The Senate Committee on Territories reports favorably on the Joint Statehood bill. Secretary Taft states that it will be several years before any contracts for Canal work are let. January 30.—In response to Congressman Gillespie’s resolution, President Roosevelt asks the Interstate Commerce Commission for a report on the Pennsylvania Railroad merger. The Hepburn Railroad Rate Regulation bill is taken up by the House of Representatives. A vote on the bill is expected by February 6. A resolution is introduced in the New Jersey Senate directing the Attorney General of that state to bring suits to forfeit the charters of the Standard Oil and its subsidiary companies. The earnings of the Steel Trust for the quarter ending December 31, are $35,278,688. Edward Morris, of Nelson Morris Co., testifies that Commissioner Garfield promised the beef packers immunity from prosecution when he inspected their secret accounts. Samuel McRoberts, Treasurer of Armour & Co., testifies to the same effect. January 31.—Senator Patterson, of Colorado, a Democrat, makes a speech in the Senate in support of President Roosevelt’s policies in Santo Domingo, Morocco and railroad rate regulation. The debate on the Hepburn railroad rate regulation bill is continued in the House of Representatives. Justice Gildersleeve, in the New York Supreme Court, hands down a decision in which he refuses to make H. H. Rogers answer certain questions asked by Attorney General Hadley, in the investigation of Standard Oil methods, until the Missouri courts have decided on a similar case. February 1.—Republican Senators deny that the President has issued an ultimatum to them on the railroad rate question. The House of Representatives passes a resolution calling on the Director of the Census for all cotton statistics. The debate on the Hepburn bill continues in the House. Lieutenant General Adna R. Chaffee retires from command of the U. S. Army. Major General John C. Bates is nominated to succeed him. The Democratic Senators are alarmed by Senator Patterson’s speech in favor of the Santo Domingo treaty, and call a caucus for Saturday. February 2.—The President holds several conferences with Senate leaders on a compromise railroad rate regulation bill. Some of the Republican Senators are opposed to the Hepburn bill which is now before the House. The Democratic senators threaten to bar all Democrats from future caucuses who support the Santo Domingan treaty. The joint conference of coal operators and miners, held at Indianapolis, adjourns without reaching an agreement on a wage scale. The failure to reach an agreement is almost sure to result in another great strike, beginning April 1.