The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-09-08
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.

There is much hostility in the Senate
to the bill to increase the circulation oil
the national banks to the par value OF
the bonds deposited. II is not thought
IT will ever reach vote.
In view OF the present peaceful condi-
tlon OF affairs in Samoa Secretary Her
fbert has decided not 10 send naval yes-
sci to Apia, at least for some time to
come, to represent the interests Of the
United States in the Samoa protectorate.
In letter to Senator Voorhees,, toucb-
ing the pending bill to extend the time
during which whisky may lie in bond
before penalties accrue, Secretary Car
Isle declares it would afford no relief 10
owners, and says the amount Of penal
ties accrued and to accrue are not sniff
cient to justify special legislation.
In response to q resolution OF inouirv
on the subject Of silver purchases under
the act OF 1890 Secretary Carlisle sent to
the House Of Representatives letter
setting forth the following facts: From
August IL, 1890, to August 10, 1893, the
department purchased l6l ,52l 900 fine
ounces, costing $3.50, $3.50, ,459. The high
eat price paid was 81 .29L an ounce, Au-
gust 20, 1890; the lowest 90 cents an
ounce, July "a, 1893. Treasury notes to
the amount Of $50, 1885 have been is-
sued in payment Of the silver bullion, OF
which Tl4,6SB has been redeemed in
standard silver dollars and retired since
August 81, 1890, Up to August 1, 1893,
S49, lS4, l6O in Treasury notes has been
redeemed in gold; $685., 1856 standard
dollars have been coined from bullion
purchased under the act OF Of 1890. On
the l4th instant the government owned
Of silver purchased under the act of 1890 |
i3S, l6l ,376 ounces, costing $l2l ,217 ,677. |
Secretary Hoke Smith has heard the
argument OF counsel upon the appIica- i
non OF the ellison Asphaltum Company 1
or the restoration Of the two most east
,rly tiers OF townships now included in
he Uncompahgre Indian reservation in
Utah. 1t WAS the contention Of counsel
hat these Indians hold the lands they
'ccupy by sutierance only, and therefore
lelther they nor the Secretary OF the In
error have any right TO lease any part
7 them for mining or any other pur-
'ose, They argued that the only way in
Thlch the asphalt deposits in the reser
alton can be rendered accessible il by
estorlng the lands to public domain, and
he power to restore lands BY executive
reclamation is beyond question. Al
he conclusion Of the argument the Sec
atary announced that he had serious
oubts as to his authority, and in any
vent he would not do 40. He thought
probable he would send communica-
on to Congress on the question OF open-
lg the reservation or part OF il TO set !
ement.
Representative Hermann says he has
,me doubt as to what is necessary for
lie improvement at The Dalles. but ia
the opinion that il the delegation
lould unitedly support the proposition
Y a canal not 80 large as that at the
aecadea, but sufficient for all vessels
lat can navigate the upper Columbia,
vorable action may result in the fu-
ire. Meanwhile he is of the opinion
Iat it would be good thing TO have a
,rtage road built TO accommodate the y
afiic.of the river. From his intimate
lowledge Of the men who will compose
g River and Harbor Committee he is
nvlnced that they will never agree TO
boat railway. They have argued the
lestion many times with him, and say
at they do not propose to commit the
vernment to railway project Of any :
nd, and especially to one which must 70
largely experimental and will cost
.llions before it is completed and $780, Of
year to operate. Representative
srmann is Of the opinion that in time I
anal can be built, but the same rea- !
rs which are presented for not build n,
boat railway, committing the gov III
iment to building railways, operates al
ainst the idea Of constructing port J.
road by the government.