The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-01-12
Al Washington.
Adams of Pennsylvania

Representative Adams OF Pennsylvania
has presented bill providing for the es-
tablish ment In the District OF Columbia
of a whipping post for wife-beaters Ii
prescr bes that that the whipping shall
be done privately by the chief of police
or his deputy in the presence OF the jail
physician only.
President Roosevelt was the principal
speaker at a special session of the Amer
lean Forest Congress held Thursday
afternoon at the National Theatre Sec
rotary Wilson presided over the session
and many of the most distinguished
people in official and social life were in
the audience.
The prospects are that this session of
Congress will not pass a river and harbor
bill The committee on rivers ana har-
bors has been considering bill with a
view to making an early report but the
leaders in the House show disposition
to let the bill go over for this session on
account of the condition of the treasury.
Cutting off the bill would be in line with
the determination of House leaders to
adhere to policy of strict economy in
government expenditures.
Arbitration treaties between the Unit
ments were considered by the Senate
committee on foreign relations, Thurs
day, but no agreement was reached. 1t
was manifest that with some amend
ments meeting the objections of senators
from southern states, opposition would
be Withdrawn
The -enate committee on commerce
has reported favorably bill providing
for the construction of a lighthouse and
buoy tender for the third lighthouse
district.
The Senate committee Oh commerce
on Thursday authorized favorable re-
port on nomination of w. d. rum to be
collector of the port of Charleston, :. c.
rum is filling the position of collector
on a third recess appointment.
Secretary Morton soon will sign con-
tract with an American company for
four submarine boats, the $500, 900 neces-
sary for their construction having been
appropriated by the last Congress. The
boats are to be built largely for expert
mental purposes.
The House on Friday passed fortifi-
cation appropriation bill, carrying &c.
TAI, S93.
Mr.. and Mrs George B. Cortelyou left
here, Thursday night, for a seven weeks
trip to southern Europe.
Senator Bailey, Thursday, submitted
to the senate proposed amendment to
the constitution, fixing the term OF the
President at six years and making him
Ineligible for reelection. The text of
the amendment follows: The executive
power shall be vested in President of
the United states, who shall hold his
Office during term of six years, and, to
gether with Vice President, chosen for
the same term, be elected as provided in
Article IL of the amendments to the
constitution. The President shall for
ever be ineligible to II reelection, nor
shall any person be eligible to an election
to the presidency who has served as
President under any succession provided
for in the constitution or in the laws
made In pursuance thereof.
On March 4, senator Frye will present
the credentials of Senator Hale's re cleo
ton, which will be forwarded here in
due season by Gov. Cobb. after the Leg
slature has voted. The day for the
swearing in of a new class of 80 Senators
is always more or less impUr ant day
10 the enate The galleries are as a
rule we'll filled by admiring friends, who
look on at the interesting, but brief pro
ceeding The senator elects colleague,
az a rule, escorts him TO the desk sen
ator Frye will perform that Office for
Senator Hale, just as Mr. Hale performed
it for senator Frye four years ago
Secretary Morton will soon take up
the question of examinations for pro-
>, hall hat
these examinations should be real tests
of an officers fitness for promotion and
he means to make them 80 An officer
who cannot pass an examination for pro-
motion TO the next higher grade will be
required to remain in his present grade
until he can pass such examination.
The expected movement for reorgani
cation of the Panama Canal Commission
has begun in earnest. A bill has been
introduced in congress for the entire
abolition of the body, while another pro-
posal is that it shall be reduced to three
members, who shall all be engineers
still other plans will, doubtless be de-
veloped, while there will of course, also
be a strong effort to have the present
commission retained intact.
The nomination of w. d Crum, a
negro, to be collector of customs, for
the port of Charleston, 5. g., was con-
firmed by the Senate in executive ses-
sion. Friday, by vote of 33 to II.
Crum had been nominated ny the Presi
dent three times and in addition had re-
ceived recess appointments. He is now
serving under the last of these recess APP
pointments Confirmation was opposed
by Senator Tillman, who objected to the
appointment of negro.
The house committee on military af-
fairs. Saturday. practically completed
the army appropriation bill. 1t carries
In round numbers $50, 00O,O00 which is
about $3 900, 900, less than the estimates
and IS 800, 600 less than the appropria-
tions for the current year.
After conference at the White House,
Saturday afternoon, lasting two hours
between the President and Republican
managers in the House and Senate, a
special session is understood to have
been agreed upon to be called in Oc-
tober.
The House committee on appropria-
tions. Monday, reported the pension APP
preparation bill, carrying 9139, $50 900.
This is $4,000 less than the current
appropriation. The payment of sur
geons' fees is cut 100000 and the
amount for the payment of pensions is
made S137 000,0J0, instead of $137, 0l0-
600, appropriated for the current year.
Senator Frye, who looks a much
younger man than he is, although II
and for several years proud of being a