided for the in
crease Of the signal corps ia the ARM
appropriation bill. and already 50 Ne
othtr branches uf the service say that
the officers OF the signal corps viii Sc
cure more promotions than they de-
serve. Ii Is not thought that the OPP
position will be great enough TO &C.
feat the provision, as the work of the
signal corps is growing more and more
important each yea.
Is License a Fall re?
senator McCuM er has introduced "A
bill repeating the license law IN Alaska
and proposing to prohibit the sale Of
liquor in that territory. When the Ii
cense system was adopted, il WAS upon
demand Of the governor and other Off
GERS and many other men In Alaska,
who said that In spite OF the prohif3-
ton of the sale of liquor large guam /.
ties were taken there and disposed of,
causing an immense amount of trouble,
and al the same time no revenue was
derived from the traffic. With the bill
Senator McCumber has filed q number
Of protests against the license law, all
from missionaries, who assert that the
license system is an evil.
scnaeor Roar's Thrust.
WHOM Senator Hoar Introduced his
anEtrcst bill. q copy of it was taken ieI
Sep.esenfatiye .c lkins, chairman a.
the judiciary committee. and he crit
clsed II severely, Right alongside OF
senator Hoar's bill appeared the de-
nunc'aflon Of jenkins. and he handled
the measure without gloves. When
Jenkins introduced his radical resoln
ton regarding the seizure Of the con
mines ard coal carrying roads, Hoar
was asked for his opinion of Il, ana
this Is the way he got even with Jert
kins.
II am chairman OF the judiciary com
mittoe OF the senate. Harmony and
mutual respect between the chairmen
Of the two Judiciary committees ! ~
lleve to be essential to the effective
transaction of the important business
that comes before the two committees
II seems. therefore, that my respect
for the eminent chairman of the house
committee requires Inc not to express
opinions of measures introduced By
him until they come to the senate and
to my committee in the regular way
The Eight Hour Bill.
The petitions are pouring in for the
passage of the eight hour bill, and
some senators who oppose the measure
are a great Zeal disturbed. Senator ia
kins has announced himself AS deciced
~ opposed to the measure. Il employ
a great many men," he says, .'and
will not pay them wages fcr ten hours
when they work only eiGht AS a sell
ator and one of the trustees Of t z aov-l
errment TO that extcl.t | ~ r1 SN'N.l
10 vote hat the COVER ~ s!.i.i GA
what | refuse 70 do :" isn'
are getting ready 10 Az ~ !.