THESENATEWOKK
STATEHOOD DEBATE HOLDS
BUSINESS BACK.
MANY BILLS ARE HELD UP
Ten Cesh Measures Still to Deal
With—Only Eight Days are Left in
Which1 to Make Appropriations—
Long Sittings Seem Certain From
Now to Close.
WASHINGTON.—The course ol
proceedings in the senate during the
present week will depend largely
upon the statehood bill. If there is
no agreement the bill will continue
to cut a figure in the proceedings
whether it be under consideration or
not. just as it has done for the
greater part of the session. If the
canal treaty is proceeded with the
statehood bill it will do much to
shape its course; if the treaty is put
aside and the appropriation bills
taken up, the statehood question will
present itself in the shape of riders
on those bills.
According to the present program,
the postofflce appropriation bill will
be the first of the supply measures
to be considered. It is indeed the
only one of those bills not yet
passed, which has been reported
from committees. It carries the state
hood bill as a rider, and unless an un
derstanding is arrived at before the
bill Is taken up the question of its re
tention will immediately confront the
senate. That will be the critical period
in the statehood bill's career. Some
of the anti-statehood senators contend
that it can be beaten as a rider and
advocate an invitation to this test of
strength.
In accordance with the annual cus
tom in the senate on Washington’s
birthday, the proceedings will
begin with the reading of Washing
ton’s farewell address. The reading
this year will be performed by Sen
ator Dubois (la.). At the conclusion
of this ceremony Senator Cullom
(111.) will move that the senate pro
ceed to the consideration of the
canal treaty in executive session. If
in the meantime a compromise on the
statehood bill has been effected it is
believed the ratification of the treaty
can be secured within a day or two.
But whether there is an adjustment
on the statehood bill or not, or
whether the treaty is ratified or not,
it is intended that many more days
will be allowed to elapse before taking
up the appropriation bills. With only
eight working days of the session left,
all senators appreciate that it is essen
tial that there should be little more
delay in voting the necessary supplies
for the support of the government for
the next fiscal year.
Of the thirteen appropriation bills,
six have so far been considered by the
senate proper, but several of the re
maining seven have had the attention
of senate committees. Three have not,
however, been received from the house
of representatives. ■
Two of the appropriation bills,
namely, the pensions and the diplo
matic and consular bills, have passed
both houses and received the signature
of the jresident. The legislative, ex
ecutive and judicial bill is ready to go
to the president; the army bill is in
second conference; the Indian and the
District of Columbia bills are both in
conference with many differences to
adjust; the postoffice bill has been re
ported to the senate; the agricultural
bill and the military academy bill have
received final consideration at the
hands of the committees having them
in charge and are ready for report;
and the sundry civil bill is undergoing
the scrutiny of the committee on ap
propriations and will be reported dur
ing the week. The naval bill, the for
tification bill, and the general de
ficiency bill are still in the house of
representatives.
HOUSE HAS CLEAR DECKS.
Practically All Sessional Work Dis
posed Of.
WASHINGTON—The house enters
the last full week of the session with
the reeks practically cleared of every
thing except appropriation bills. Only
one of these, the general deficiency,
which was reported Saturday, remains
to be passed.
Several interesting contests are ex
pected on a number of bills in confer
ence. Especially spirited would be
the fight over the proposition to ac
cept a statehood amendment if one
should come to the house as a rider
on an appropriation bill. It would
command the solid support of the dem
ocratic side, and it is believed enough
republicans to accept it. although it
would be strongly, resisted by the re
publican leaders. The Philippine cur
rency bill has been set for Tuesday.
The suspension day, which, under
the rules, precedes the expiration of
each congress, begins on Wednesday,
and by. means of the parliamentary ex
pedient of making motions under sus
pension of the rules parliamentary
knots can be cut and legislation ex
pedited.
SIGN A PROTOCOL.
American-Venezuelan Agreement It
Approved.
WASHINGTON—Secretary Hay, for
the United States, and Mr. Bowen, for
Venezuela, on Tuesday signed a pro
tocol providing for the adjustment of
United States claims against Venezu
ela by a commission to meet at Car
acas.
