The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-12-24
At Washington.

The Cuban reciprocity bill was signed
by the President, Thursday, which will
go into effect in ten days.
The Senate in executive session, Fri
day, confirmed the nomination of Albert
K. Day, collector of customs of Bangor,
Maine.
The House on Thursday passed with
out division the pension appropriation
carrying $13S, 10000 While the bill
was under consideration there was a
general discussion on Panama, rural
free delivery, tariff and pensions,
speeches being made by Messrs. Scott
(Rep Kas.), Miers (Dem., Ind }, Sims
(Dem., Tenn }, and Burgess Dem, Tex }
Secretary Root has set general staff
officers to work preparing detailed esti-
mates of the appropriations considered
necessary for army manoeuvres during
the next year. These will be promptly
sent to the House committee on MILL
tary affairs, where there has arisen a
note of complaint against large expendi-
lures for this purpose.
The relationship of the United States
to the new republic of Panama contin-
ued to be the theme in the Senate, Fri
day, but the discussion was confined to
one Senator and was not 80 exciting as
the day previous. MIR. Daniel of Vir-
ginia was the speaker, and he advocated
the acceptance of Mr.. Hoar's resolution
calling on the President for more infor-
nation relating to the November revo-
luton in Panama
Rep. Cooper of Wisconsin has intro
duced a resolution providing for the
free transportation of 900 teachers of
the public schools of Porto Rico to the
United States and return, to allow at
tendance on the summer schools in this
country. He also introduced memo
rial of the House of delegates of that
island praying that the constitution of
the u S. be extended to Porto Rico.
He also introduced a memorial from the
same body praying for territorial form
of government.
The secretary of war has determined
to take no further action regarding the
utterances of Major General Macarthur
in Honolulu recently in which he is al
legged to have predicted war between the
United States and Germany, In a ca
blegram to the department. Gen. NC
Arthur explains that his remarks were
made in private conversation and not
with the slightest idea that they would
be given publicity.
The Senate in executive session, Fri
day, ratified the treaty for the extern
sion of commercial relations" between
the United States and hina, and then
removed the injunction of secrecy. No
opposition was manifested by any Sena-
tor TO the treaty, though Mr. Nelson
(Rep. Mimi made long speech in
which he criticised the convention as
making insufficient provision for the
trade of the United States.
John A Benson. a wealthy San Fran
cisco real estate operator, charged by
the interior department with being the
head of the alleged land frauds extend
ing over several western states and ter.
ritories, to which Secretary Hitchcock
referred In his annual report, was ar
rested here at the Willard hotel by ].
A. Burns, a secret service officer, just as
he was preparing to leave the city for
New York.
refusal by the United States to con.
sent to proposition from Colombia for
reference of the Panama question to
The Hague tribunal is expected and will
be fully approved by the European pow.
day. There is a question between Co
lombia and Panama that may properly
be submitted to the Hague tribunal
During the week past there have been
developments in the Panama situation.
Senator Hoar presented an order in the
Senate calling for information in regard
to the course pursued by the Admins
tration prior to the declaration of indie
pendence by Panama, making oharae-
teristic speech in doing 80, severely ar
raigning President Roosevelt and Seere-
tary Hay. senator German has been
bard at work, to solidify Democratic
Senators against ratification of the
banana treaty and Senator Hoar's speech
has been vary gratifying to him On
the other hand the Louisiana legislature
has instructed the senators of that state
to favor the treaty. Other southern