Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-02-27
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON,
WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IN CON.
GREss THE PAST WEEK.
Senators Hinder Action on Panama Canal
Treaty and Waste Valuable Time-A Com
promise Statehood Measure-Bill for Pro-
lection of President New Department Fig

ures
In the senate Thursday the friend
of the statehood bill joined the opposi
ton to the Panama Canal treaty in al
effort to make the ratification of tn
latter depend on the passage of the for
mer The plan seemed to be to della.
action on the treaty until an agreemen
TO vote on the statehood bill could b'
secured. Mr.. Quay called for the read
ing of the Colombian constitution, I
two hours job, and Mr.. Morgan con
tinued his speech against the treat.
both in the afternoon and during the
evening session. He held that the al
lance proposed by the treaty would bt
an undesirable one, since the isthmiar
government is practically dictated by
the Catholic church, and especially by
the Jesuit order. Both he and Mr..
Quay objected to fixing time for vot-
ing on the bill unless the statehood bill
could be included in the vote. The
house passed the naval appropriation
bill. The most important amendment
adopted was one to authorize the sec
rotary of the navy in his discretion to
purchase or contract for submarine tor
pedo boats after investigation Of their
merits, and appropriating 500, 600 for
that purpose.
In the senate Friday, Mr.. Burton of
Kansas spoke in favor of the omnibus
statehood bill; Mr., Dubois criticised
the treaty and Mr.. Morgan continued
his remarks in opposition to the treaty
4 l.E, 10. -.
rules, the advisability of closure aud
the necessity of maintaining free
speech Mr. Quay made a long report
on the isthmian canal question. The
house adopted the report Of the con-
ferees on the bill for the protection of
the president This provides the death
penalty for killing the president, vice
president or any government officers in
line of succession, or L. 5. minister or
attempt to murder gets
death or at least 10 years imprison-
ment aiding, advising or abetting
shall be deemed a principal offence :;
teaching the duty or necessity Of killing
government officials gets s., fine or
20 years Imprisonment or both; per
sons opposed to organized government
are prohibited from entering the Unit
ed States and such persons shall not be
The Notifications appro-
priation bill was passed. 1t carries
g, go, 600, about 800, 600 less than the
current law. The conference report
on the Legislative appropriation bill
was adopted without debate. The
president signed the Elkins rebate bin.
a compromise measure on the omni-
bus statehood matter was perfected by
senate leaders Saturday. It plans the
admission of Oklahoma with a provis-
ion that in 1906, when the existing
treaties with the Indians will no long
er be in the way, Indian Territory will
be added to the state. II also pro-
vides for the admission of New Mexico
and Arizona as single state under the
name of Montezuma, with a provision
that when that part of the state which
is now included in the territory Of Ar
Izona contains a population of 300, 600
It shall become separate state, pro-
vided that INABILITY of the people in
that territory vote in favor of being
from the remainder of the
state.
Washington farewell address was
read in the senate Monday The ON
nibus public building bill was passed
and the postoffice appropriation bill
was considered without final action.
Mr.. Tillman spoke for nearly two hours
~ the Indianola, Miss. postetfice case
Among other things he said that if
he policy of the admin lstration in re-
gard to the equality Of the negro was
.arried on and Booker Washington
should be appointed TO the cabinet he
would vote for his confirmation. By
he omnibus public building bill.
lew building is to be erected at Bur
ipgton to cost 900, 600: the old build
ng to be sold. The house passed the
,eneral deficiency appropriation bill,
he last of the regular supply bills, /
Sl3, Cos, Isl. 1t was amended .
o appropriate 81, 1000 to replace /
he stores and storehouses at the Rock .
sland arsenal, recently destroyed by
ire. The bill TO amend the railroad .
afety appliance act was sent to CON
erence and the conferees were instruct .
d not to insist on that portion of the .
ouse amendment giving the interstate .
ommerce commission power TO reduce .
'elow % per cent. the number of cars
quipped with patent air brakes.
Secretary Cortelyou has laid before
congress scheme for the organization
+ the new department of commerce
nd labor. In addition to the y
ranches Of the public service trans
erred to the new department from
Tier departments, which have been
ppropriated for, he asks for appro-
for salaries aggregating $685.
30. The building for his department,
e says, should have at least one hall
llted for conferences or congresses, in
or national. He asks for
!, 200, 600 for the building, exclusive
the site.
The statehood compromise bill was
,st in the senate Tuesday the demo-
rats refusing compromise. The pros
ects are that all the appropriation
ills will be passed and that there will .
e no statehood legislation unless the
yield to the compromise. {
he matter was left with the demo-
attic members of post office commit
e. Most of the senate's time was &C.
lpied with the indianapolis postoffice I
Use Mr.. Tillman speaking for three {
ours in his extreme way on the race
lestion. Mr. Proctor called up the
yrlcultural appropriation bill and all !
lie amendments, except the statehood .,
lie, We're agreed to- The Aldrich bill !
II the safe keeping of public money :
as amended so as to accept as secur-
y the first mortgage bonds of any rail .
'ad company which has paid divi- /.
ends of not less than per cent. per
mum regularly and continuously
! its entire capital stock for a period
not less than l0years previous to the :
aposit of the bonds also so that the [
nited States shall have lien Oh cur
MT assets of hanl.s l., rrhink MIL Z,