Gilpin observer., 1903-03-19
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

The Senate on the 18th inst. arrived
at an agreement to take a vote on the
Panama canal treaty on Tuesday
March 18th.
Secretary Root proposes to ask Con.
gress for an appropriation of 100000
for the purchase Of service medals to
be conferred upon officers and men
who participated in the war with Spain
and the suppression of the "boxer" up.
rising in China. The department
wishes to distribute 446.SS2 medals.
United States Consul John L. Bitt-
niger at Montreal has been invited to
resign. He will be succeeded by Major
A. w. Edwards, North Dakota news
paper man. Consul Bittinger, while on
leave of absence at his home in ST.
Joseph talked freely of the relations
between the United States and Canada
and criticised the cooks of Montreal.
This was lily received in Canada and
has led to the present action.
The president has appointed Will
treasurer of the United States at New
York. Mr.. Plimley was endorsed for
this position by the presidents of the
Traders National bank, the United
States Mortgage & Trust company,
the Colonial bank and other prominent
representatives of business in New
York.
Justice Day, the newly appointed
member of the Supreme Court, is suf-
fering from pneumonia. Justice Day
was suffering from a slight cold when
he left Canton for Washington to take
the oath as member of the Supreme
Court. The bad weather of the past
week aggravated this cold into a
severe attack of grip, followed by
pneumonia The following statement
was made March 18th: The friends
Of Judge Day are apprehensive con-
cerning his condition. His tempera-
ture to-day was high, running up to
the neighborhood of 1O5. He is not a
man Of robust physique. but on the
contrary is of frail appearance and it
is feared he may be unable to with
stand a severe attack of illness.
The Washington Post says: 1T is
announced that James N. Timer, assis-
tant attorney general for the post
Office department, will be required in
the near future to tender his resigna-
panied by the statement that this ac-
ton will have no bearing on the COM
plant filed with the president by T. c.
Campbell of Cincinnati, an attorney
representing several of the turf con-
Germs, whose affairs recently have
been decided in the courts. Mr. Timer
Is incapacitated by illness from per-
forming the duties of his office and
1t is stated that his resignation will
be required solely on that account
Mr.. Timer is seventy-seven years of
age and suffered a stroke of paralysis
last July and in December"
At the opening of the Senate on the
18th inst. the President pro tenn called
the attention of senators to the fact
that under strict Interpretation of
the rules, only such business as prop.
erly belongs to the matters under con-
sideration in executive session should
be presented at this extra session
Mr.. Allison Uowa) offered a resolu-
ton which he said he thought was
proper at this time, authorizing the
committee on rules to re-examine the
rules of the Senate with the view to
ascertaining what changes. if any. are
necessary and especially to make in
Quiry whether it is expedient to in any
way limit debate in the Senate and If
SO to what extent. The resolution fur
ther provides that the committee is
authorized to sit during the recess or
the Senate and is directed to submit
report to the Senate of its conclu
sions as soon as practicable after the
beginning of the session next Decem
ber. The resolution was referred to
the committee to audit and control
the contingent expenses of the Senate.
In discussing the Cuban treaty Sem
ator Teller contended that it was a
direct thrust at the sugar industry of
the United States and its effect would
be entirely in the interest of the sugar
trust. which he declared. would be
benefited TO the extent of no less
than 100000 annually by the reduc-
tion of the duties on raw sugar. He
also discussed at some length the
amendment recommended by the COM
mittee on foreign relations which pro
vides that the reduction on Cuban SUI
gar during the life of the treaty shall
not be more than 20 per cent, and
that during this time there shall be no
reduction on sugar imported from any
foreign country. He ridiculed this
amendment. declaring that 1t had been
inserted merely for the purpose of
catching the votes of senators from SUI
gar producing states. He asserted
that it could have no possible effect
In binding the government of the
United States. IL its Congress should
decree otherwise. In other words. he
said. this enactment could be repealed
just as any statute might be by Con-
gress.
The Democratic senatorial caucus
met March 9Th and elected Senator Ar.
thur Pue German to his old position as
chairman of the caucus. The steering
committee for the past Congress has
numbered only seven members. but
Senator German requested that the
number should be increased to nine
which was the number in the days OF
his previous craftsmanship and this in
crease was decided upon. The com