This commission will consist of two
members, a Venezuelan and an Ameri
can, to be appointed respectively by
Presidents Castro and Roosevelt, and
in the event of disagreement an um
pire to be appointed by the queen of
the Netherlands.
The commissioners are to meet in
Caracas on June 1 to make awards
which are to be paid out of 30 per
cent of the customs receipts at Puerto
Cabello and I.a Guayra. The Hague
tribunal is to decide what proportion
of this 30 per cent comes to America
and what proportion goes to other
claimant nations.
It is expected tuat the minister for
foreign affairs will be appointed as
Venezuela's representative and that
either Mr. Bowen or Mr. Russell, the
United States charge, will be named
to represent the United States.
Baron Gevers, the minister for the
Netherlands, called at the state de
partment Tuesday and gave notice of
the acceptance by Queen Wilhelmina
of the task imposed upon her, her
consent having been previously sought
by both parties to1 the arbitration.
Some light is thrown upon the tin
pleasant reference made by Mr. Hag
gard, the British minister at Caracas,
to United States Charge Russell and
published in the British blue book
Monday by a naval officer now sta
tioned at Washington, who was in Ven
ezuelan waters and frequently at the
American legation during the period
referred to by Mr. Haggard. Without
going into details it appears in this
officer’s statement that by trying to
assist some British citizens in their
distress without first losing the time
necessary to hunt up and confer with
the minister, the American legation in
curred the ill will of Mr. Haggard, and
the difficulty got to be rather personal,
so that all the exchanges between the
two ministers have since beeu of a
most formal character.
The navy department Tuesday re
ceived the following cablegram from
Commander Diehl of the Marietta,
dated Willemstad, February 17:
"Raised blockade. War vessels with
drawn all tflockaded ports.’
NEW YORK—The Associated Press
has received the following cable from
President Castro:
“CARACAS, Monday, Feb. 1G.—1
charge the Associated Press to trans
mit, together with my gratitude, my
sentiments of deference to the people
of the United States.
“PRESIDENT CIPRIANO CASTRO.”
Child Saving Institute of Omaha.
The month of January was filled
with interesting work in connection
with this institute. The number of
children on hand January 1st was 39;
number admitted during the month,
15;; number re-admitted, 2; while
number, 56; number placed In homes
during the month, G; number returned
to parents or relatives, 6; number of
small infants who died, 2;. making a
decrease of 14. This left in the home
on February 1st 42 children.
Several cases were taken into the
courts in order to rescue children from
immoral surroundings.
A great many appeals have recently
come to this institute for admission
of children. It will be impossible to
respond to all these appeals which
are coming week after week, unless
additional funds are provided to meet
the expenses.
Any one desiring further informa
tion is requested to write to the su
perintendent for the annual report.
It is hoped the readers -of this ar
ticle will respond to the needs of this
work on behalf of the little ones by
sending whatever sum of money can
be spared.
GETS THE AMERICAN MILLIONS.
Another English Earl Trades Title for
Good Dollars.
WASHINGTON, D. C.—r-rs. Wiiliam
Thaw, formerly of Pittsburg, but now
residing in Washington, on Tuesday
announced the engagement of her
daughter, Miss Alice Thaw, to the earl
of Yarmouth.
Miss Thaw inherited $1,000,000 in
her own right from her father, who
was an iron manufacturer, and will
succeed to another large fortune on the
death of her mother.
No date has been set for the wed
ding. She first met the earl of Yar
mouth, who is the eldest son of the
marquis aof Hertford; about three
months ago.
Will Discuss Philippines.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Vice Governor
Luke Wright of the Philippine islands
left for Washington Sunday at the re
quest of Secretary Root. This probaly
will be his last visit to Washington
before his return to Manila. During
the present visit President Roosevelt
and Secretary Root will have a final
conference with General Wright about
[ Philippine affairs
THE NAVAL BILL
MEASURE PASSES LOWER HOUSE
OF CONGRESS.
MANY AMENDMENTS OFFERED
Naval Vessels May Be State Built—
Government to Refuse All Contracts
if Builders Enter into Combination.
