Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-21
SHONTS' NAME IS HELD Up
Senate Confirms Nomination Of Panama
Chairman, but Recalls 1t.
NOT CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE
Mr. Morgan Charges That Head of
Commission is stiil Acting as
President of Glover Leaf
Railroad.

President of Glover Leaf
Railroad.
WASHINGTON, Dec. DETERMINATIONS
by the senate OF the nominations of mem
bers cf the Isthmian Canal commission were
reconsidered today in executive session and
a motion was adopted calling upon the
president for the return of the notification
OF the senate's previous action. When this
has been done the nominations again will
he referred to the lnteroceanic canal com
mittee for consideration.
Before the decision was reached TO re-
consider the vote charges Of "railroading''
nominations were made by several minority
soma tors and counter charges that the pro-
testants were proceeding in a manner not
prescribed by the rules Of the senate were
made by republican senators. The decision
developed the fact that there had been no
poll of the canal committee on the nomlna-
tions in question. and as a result obiec-
ton TO reconsideration was withdrawn. It
is generally understood that the purpose ~
minority senator's in asking TO have the
nominations returned is to permit a pro-
test against Chairman Theodore Z. Shonts
holding a position on the commission and
the presidency of the Clover Leaf railroad
at the same time.
The controversy in the senate resulted
from motion TO take up the nomination Of
j. b. Bishop as 4 member OF the commits
sion, which was only sent to the senate
today
II II is true that an attempt will be made
TO hold up the confirmation of Mr.. Shonts
on the ground that he is holding dual posi-
! tions-the craftsmanship OF the commission
and the presidency OF the Clover Leaf rond
action cannot be had before the holidays.
An effort will be made, however to have a
poll of the committee taken tomorrow and
the nominations again confirmed.
Payne Bill is Reported.
The favorable report of the ways and
means committee on the Payne Philippine
J tariff bill, which was presented today
brought to light new facts which were not
presented to the committee at the last
session. The most important testimony,
the report states, was that which showed
higher cost in the production of Philip
pine sugar than was shown last year At
present the cost OF raw sugar delivered at
lloilo or Manila is at least IA cents
pound, not considering the depreciation OF
sugar machinery nor the interest on money
invested. The insurance and freight are
three-tenths of cent pound and the
duties and cost Of refining bring the total
cost up to $40 cents a pound in New
York for refined sugar.
| The report states that the cost of refined
beet sugar is said to be S1k cents a pound
In Colorado and cents a pound in Michigan
and that therefore the cost of Philippine
sugar is not as much lower as opponents
of-tarfff reduction have stated -sr
Mention is made OF the slight opposition
| by American interests 20 the reduction on
tobacco, and the report says that even
Philippine tobacco men are not enthusiastic
over the reduction because they feel IL
will result in increased wages for tobacco
workers.
The report also says American cigar
wrappers seem likely to find a good market
! in the islands, the Philippine wrappers
are far inferior to the American product
Because Of the diseased condition OF the
| animals and inferiority of machinery and
agricultural methods no great increase in
the production of sugar and tobacco is
possible. the report says, and Americans
have nothing to fear from the passage Of
the bill, which will be of great assistance
/ to the islands.
The bill admits all Philippine products s
| into the United States free excepting sugar
and tobacco. which are to pay 25 per cent
of the Dingley rates until 1863, when they
also are to go on the free list.
Court-MartiaI for Middies.
In accordance with the ruling by Attorney
General Moody that the secretary of the
navy or the superintendent of the naval
academy had no authority summarily 10
dismiss a midshipman guilty of the offense
OF hazing, a court-martial will be convened
for the trial Of the accused midshipmen.
Trenmoor Coffin and w. A. Vandeventer,
in connection with the hazing OF Midship.
man Kimbrough.
wOuld Repeal Cuban Treaty.
Represent alive Needham of California in.
troduced a bill today providing for the
repeal OF the Cuban reciprocity treaty and
J authorizing the president to proclaim the
repeal ten days after the passage OF the
! measure. Mr.. Needham attempted to have
this repeal incorporated in the Payne Phil.
ippine tariff bin reported favorably by the
house ways and means committee In ex.
PLANTATION of the measure he said the Cuban
treaty had resulted in serious loss of reve,
nue. 10 the United States, as Cuba makes
extensive purchases in Europe and does not
give American merchants an opportunity
to get anything in return for the reductions
|
the United States.
Change in Inauguration Day
Representative Jenkins OF Wisconsin in
, troduced today a resolution fixing the las,
. Thursday in April as the date for presi
dental inaugurations.
Senator Clark of Wyoming introduced =
, similar resolution in the senate. The date
proposed was decided upon by a COMMITTEES
, composed of governors OF the states anc
citizens of the District of Columbia, which
met here some time ago for the purpos,
OF starting the movement for a new in
augural date.
' Question by williams.
' Representative Williams today introduced
resolution asking the attorney genera
} to inform the house whether any crimina
5 proceedings have been Instituted agains
a the individuals or corporations recently ad
5 Judged guilty OF unlawful restraint Of trad,
. in the Northern Securities case.
Nominations by President
y WASHINGTON. Dec. 20-The presiden
today sent the following nominate TO tn
u