The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1892-06-18
CONGRESSIONAL MATTERS.
Wilson Makes a Speech Against Cutting
Down the Appropriations for
Postohice Facilities.


atlng the 400th anniversary OF the dis
covery OF America on October IL, 1902.
James Il. Young has been acquitted
by the corps OF Washington correspond.
ents OF the charge upon which the SEN
ate dismissed him from the position OF
executive clerk. Young's removal from
Office carried with IL the imputatlon he
had communicated 10 newspaper CORE.
spondents information about the trans
actions OF the Senate while In executive
session.
Attorney +. A Orr Of San Francisco
was at the State Department recently,
and had an audience with Solicitor Part
ridge In regard 10 the claims OF the sail.
ors OF the cruiser Baltimore against the
Chlian government for damages by the
assault upon them in Valparaiso last
October. lie was informed the claims
had been brought 10 the attention OF the
Chilian government by United States
Minister Egan. The claims number
thirty. eight, and amount TO more than
81, ,0OO, 900.
A bulletin just issued by the census
bureau shows the assessed valuation Of
oil property In the United States In 1890.
except the railroad property, increased
from $lG, ,002, ,0D3, ,b43 In 1880 10 S2i, ,65l, :
65s, ,506 in 1890, an increase during the
decade Of N,7iS,69l ,922 or 1884 per cent.
Should the same relations be found 10
exist between the assessed valuation in
1860 and the valuation as IL existed in
1890 the absolute wealth OF the United
States may be estimated at $6i ,64S, ,000,-
900 or more than 81 900 per capita, as
against t5l4 In 1850, $3.50 in 1870 and
1870 In 1880.
Representative Hermann has been
before the Committee on Public
Lands regarding his resolution OF in
quiry as TO the action OF the Interior
Department in rejecting various contests
in swamp-land claims in Eastern Oregon,
which had been previously " authorized
by the department, and at Mr.. Her
mann's request final approval OF selec-
tions has been suspended until the right
OF settlers 10 continue their contests
shall be inquired into by Congress or al
lowed by the department. These lands
are chiefly in the lIarney Valley land
district. Mr.. Hermann is receiving a
large number OF petitions from people
settled on the lands, who ask for the
right Of hearing in the land Office.
Rep esentative Wilson, who ia mem
Der OF the Committee on Postoilices and
Post Roads, made strong speech against
the arbitrary cutting down OF the appro'
priations for postollce facilities, and by
abundant statistics showed how the serv-
Ice would surely be crippled unless the
government increased the amount appro-
priated 10 reasonable figure. Wilson
has had an opportunity to see how lack
OF funds in the Postotlice Department
has prevented the development OF the
mail facilities in his State, and his talk
was in the direction OF securing better
facilities and larger distribution OF mail
routes throughout the West and so bring
the mail services in this rapidly develop
ing country up to something like what
is afforded in the East. But all the talk
man might do in this Congress in that
line would be of no avail, as parsimony
is the watchword of the hour.
Representative Hermann has been en-
deavoring to hasten the work OF opening
the Siletz Indian reservation to settle
ment. Officers OF the department stated
recently the allotments will be completed
soon, not later than this summer, when
negotiations will at once commence for
the release OF the surplus lands to set
tement. This reservation contains 1885,
900 acres, and there are about 500 Indi-
ans to whom allotments are being made,
In addition to which the State becomes
entitled TO about twenty-five school sec
tions. There will remain surplus OF
about 162,410 acres for settlers. Mr..
Hermann stated to the Secretary that
this surplus is capable Of sustaining a
large body OF people, and that many Of
his constituents are anxious for the early
adjustment OF allotments and the subse-
quent proceedings that people seeking
homes In his State may have this further
opportunity to acquire them.
1t is officially stated acceptance has
been received by the United States gov
ernment from eight countries of Europe
of the invitation to participate in the
bimetallic conference. The countries
having accepted are England, Italy, Ger
many, France, Austria, the Netherlands,
Spain and Portugal. The conference
will probably be held in Brussels. The
members OF the conference who will rep
resent the United States are said to be
Judge Lambert Tree OF Chicago; Henry
w. Cannon, President OF the Chase Ma
tional Bank OF New York, formerly
Comptroller of Currency, and Senator
Jones of Nevada. Judge Tree was a
member OF the former international
monetary conference. Cannon is we'll
known fnancier, who has had expert
ence not only as head of one of the larg-
est banks OF the country, but also as the
official head of the national banking sys-
tenn of the United States. Senator Jones
is one OF the best posted authorities on
bimetallism in the country and pro-
nounced free-silver man. He has studied
the silver question from the days when
he swung pick rs pioneer silver miner
in Nevada down to the present time,
when his Senatorial associates accord
him foremost place as an authority on
silver. Senator jones' speech on free
silver in the Flfty-first Congress is re-
garded as one OF the most valuable expo
sitions Of the silver question from free
coinage standpoint in recent years.
Judge Tree being Democrat, the dele
cation recognizes both political parties,
and of the two Republicans Mr.. Cannon
represents the gold sentiment of the
East, while Jones, of caurses represents
the silver sentiment of the West and
Southwest.