The Somerset reporter., 1903-11-19
AT Washington.

Immediately upon Assem- bling, Thurs
day, the Senate plunged into discus
sion of the question of the eligibility of
Reed Smoot of Utah, to seat in the
senate. The debate grew out of the
remarks made by Hoar, saying that
petitions bearing upon Smoots case are
as much out of place as would similar
petitions to the supreme court of the
Uuited States be in the interest of any
case before that tribunal.
Dubois, Idaho, took issue with Hoar's
remarks and presented his views in
connection with petitions for Smoot's
expulsion, which were presented by
himself "If the allegations now on file
with the committee on privileges and
elections can be proven, do not believe
there is a senator here who would vote
to have Mr.. ~moot continue in his seat,
but If they are not proven | think we
would all unite in asking him to re-
main"
Replying to Dubois Argument, Hoar
said that in his remarks, Wednesday, he
had merely called the attention of some
of his own constituents tn the fact that
they are pointed ont to the Senate the
determination of a judicial question in
regard to which the senators are the
judges.
Hale, of Maine, took the position that
the question of Shoots eligibility had
been Improperly raised at this time.
He considered very grave and serious
matter, and while he said he had APP,
preciated the force of what Hoar had
said as to the judicial character of the
proceeding, he did not quite agree with
hat N tat nj
right of senator to his seat the senate
should be considered purely as a court
of law. AS matter of fact, the Senate
is not so limited in the matter of taking
testimony or IN many other respects as
acourt. On the contrary, the senate
is part of the government which bears
relationship to the people different
from that of body of sequestred men
like the judges of tho supreme court.
1t is nearer to the public and is entitled
to consider information bearing upon
the feelings and wishes of the people
regarding any subject. He referred
briefly to the moral aspects of the
Smoot case and said that, grave as they
are, they are not more important than
the "intrusion of a great religious HE
rarchy like the Mormon church into the
political affairs of the country
In the House on Thursday Speak
Cannon announced the ways and means
committee as follows:
epublicans-Payne, Y. Y Dalzell,
Pa /; Grosvenor, o; Tawney, Mimi.
Mccall, Mass Babcock. Wis. Metcalf,
Cal Hill, Conn Boutelle, H.; Wat
son, Ind Curtis, Kan.
Democrats-W Williams, Miss; Robert
son, La Swanson, Va; Mcclellan. N
Y Cooper, Tex Clark, Mo.
President Roosevelt, Friday, formally
received M Philippe Bunau, VarilIa, the
duly accredited envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary. of Panama to
the United States The reception of the
minister marked the birth of the new
republic of Panama into the family OF
nations and paves The way for negotia.
tions between the United States and the
infant republic precisely as they may be
conducted between any two sovereign
nations.
The House committee on ways and
means, Friday, authorized favorable
report ON the bill making effective the
Cuban reciprocity treaty by vote of ID
to Mr.. Metcalf, (Rep Cal was
present but did not vote and Messrs
Robertson (Dem La.,) and Cooper
(Dem. Texas, )Soted against the bill
Democratic Senators have determined
to oppose the ratification of canal
treaty with the new republic of Panama
should the administration enter upon
treaty negotiations with that country
The Democratic steering committee is
said to be unanimous in condemnation
of the recognition the United states has
given to the creation of new govern
ment of the isthmus
Senator Lodge has introduced a bill
to repeal the duty on hides and the
same measure was simultaneously in
troduced in the House by Representa-
tive Roberts of Massachusetts,, who has
also put in a bill for the permanent re.
peal of the duty on coal, which last
January was suspended for year.
Senator McComas has introduced a
bill establishing the eight hour day and
and also a bill creating a commission
to inquire into the condition of the
colored people of the United States
Senator hopkins introduced a bill au.
thorizing the taking of AN agricultural
census in 1905
Senator Hale and Gov. Burleigh have
persuaded the Treasury department
to suspend for the present an order
directing the moving of building adj
jacent to the postofiice at Ellsworth,
Ne.
President Roosevelt, Monday, trans
mitted to the House of Representatives
the correspondence and other official
documents relating to the recent revo
luton on the Isthmus of Panama, as
requested by resolution agreed to by
the House of Representatives.
Among the nominations confirmed by
the Senate, in executive session, Mon.
day, are the following: Maj Gen.
Sam'l B. Young to be lieutenant general
Col. Geo K Elliott, United States Marine
Corps, to be brigadier general command
ant of the marine corps,
Senator Frye On Tuesday introduced a
bin for $4,000 public building at
Auburn.
Mr.. Truman Fletcher.