The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-02-23
At Washington.

and the House of Representatives on fri
DAY, discussed with the President the
pending naval bill. The President told
all MS callers that he hoped Congress
would provide III the bill for three bat
tleshlps, instead of two. as the measure
now stands, saying he thought it unfor-
tuhate not 10 carry into effect the pro-
gram Tor the building mp of the new
navy and that retrenchments might bet
ter be made on other departments than
on the naval establishments
In order to facilitate action at this
session on the statehood bill the House,
on Friday, passed a resolution sending
that measure as amended by the Senate
directly into conference without an op-
| portunity being afforded to debate it.
With the exception of Mr.. Mac Iachlan
of California who voted with the Demo.
cratic party lines were strictly drawn
Funds with which to prosecute the
| inquiry into the methods of the Stand
ard Oil company in Kansas, were asked
of the House, Friday, by Secretary Met
calf, Of the department of commerce
and labor. In this communication the
secretary says that this inquiry cannot
be completed before July LIST, next His
suggestion is that the unexpended bal
ance of an item of $40 900, and another
of $15, 900 carried in the current legisla-
tive, executive and judicial appropriation
act be made available for this as well as
all other work of investigation which
this department is prosecuting. These
items were appropriated to carry on the
"beef trust and other inquiries.
Nothing but absolutely necessary leg
| oil 10 DO -, h.. II Al
week This legislation, so far as can be
indicated in advance, will consist of the
completion of the naval appropriation
bill on Monday, and consideration of the
river and harbor and sundry civil appro-
priation bills, program which will oc.
cupy the week.
Sitting in special session the House of
representatives., Sunday, conducted
memorial services in tribute to the
memory of the late Senator Matthew
Stanley Quay of Pennsylvania. Mr.. Dal-
zell presided.
In diplomatic circles it is reported
that Attorney General William H.
Moody of Massachusetts is to resign his
portfolio in favor of Ambassador Choate,
so long the best-known American in
England.
The Right Rev. William K. McLaren,
Protestant Episcopal bishop of Chicago,
died at Is o'clock, Sunday night, at the
Elbama Apartment House in Madison
avenue, New York Death was due to
heart failure
Sunday was a day of fires. The most
destructive was at Indianapolis, which
destroyed 81 800 600 worth of property
There wac a $3.50. 600 fire in New York
city $50 900 fire In Texas, a 800 900
blaze at detroit, Mich a loss of $4,000
at OXfold, Mass; a $4,000 loss at Leo
minister NJ ,ss and flames cost $50 900
at Pittsheld, Mass
No report will be made IN the Senator
Smout case during the prese Mt Congress
This has been agreed upon by several
members of the Senate committee on
privileges and elections, for the reason
that time does not remain for considera
ton by the Senate of such reports az the
committee might make Senator spoon.
er, Hale, Plat, Conn aud several other
senators as we'll as members of the COM
mittee, desire TO discuss the case when
it is brought to the senate Members of
mined to continue the Investiga ion
meeting of the committee is called,
s., Chairman BsrIows intends TO b.lng up
the question OF asking the Senate to
grant the committee authority 10 90 TO
! Utah and take testimony.
The House, Monda,, after seven
hour session passed the naval appropri-
alton bill, carrying a total of 500, 914,-
$50. The provision for two battleships,
a. reported by the committee on naval
affairs was retained Both the majority
and minority were badly divided over
the proposition at least 40 members of
| the latter going over tn the Republicans
while about an equal number of Repnb-
licans voted IN opp"siucn.
Represeu ative Burleigh has been sc
| lected AS member of the reception COM
mittee at the inaugural ball on the even
ing of March The duties Of the com
mittee are to formally welcome Pres
and Mrs Roosevelt
The House, Sa uraay passed the
pensions appropriation bill, carrying
S138, $50, 100 The minority, led by Mr.
Underwood, made an Intellectual effort
to reduce the aggregate of the appropri-
alton so as to exclude pensions allowed
under Order No. 49," which 1t was
stated would involve about 81 500, 900.
1t was contended that the order was
without authority of law. The minor
ity insisted that the majority should
bring in service pension bill.
When the House convened Saturday
Mr. Wadsworth IN Y, chairman of
| the House Committee on Agriculture,
stated that the Senate had withdrawn
the revenue CLAUSE from the agricultural
bill, and on his motion, the House disa-
greed with all the Senate amendments
to the bill and requested conference.
Messrs Wadsworth IN. y, Henry
Comm, and Lamb tVa.) we're appointed
conferrees on the part of the House
Bids have been opened at the navy
department for 100 sets of three-inch
gun forgings, involving approximately
5000 The briggs Seabury Ordnance
Corporation was the lowest bidder by
from five to eight cents per pound
Representative Bureigh has present
ed the petition of a number of citizens
of Maine, favoring the passage of a par
cells post law. 1t went to the committee
on post offices and post roads. Several
such petitions have been sent in from
Maine of late
Stafford Eaton.