The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-05

the company to repair. Ava they asked the
lGovernment to reimburse them. This mis-
cradle little bill has passed through nine
p pprs of and spy 1t s. is
Congress, because there '.are no funds and
no authority to pay this bill" 1t certain
ly is small business for Congress to be en-
gagged in, and blocks the way of merito-
riOus measures.
1t is estimated that it Will cost 5000 to
construct good road to the National Gem
etery at Antietam from sSharpsburg.
Solicitor General Richards has drafted
bill for the removal of persons accused of
crime to and from the Philippine Islands
for trial, and to provide against the
United States becoming a refuge for fugi-
tives from justice in the Philippines, and
to guard against the same islands becom-
ing refuge for fugitives from the United
States.
| The estimates for the Military Post in
Manila for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1904, are 100000.
| An example of costly "scare" is shown
in the bill which has been introduced to re-
store to the State of Maine "Widows
Island" In 1857 it was purchased by
4
1t is not recorded why they bought it, but
they did, and they never used it for any
thing. 1t was purchased of private in
dividuals, however, and it might be that
somebody wanted to accommodate some
body else Mt the expense of the Govern
ment. In 1887 along came a yellOw-fever
scare. The Navy Department had small
near Portsmouth, but the people got up
and howled. and the ''plague-spot" had to
be removed. 1t is not noted that there
ever was a case of yellow fever at Woods
Island, however.
| The report goes on to state that "In
consequence of wise and effective sani-
tary precautions the vessels of the Navy
cruising in the West Indies have been
Meanwhile, the health authorities of the
State of New York have established in the
lower bay, inside of Sandy Hook, very
extensive and very complete contagious
disease hospitals, where every attention
can be given to the officers and
crew of infected vessels and vessels
thoroughly disinfected. In the event
of yellow fever appearing or any
vessel of the Navy it would be immediate
ly sent to the New York quarantine sta
ton, which is now thoroughly well equip
ped for service. This renders the Wild
ow's Island Hospital unnecessary as a
yellow fever hospital, for which it was
built, and it is not required for a general
hospital. 30 .-i" &c +
Now, as matter Of fact, the report
referred to shows that the Naval Hospital
which was erected on Widows Island cost
$4,000 to start with. and was intended
to care for 80 patients. 1t never had
patient. Not one of its immaculate beds
ever had a wrinkle in the sheeting,r ex-.
cept for the army of watchmen, guards,
nurses and other attendants. All these
years this hospital has cost the Govern
ment up into the thousands for care, while
waiting for patient. Who never: came.
being built in 1900, fofa! distance, at a cost
of $3.50, and yet it way never trodden by
a human being who needed to occupy
bed in the hospital. Nov the Navy De-
partment wants to gtgftt ifid of its white
elephant, and is going f. + give it to Maine.
A bill has been Approved by the Senate,
Committee for the construction Of good
road road to Shiloh Natio 9sl, Park Cemetery
About a year ago dil45lf was enacted
into law shutting Uf "Squa W men.
from participation in the interest on Cher
okee money, or from Atiiher1ting Indian
lands. Now Senator Jbties of Arkansas
has introduced bill to authorize these
same "Squaw-men to sue for this interest
money. - ~" 81 go i.
1t takes a 14page bill to provide for the
election of Delegate from the Territory
of Alaska to the House Of Representatives,
in which citizenship and the qualifications
of electors is also defined.
.''4..ts $500 - y HrF
The bin very adroitly hedges against
any such plundering of the Treasury in the
shape of 10 cents a mile mileage by stipu-
lating that ''such Delegate in lieu of all
other allowances shall, in addition to his
salary, receive the sum of $500 per
annum, which shall cover all mileage and
other expenses except the stationery al
lOwance and compensation for clerk hire"
80
The mileage of members constitutes one
Of the greatest steals in Congress. The
limit is set at 10 cents a mile for each
member for each year. Delegate Wilcox,
from Hawaii, draws 5000 each year for
travel pay, which is of course his legiti-
mately under the law, but just the same
a steal. Most of the Members Of Congress-
travel on passes. They have great pocket
books full of them, and come and go as
they please. This makes the mileage law
a greater farce than ever. OF course, the
law was made back in the dark ages when
everybody Travelled by sthge, and the
Omitted States" lay, most Of it, east of the
Allegheny Mountains. 1t is time to repeal
it. 1t might be question for the courts
to say whether Delegate Wilcox, or his
successor, prince Cupid" shall have
$1,000 mileage, and then discriminate
against the delegate from Alaska, who will
travel about as far, and say that he shall
have only $500. .t1>
Senator Mitchell has dashed as with ice
water the hopes of the Women Suffragists.
They have been expecting to make raid
on Hawaii, and as, the laws were not ex-
plicit as to male" voters, demand suf-
frage for women. Senator Mitchell is now
out with an amendment to the Hawaiian
laws of 1900, in which the word male" is
inserted every place where the reading of
the lazy might be obscure. To be eligible
to the Senate, one must be male" citi-
zen. And the same appears in the eligi-
bility clause for the House. The women
won't do thing to Senator Mitchell, and
he can't give any good reason for his hos
tility to women voting.
Citizenship for Women.
Every once in while there comes up
the question whether, a woman who was
denationalized by marriage with foreign
mr. hoe to hoo ha