The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-08-08

same as that vetoed by President
Taft last year. A reduction of duties
OF approximately 81 per cent is
claimed for it, and the senate prob
ably will pass it within a short time.
Washington.-The five judges Of
the United States commerce court
would be retained in Office as circuit
judges by an agreement reached by
the house and senate c~onferees on
the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill. The commerce
court would be definitely abolished
by the agreement and its work turned
over to the district courts in which
the various cases may have arisen. .
The conference report was submit
ted to the senate. 1t provides also
for a modification of the civil service
term, fixing it at seven years. After
each term federal civil employees
would be required to again qualify
for their places by examinations or
otherwise. Those now in the service
would be credited with admission to
a seven year term beginning next
September.
Washington, d. C. - The United
States senate issued a warning to
the nations of the world against
en~croachment upon the continents of
North and South America. The Unit
ed States will not see without grave
concern" said the senate, any suitable
naval or military site pass into control
of a foreign corporation, when such
possession might threaten the COM
munications or the safety of the Unit.
ed States"
So vital were the issues discussed in
the Lodge resolutions, which set forth
the policy of the United States as to
points situated like Magdalena Bay, in
Lower California, that the doors of
the senate were closed for three doors.
while the resolution was debated in
secret session. 1t finally passed with
only four votes against 1t.
Notwithstanding the comparative
unanimity of the senate upon the note
of warning it was understood the meas
ure did not have the official indorse-
ment of the administration. 1t was
framed entirely outside the state de-
partment and 1t is understood the ex-
ecutive consulted with regard to the
senate's pronouncement.
The resolution arose from the re-
ported attempt of a Japanese syndi-
cate to secure land about Magdalena
Bay. In the form finally adopted by
the senate, it declares against the ac-
QUESTION of any threatening location
by a foreign corporation which has
such a relation to another government
as to give that government practical
power to control for naval or military
purposes"
Those who opposed the resolution
on its final passage were Senators
Cummins. McCumber, Percy and
Stone.
Demand was made in the secret ses-
sion for the designation 70 the coun-
try toward which the resolution was
directed. Those who supported 1t, in
GLIDING Senators Lodge. Root, Burton,
Hitchcock and others, declared it was
not a warning to any nation in par
~ticular. bat a definition of this coun-
try's position. before embarrassing
situations might arise"
Senator Cummins opposed the resor
luton because he believed it was not
direct and specific enough, he said,
in its reference to the control OF land
by foreign corporations. Senator
Lodge insisted that the opening of the
Panama canal made it necessary for
the United States to make clear at
once its opposition to the establish
ment of any foreign power. either di-
rectly or through a commercial cor
poration. where I; might threaten the
safety of this country.