WASHINGTON.—At the end of a
protracted session the house on Thurs
day passed the naval appropriation
bill. Many amendments were offered
to the provisions relating to the in
crease of the personnel and the author
ization of the new ships to be built.
The most important amendment
adopted authorized the secretary of
the navy, in his discretion, to pur
chase or contract for submarine tor
pedo boats after invesigation of their
merits.
As passed the bill provides for three
new battleships and an armored crui
ser, two steel straining ships and one
wooden brig for training purposes, in
addition to the submarine boats dis
cretionally authorized.
Without preliminary business the
house proceeded with the considera
tion of the naval appropriation bill
An amendment was adopted giving
members of congress whose districts
are not now represented at the naval
academy the privi.ege of immediately
appointing cadets to fill such vacan
cies.
Mr. Dick (O.) offered an amend
ment, which was adopted, to provide
for the summary expulsion of any
naval cadet found guilty of hazing.
When the paragraph providing for
the increase of the navy was reached
Mr. Mudd (Md.) a member of the
naval committee, raised a point of or
der against those sections providing
that the machinery and material used
in the construction of the ships au
thorized should be of domestic manu
facture and authorizing the secretary
of the navy in case of a combination
of bidders to have the ships construct
ed in government yards.
Mr. Gillett (Mass.) sustained the
point of order, whereupon Mr. Kitchin
(N. C.) appealed. The chair was sus
tained—109 to 88.
Mr. Fitzgerald (N. Y.) raised a point
of order against the provision requir
ing the construction of the ships au
thorzide by the bill “by contract” and
the words were struck out.
An amendment was then adopted,
reinserting the provision requiring the
use of domestic machinery and ma
terials in the construction of the ships.
Mr. Tayloj- (O.) on behalf of the
naval committee, offered an amend
ment authorizing the secretary of the
navy in his discretion to expend $5,
000,000 for submarine torpedo boats
tested and found to be acceptable to
the navy.
The amendment was agreed to, 84
to 87.
By unanimous consent the provision
which had gone out on a point of or
der authorizing the secretary of the
navy to construct the ships in govern
ment yards was restored.
The committee rose and the naval
appropriation bill was passed.
SAYS THE MONEY HAS GONE.
Chairman of Montana House Com
mittee Makes Serious Charges.
HELENA, Mont.—Chairman Everitt
of the Montana house committee on
irrigation and water rights, to which
was referred resolutions calling for in
vestigation of the state arid lands
committee, announced in the house
Tuesday that inquiry had developed
evidence of a shortage and that $30,
000 received by certain members of
the commission had not been applied
as the law directs. The charge was
made that the money had been mis
appropriated. On motion of Mr. Ev
eritt the committee was allowed $300
to employ counsel and a stenographer
with which to further prosecute an in
vestigation.
Preparing to Trek to America.
OGDEN, Utah—George E. Owens,
the ticket agent of the Lackawanna
railroad at New York City, is in Og
den with the Intention of meeting a
delegation of Boers, who are on their
way east over the Southern Pacific.
Mr. Owens Btates that these Boers will
make a tour of the United States as
the guests of the various railroads and
will reach here Monday. He says the
Southern Pacific has sold the delegates
a large tract of land for settlement
within 100 miles of Ogden. It is un
derstood that the tract lies in the
Bear river valley, to the northwest of
this city.
Eulogize on the Sabbath.
WASHINGTON—The house held a
session Sunday to pay tribute to the
memories of three deceased members,
the late Representatives Tongue
(Ore.), Rumple (la.) and Moody (N.
C.). Mr. Moody of Oregon presided,
, in the absence of Speaker Henderson.
IN LOWER HOUSE.
Representative* Indulge in Personal
ities.
WASHINGTON. D. C.—The house
on Wednesday by a majority of 2 to
1 rejected the conference report on
the army appropriation because of its
provisions for the retirement of civil
war officers nt the advanced grade,
and permitting officers to deposit mon
ey with the government at 3 per cent
interest. The house emphatically
voted against both propositions and
sent the bill back to conference.
