The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1893-12-23
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.

ing and Currency Committee has agreed
10 report fayOrably the bill 10 issue cir.
culating notes 10 the full amount Of the
bonds deposited TO secure circulation.
In the Senate Mr.. Mitchell OF Oregon
introduced bill providing for the ap.
, preparation Of $l5 900 for lighthouse
at Cape AragO, Or, and 5000 for range
lights at the mouth Of the Willamette
river.
Bland has introduced new iree.con-
age bill, rcpelllng that portion OF the
bill Of October, 1873, preventing the
coinage Of silver dollars and re-enacting
the coinage act Of 1887. Bland expectt
the Committee on Coinage will report
an absolut free silver bill 10 the
House.
Tire pension bureau officials believe
another nest OF pension frauds has been
discovered in New Orleans The charac-
ter Oi the operations are believed 10 be
Identical with the frauds in Norfolk, Va.
and the y-discovrrrd cases at Buf-
lalo. A special examiner is now at work
investigating.
Captain Edmund Zalinski, the noted
inventor Of the pneumatic dynamite
gun, is to be placed on the retired list oi
the army. The report Of the board OF
army officers that examined Captain Ia.
IinsN at Governors Island, New York
llarbor, was received at the War Depart
mcnt recently. In it the board recon-
mcnds that the Captain be retired on
account Of physical disability.
The House Committee on Indian AZ
fairs has a mum or of bills before it, and
the intention OF Chairman Holman is 10
commence active work as soon as pos
slble. Probably the most important
measure is a bill introduced by Delegate
Rawiins OF Utah for the REIMBURSEMENT
OF portion OF the Uintah and UncOm-
pahgre reservations in Utah. 1t is
claimed that asphalt deposits, which are
very valuable, are found on lands pro-
posed TO he cedcd.
There will be great opposition in the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs to
the resolution of Hit of Illinois on the
ground that it would not be right, in
view Of further promised Communica-
tion from the Executive on the subject,
for the House to give expression to the
sentiments contained in the Hit resolu-
NiDls lllbt wiz itl0ht NNNi tilDi I W SC
cure favorable report from the COM
mittee of his resolution; but, as it will
take at least three Democratic votes to
bring about such result, it is doubtful
il he will be successful.
4 decision upon the alien contract law
was rendered in the Supreme Court OF
the United States by Justice Brewer. In
the United States Court for the eastern
district OF Pennsylvania John S. and Jo-
seph Lees were fined 81 900 for violation
OF the law, and appealed, attacking the
constitutionalty of the act and the ju-
rlsdICtiOn OF the court. Justice Brewer
announced that the Supreme Court
found the law to be constitutional and
the District Court had jurisdiction. But
the proceeding against Lees being Grim
inal in its nature, the court below erred
in compelling the defendants to give tes-
timony in favor of the government. This
error was sufficient to warrant reversal
OF the judgment and to remand the case
to new trial.
Since the resignation of j. j. Van Allen
from the position of Ambassador to It.
ally, which took effect November %, the
date of his second letter to the President
on the subject, Mr.. Cleveland has had
little opportunity to consider the ap-
pOintment of his successor. 1t is said,
however, that he has thought the matter
over and will not long delay sending the
nomination OF n new Ambassador to the
Senate. The presence in Washington
last week of Oscar Straus OF New York
has been coupled with the resignation OF
Mr.. Van Allen, and some astute New
York politicians give credence to the
story that Mr.. Straus may be selected.
1t is also stated that the name OF Judge
Lambert Tree of Illinois, ex- Minister TO
Belgium, will be presented to the Presi-
dent by Hon. Don M. Dickinson, if he
has not already taken action.
The contracts for three new gunboats
have been awarded to the Newport
News Company. The Board of Naval
Officers having finished its considera-
ton of the plans. The Union Iron
Works through its representatives made
q strong effort to obtain a contract for
one OF the boats. They offered to bnild
the two larger vessels for $292, 900 each,
and made similar reduction from their
bid on the third vessel. The ships will
be built by Huntington's Company for
S2S0,00 each. They are known as Nos
7, and 8. As finally settled upon by
the department No. will be 220 feet
long by SO feet beam, OF 1851 tons dis
placement and ii knots speed; Nos.
and 8 will be $50 feet long by 80 feet
beam, of 1913 tons displacement and
and thirteen knots speed. All three
will be twin-screw vessels with triple
expansion engines, and will carry arma-
ment OF siX-pounders and under.
1t is not known definitely what the
House Committee on Banking and Cur
rency will do upon the bill to repeal the
10 per cent tax on State banks. A bill will
be reported as soon as q vote in the COM
mittee is reached. OF the seventeen
members of the committee the six Re-
publiCans, Springer of Illinois and Sperry
of Connecticut will vote against report
ing the bill. johnson OF Ohio, who was
supposed to be doubtful, says he is
against the bill, but will report it favor
ably from the committee to get it before
the House. He thinks with matter OF
this importance, in which so many men,
bers are interested, the question should
be brought before the House for consid-
Grafton, but will reserve the right to vote
against the bill on the floor of the House.
Several members who were for repeal
before themessage have expressed them
selves since as indifferent or believing it
would not be wise to pass the measure
now.