Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-02-25

Washington, Feb. 15.-In voluntarily
relinquishing his seat as a member of
the house, Mr.. Shafroth of Colorado
furnished a profound sensation to-
day. The manly and earnest words
of the Colorado member fairly took
the breath of the house as he proceed
ed to put the first case on record in
that body where a member gave UP
his seat, acknowledging that his cleo
ton had been tainted by fraud. For
this fraud, Mr. Shafroth declared he
was not in any way responsible nor
was he aware that it had been per-
petrated until the evidence had been
adduced before the elections com,
mittee of the house. 1t was not done.
he said, further, for the purpose of
causing his election AS he an.
+ nounced the conclusion of eight years
service in this manner most I'M.
satisfactory to himself. his voice be-
tokened the emotion he felt. The
hush which spread over the floor and
galleries when the purport of his re-
marks was realized became almost
painful. but when he sat down with
words of thanks on his lips for the
treatment he had received from his
colleagues on both sides of the cham
. Der, applause burst forth and con,
tinued long and heartily. Mr.. Ohm,
sted, chairman of the committee in
charge of the contest, recognized the
unusual position Mr. Shafroth had
taken. He said the investigation by
his committee exonerated Mr.. Sha,
froth from any connection with the ir-
Irregularities which had been shown.
The stand taken, he slid, was a most
manly and courageous one. The com
mittee had taken no action toward
formulating its report to the house on
the case and the surprising initiative
taken by Mr.. Shafroth was based on
the showing made by a handwriting
expert employed to examine the bal
lots. Following the suggestion of Mr..
Shafroth, Mr.. Olmsted hastily drew UP
a proper resolution for his unseating
and the seating of Mr.. Bonynge ann
this was agreed to with silent assent,
whereupon the house adjourned.
Washington. Feb. 1S.-The Panama
canal question again was the upper
most topic in the senate and Senator
Spooner spoke on that subject during
the greater portion of the session He
discussed many phases, sustaining the
course of the president throughout
the proceedings resulting in the indie
pendence of Panama He also con-
tended for the superiority of the Pan
anna route over that of Nicaragua.
He was interrupted frequently by
Senator Morgan. Early in the day
Senator Tillman moved to reconsider
the tie vote by which the bill to grant
$f50,000 to former Queen L luokalani
was defeated, but further considera-
ton of the matter was not pressed.
The house committee on postoffices
and post roads agreed to the report cf
the subcommittee raising the salaries
CT $500. as at present. The report
agreed TO take away from such car
rfers the express and news agency
privileges which they now have. The
house committee On foreign affairs
authorized a favorable report on the
Hit resolution authorizing the presi-
dent to correspond with the govern
ments of the principal maritime pow
erS with view of Incorporating into
the permanent law of civilized nations
the principle of exemption of all pri-
vate property at sea not contraband
of war, from capture or destruction by
telligerent powers. The house PASSED
the Notifications appropriation bill.
The Philippine question was the sub
ject Of brief but spirited discussion.
while the bill was under consideration
An item in the bill provided for forti-
fications in insular possessions. Mr..
Smith, democrat of Kentucky, pro-
posed an amendment to preclude the
use cf any part of the appropriation
for Notifications in the Philippines.
holding that an expenditure of the
sum necessary to properly fortify the
islands was not warranted until the
future of the archipelago shall have
been determined. A party alignment
on the proposition Immediately fol-