The proceedings on the conference
report were enlivened by a sharp per
sonal clash between Mr. Hull of Iowa
and Mr. Slay den of Texas. The re
mainder of the day was devoted to the
naval bill. Slow progress was made,
only twenty pages being covered.
Mr. Hay of Virginia, one of the con
ferees, was one of those who strenu
ously opposed the adoption of the
army bill, because of the provision
for the retirement of army officers
who served in the civil war with an
additional grade ami the provisions
permitting officers to deposit * their
money with the government, such de
posits to draw 3 per cent interest. Ho
expressed the opinion that the latter
provision would establish a danger
ous precedent; that it would lead to
the granting of the same privilege to
naval officers who might, be extended
to civil employes of the government.
He characterized it "paternalism run
mad."
Mr. siayden (lex.) charged Mr.
Hull with bad faith In not giving the
house a chance for a vote on the de
posit amendment. He said Mr. Hull
had promised a vote.
“I desire to say.” interposed Mr.
Hull, “that the statement la not true.”
“The gentleman's courtesy,” retort
ed Mr. Slayden, "Is equal to his ver
acity. It is a cheap form of debate
which permits the gentleman to in
dulge in the expression he has used
and only the fact that l am at the
bar of the house restrains me from re
plying to his blackguardism as It de
serves.” The democratic applause
was prolonged at this point.
This sharp colloquy aroused the
house and Mr. Mann of Illinois un
dertook to rebuke Mr. Slayden. He
said he was surprised that Mr. Slay
den should use an expression “far
worse” than that employed by Mr.
Hull.
“The gentleman's idea of good man
ners does not especially commend It
self to me,” replied Mr. Slayden, who
proceeded to say that only very strong
provocation had Induced him to say
what he had. He then quoted from
the record to show that Mr. Hull had
virtually pledge the house an opportu
nity to vote on this proposition.
Mr. Stevens of Minnesota then mov
ed the adoption of the conference re
port.
Mr. Cannon protested against the
manner in which appropriation bills
were loaded by the senate with all
sorts of legislative provisions that
were not in order in the house. The
practice, he declared, not only demor
alized appropriation bills, but would
breed scandal and deserved criticism.
“In the house,” said he "we legis
late under rules. In another body,
the senate, they legislate under unan
imous consent. Gentlemen know what
that means.” (Generai applause.)
Mr. Richardson of Tennessee, in op
posing the conference report, declared
that whether he had sought to do so
or not, Mr. Hull had misled the house.
Mr. Hull concluded the debate. He
defended his position, calling attention
to what he stated at the time the bill
went to conference, to what occurred
in the committee on military affairs,
to show that he had carried out in
structions. He said personally he
would have preferred to have allowed
the house to pass upon the antago
nized amendments separately.
The conference report was voted
down, 33 to (19. The house by specific
votes insisted upon its disagreement
to the retirement and officers deposit
amendements. The bill was sent back
to conference and the house resumed
consideration of the naval appropria
tion bill.
Coal Dealers Must Pay.
CHICAGO—The arguments were be
gun in Judge Horton's court Monday
to determine whether the nine indict
ed officials of the Retail Coal Dealers’
association of Illinois and Wisconsin
should be granted a new trial. The
proceedings followed the rendering ot
a pro forma verdict several days ago,
and the imposition of a $100 fine upon
each of the defendants. Judge Hor
tons decision in the argument for a
new trial is the point sought in the
first instance and is awaited with
much interest.
Legislators Almost Fight.
OLYMPIA, Wash.—As a climax to
the most exciting morning of the ses
sion, the railroad commission bill in
the house was declared indefinitely
postponed on a viva voce vote at noon
on Tuesday and the house adjourn
ed amid an uproar, in which friends
of the commission bill hurled anathe
mas at Speeaker Hare, and the speaker
and Representative Lewis almost came
to blows.
NINE LIVES LOST
FATAL FIRE IN A CEDAR RAT DS,
IOWA, HOTEL.
