Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-06-01
NATIONAL CAPITAL NEWS.

introduced in the House by Pence. 1t
appropriates 100000 for the construc-
ton OF the necessary plant.
The House Committee on Pensions
has voted to report bill increasing the
rates of pensioners of the Mexican and
Indian wars from IS to 81 a month.
Representative Caminetti of California
had introduced bill to give this increase
to Mexican war pensioners, and the COM
mittee decided to extend it to Indian
war survivors.
There was brisk discussion in the
Senate over the naval training station
on the Pacific Coast. The California
Senators insisted that the station be To-
Gated at Mare Island. Mitchell, Dolph
and Squire insisted that the matter be
left to a commission, and that the Co.
lumbia river and Puget Sound be con-
sidered. White and Perkins got angry,
and withdrew the bill.
Representative Wilson OF Washington
is prepared to show that the House cut OF
the Apache Indian appropriation from
$4,000 to SOC, 900 will necessitate re-
duction next year OF 1000 900 pounds of
beef and 10000 pounds of flour. 1t is
his opinion this cut is likely to lead to
trouble with the Apaches. 1t will also
be shown that the Indian police service
will be made inefficient by the proposed
cut and the Indian schools crippled.
There are many other specific items
likely to cause an uprising among the
Indians.
Senator Squire has offered an amend
ment to the river and harbor bill provid-
ing for the Seattle canal in new form,
as follows; Dredging Shilshole Bay
and Salmon Bay and improvement of the
waterway connecting the waters of Pu-
get Sound at Salmon Bay with Lakes
Union and Washington by enlarging the
waterway into ship canal, with neces-
sary locks and appliances in connection
Herewith, 5000, 000." He also offered an
amendment of $25, 900 for dredging Ev-
erett harbor, including the mouth OF
Snohomish river and Snohomish river
from its mouth to Lowell.
Among the serious charges Secretary
Herbert is investigating on the coast
defense ship Monterey at San Francisco
is one relating to the virtual running OF
the hydraulic tuTrets, which contain the
big twelve-inch rifles of that ships bat
terry. 1t is understood that on the re-
cent sea cruise of the ship during prac-
tice firing OF the guns it was thought by
the officer in charge that the hydraulic
mechanism for taking up the recoil need
ed modification. One of the machinists
of the ship was ordered to take out the
plungers and reduce their diameter
quarter to half an inch. The plungers
were reduced one-quarter, and when the
guns were fired again the water naturally
i 10 l.,
resistance, and every pipe and Joint con-
nected with the apparatus burst, food
ing the turrets and necessitating repairs
which will consume several weeks.
Attorney General Olney has rendered
an opinion in which he holds the settle
ment made by Secretaries Window and
Foster with the North American Com
mercial Company, by which the govern
ment for the years 1890, 1891 and 1892
received less rental both as to the bo-
nus and the rental per skin than was
originally agreed upon, was illegal and
therefore is not binding upon the present
Secretary. This reduced rental and tax
was accepted because the company had
not been permitted to take the full num-
Der of skins ordinarily specified in the
lease as limit. In view of this decision
the Secretary has made formal demand
upon the company for the full amount OF
rent and per skin tax for the year 1893,
and has referred to the Attorney-General
for such action as he may deem advis
able the matter of collecting from the
company the full amount due from the
previous years. The whole amount
claimed to be due the government is
about $500, 900, of which $4,000 is on
account of the 1893 catch.
All but the final step has been taken
in the admission OF Utah as a State of
the Union. A favorable report on the
bill has been made to the Senate by
Faulkner, Chairman of the Committee
on Territories. 1t is provided that the
election for constitutional convention
shall be held the Tuesday after the first
Monday in November, 1894; that this
convention shall meet the first Monday
in March, 1895, and that the constitution
framed by this convention and the cleo
ton OF State officers under it and mem
bers OF the State Legislature shall take
place the Tuesday after the first Monday
in November, 1895. This would leave
the constitutional convention to fix the
time for the election of the Legislature,
which would elect United States Sena
tors. 1t is believed that the House will
agree to the Senate amendments, and in
that case Utah will be started on its way
to Statehood some time during this ses-
sion of Congress.
The legislative and judicial appropria-
ton bill has been completed by the APP
preparation Committee. 1t carries the
salaries OF all the government officers for
the coming year. The whole amount
recommended in the bill is $2l, 101 1923,