The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-17
SIGNS CUBAN BILL
President Roosevelt Gives Fin
ishing Touch to Reciprocity.
Other Countries Now Demand
Similar Concessions.
HOAR WANTS TO KNOW.
Did the Government Have Amy
Previous knowledge
OF the Revolution Which Took
Place i'm Panama?

| Washington, Dec. 1.-THE president
signed the Cuban reciprocity bill a few
minutes before 1 o'clock this afternoon.
Now that the bill has become a law
question of great interest has arisen,
namely, the effect of the reduction of
| the duty on Cuban sugar upon inn
portations of sugar from other coun-
tries. The British government has
served formal notice upon the state de-
partment that under the favored nation
clause it expects that British sugar
from the British West Indies shall be
admitted into the United States on
equal terms with Cuban sugar and it
is not doubted that Germany, France,
| Austria and the other great beet sugar
producing countries will do likewise. An
old holding of Attorney General Olney
under President Cleveland's administra-
ton was averse to such demands but
the question promises to be reopened
with vigor.
IN THE SENATE.
Washington, Dec. 17-At the begin
ming of today's session of the senate
Mr.. McComas (Md) reported a bill from
the committee on privileges, providing
for the protection of foreign exhibitors
of artistic, musical and literary works
at the St. Louis Worlds fair, and at his
| request the Dill was BlNSA 1IlLiSO1dlS
consideration and passed.
| Mr.. Hoar then addressed the senate
on his resolution calling upon the pres
| ident for such information as may be
/ in his possession relative to the status
| of the republic of Panama, when the
Il eaty with that country was negotia-
ted. Mr.. Hoar began by saying that
| he was favorable to the isthnian canal
and desirous that the president of the
/ United States should build the great
/ waterway RIlt anxious he was for
| the accomplishment of these ends, he
was even more anxious that the canal
should be built without taint or Sus-
| picion of national dishonor.
! What we want to know" he said,
"did this government knowing that a
revolution was about to take place so
arrange matters that the revolution,
whether peaceabie or otherwise should
be permitted to go on without Interrupt
tion, and whether our national authori-l
ties took measures to prevent Colombia
from stopping 1t.
Mr.. German followed Mr.. Hoar. he
ridiculed the Panama resolution and
claimed that the administration had
Suppressed information. He sharply
attacked the administration and in
4 tinated that the course which had
been entered upon was for the purpose
of securing partisan advantage in the
approaching presidential election. He
complained bitterly of the course OF
Assistant Secretary OF State Looms IN
giving the facts bearing upon the
treaty to a. = banquet in New York,
which was, he said, violation of a
sacred secrecy, and also said the facts
did not justify the statement by MI.
Loornis that the Nicaragua canal was
not feasible. He concluded by declar-
ine. that the arms of the United States
should not be used to sustain the for-
| tunes of a falling party.
| Mr. Hoar asserted that Mr.. Foraker
had misrepresented him and said that
| had diSnl9imad knOWl-1
! edge of the revolution on the Istnmus
| and this information was Whal ne
sought -...o,,
Mr.. Aldrich asked him if the Democrats
would vote against the canal treaty ana
Mr.. German replied that as the facts
are now known and if necessary to do
so to save the honor of. the country,
MIR Foraker followed Mr.. German.
He said that Mr.. Hoar's speech should
have been made in closed session Sucn
| a course would have been the part OF
patriotism, especially as 1t criticized
| the president.
Mr. Tilman asked if he knew
whether it was true that 5000 troops
were being modified to march on Bo-
gotta ''in support of the baby republic,
born in some back rooms
Mr.. Foraker said he had no such
knowledge.
Cant the information be obtained
at the White House?'' asked Mr.. Till
man.
"If the senator wants to obtain such
information he should apply at the
White House himself replied MI
! Foraker.
IN THE HOUSE
| Washington, Dec. 17.-When the house
| convened today the speaker signed the
4 bill carrying into effect the Cuban re-
! ciprocity treaty, using gold pen pro-
vided by the Cuban minister.
| AID TO AUTHORS
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE senate
| committee on patents today directed
favorable reports on two bills in the
interest of literary workers, artists, in
/ yentors. composers and other workers
in the fine arts. In one bill protection
/ is afforded foreign exhibitors at the
| Louisiana Purchase exposition by Civ
| ing them the sole right of producing
and vending their literary or art works
for d term of two years, under the
| copyright law, upon payment of fee
/ of S1 50 for each title or description re-
! corded at the library of congress The
full term of the copyright privilege
may be obtained by filing two copies
of the original text of any book or
/ copies of any work of art brought into
this country for the purpose of exhibi
tion at the St Louis exposition.
Another bill increases the protection
given to authors or proprietors of
I ing Jrans1ations into the English Ian
guage for sale in this country
Fire in Chinatown.
Portland, Ore, Dec. 17.-As the result