GUESTS LEAP FROM WINDOWS
Some Escape Flames Only to Meet
D'ath on the Pavement Below—
Young Men’s Christian Association
Delegates Among the Victims.
CEDAR RAPIDS, la.—Nine lives,
according to the best Information ob
tainable under difficulties, were lost
In a flr6 which Friday morning de
stroyed the Clifton hotel in this city.
The fire started at 2:30 and at 10
the smouldering debris furnished so
fierce a heat that search for bodies
was impossible. The list of the dead
may prove longer than the number
given, but it is hoped that the informa
tion which accounts for all but this
number is correct.
Two persons were fatally injured
and forty-two more hurt more or less
severely, mostly by Jumping from
windows. The work of identification
is complicated by the loas of the hotel
register, which was burned.
The hotel, a three-story veneer
structure, is said to have beon a ver
itable fire trap. The flames started
in a pile of rubbish in the basement,
presumably ignited by defective elec
tric light wires.
i lie night clerk was on the third
floor when the cry of Are, raised by
a bell boy, startled him. Ho took up
the cry and in an instant the hall
ways were choked with frightened
guests. A rush was made for the
stairways. It was then that the crowd
already collected In the street heard
heart-rending cries of anguish and
desperation, for the (Ire, feeding rav
enously on the tinderlike material of
the lower floor, had completely cut off
escape.
There followed a stampede for the
windows, the only means of exit left.
The street below was now filled with
a crowd scarcely less frantic than the
dspalrlng ones In the fast burning
building.
“It was like a Dore picture of In
ferno sprung to life." said one spec
tator in describing the scene. “The
flames, looking blood-red from reflec
tion against the snow, lit up the pale,
drawn faces of the people In the win
dows, witli a glow that was unearthly."
The victims were literally driven
by the flames to Jump. Nearly every
one of them lingered to the last mo
ment, urged by the people below to
wait as long as possible in the hope
of assitsance. Then a cry would tell
that the fire had reached them or the
smoke had made it lmposlble to
breathe, and one after another jumpod,
some to the street, and some, more
fortunate, to the roofs of buildings ad
joining. In a short space of time the
street was filled with men and wo
men, bruised and battered, with brok
en limbs and half crazed. All were
in their night garments.
In an hour St. Luke’s hospital con
tained fifteen injured, while many
more, chiefly those who had escaped
with comparatively slight hurts, were
being cared for in buildings near the
scene of the tragedy.
Some who jumped owe their lives to
the fact that their falls were broken
by telegraph wires which interposed
in I heir downward flight. A number
of the gueBts who were able to con
verse calmly following their escape de
clared that they had stumbled over
prostrate bodies as they rushed to the
windows.
The flames literally were chasing
them, and the smoke made it almost
Impossible to breathe. The proprietor
of the hotel placed his estimate of the
number of people In the building at
between seventy and eighty. Many of
them were delegates to the state con
vention of the Young Men's Christian
association.
The President Invited.
WASHINGTON.—Senator Kearns of
Utah and Dietrich of Nebraska, Will
iam Glassman, mayor of Ogden, Utah,
and Edward Rosewater, editor of
the Omaha Bee, have invited Presi
dent Roosevelt to attend the eleventh
irrigation congress to be held in Og
den on September 9, 10 and 11. The
president said .he probably would not
be able to attend the congress.
General Foote Retires.
WASHINGTON.—Brigadier ' General
Morris C. Foote, recently confirmed,
was retired on Friday. He was for
merly colonel of the Twenty-eighth
jinfantry and has been serving with
tiis regiment In the Philippines.
Cattle Disease Serious.
BOSTON.—According to Dr. D. E.
Salmon, who has come on from Wash
ing, the foot and mo".th disease in
southeastern Massachusetts is of a
more serious nature than has been re
alized in this state.
He says more precaution is neces
sary than those in charge of infected
animals have been willing to take if
the disorder is to be stamped out with
in a short time.
MAN TO FEED WYOMING ELK.
Jeton-Yellowstone Superintendent Ha:
Hay-Fed Wild Animals.
NEW YORK—Steps were taken hen
Tuesday to save 10,000 starving ell
on the Jeton-Yellowstone reserves in
Wyoming. Seven feet of snow cov
ers their feeding ground and temper
atures as low as 40 degrees below
zero have added to their sufferings.
News of the critical condition o
the elk herds reached here from tht
chief of the United States rangers t;
A. A. Anderson, a special superin
tendent of the Jeton-Yellowstone re
serves, who spends his winters in New
York.
Mr. Anderson at once ordered thai
a temporary supply cf wild hay, at hi:
own expense, be distributed as soon a:
possible at convenient points by th:
force of thirty rangers. He then pro
posed that $1,500 to $J,000 be raiset
here by subscription to purchase mor<
w ild hay .and it. is believed uiat prom
incut persons will support the plan.
LOOKING UP IRRIGATION. »
A Lincoln Attorney Investigating as tc
Plant Mapped Out.
WASHINGTON.—Mr. A. E. Harvey
an attorney of Lincoln, la In the city
looking alter irrigation matters in Ne
braska. In company with Mr. Shallen
berger he called upon Professor New
ell. chief hydrographer of the geologi
cal survey, to ascertain what plans
had been mapped out for experiments
In Nebraska. Mr. Newt'll states that
before any Irrigation projects can be
started in Nebraska, It would be uec
essary for the citizens there to per
feet some plans concerning the list
of the waters stored; that. Is, It the
government begins any projects they
must have some assurance that the
land irrigated would be taken by the
citizens nl least at (he cost of irriga
tion, so lhat the government would
nol be out anything. Mr. Newell said
thai was his understanding of the bill;
that the government, should be relra
bursed for the money spent by the
sale of the lands irrigated. g
I
CHILDREN IN A WRECK.
Eight Killed and Thirty or More
Wounded.
NEWARK. N. ,1.—A fast express on
the Lackawanna railway cut through
a trolly ear crowded with school chil
dren at the Clifton avenue crossing
Thursday. Eight of the children were
killed and thirty or more injured. The
motorman of the car, who stuck to his
post, will die, and the engineer of the
express was so badly hurt that there is
little hope of his recovery. g
Both the express and the trolly were
on steep grades, going at right angles.
The express was signalled, and cross
ing gates were lowered while the
street car was yet only half way down
the hill. The motorman immediately
turned off the power and applied the
brakes, but the car slipped along the
icy rails. It gained tremendous mo
mentum. and at the bottom of the hill
crashed through the gates directly in
the track of the oncoming train. The
locomotice ploughed its way through
the trolly, throwing the children la
every direction.
CUBA WILL RATIFY TREATY.
Would Have Been Done Sooner but
for Delay Here.
WASHINGTON. D. C.—Herbert G.
Squiers, minister to Cuba, arrived here
Sunday direct from Havana and had
an audience with the secretary of the
navy. Mr. Squires said his mission
here is to “clean up” certain matters
connected with the Platt amendment.
Awaiting him at his hotel was a ca
blegram stating that on Monday next
the Cuban congress would take up the
consideration of the reciprocity treaty
and Mr. Squires expressed the opinion
thai it would be ratified during the
coming week.
Ii was learned thai this treaty would
have been acted on sooner but the
Cuban government was awaiting action
by the United States senate. Now,
however, that the matter has been de
layed, the Cuban government will use
every means in Us power to expedite
action on the treaty in the hope of
favorable action by the United States
senate.
Garfield Gets Good Place.
WASHINGTON, D. C—The presi
dent Tuesday sent to the senate the
nomination of Jomes Rudolph Gar
field of Ohio, to be commissioner of
corporations in the department of
commerce and labor.
Francis Pushes Fair in London.
LONDON—D. R. Francis, president
of the St. Louis exposition, spent a
busy day at Claridge’s hotel conferring
with tlie St. Louis fair commissioners
to the various countries who have
come to London to see him. A private
dinner was given in his honor at the
Carlton hotel Sunday night. Ambas
sador Choate, Prince Radziwill, Lord
Grey, Admiral Fisher, Lieutenant Gen
eral Sir lan Hamilton, Arnold Morley,
