The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-09-01

To promote The efficiency of the naval
militia, IA comparatively new branch oil
the volunteer service, congress has
authorized temporary loan TO any
state maxi application for il of any
vessel Of u navy which was not fitted
Tor regular service.
An act was passed constituting the
law relating to retirement and pay OF
mates in the navy, so that rs warrant
officers, now serving ms mates, shall be
eligible To the list and shall he salaried
at 81 200 when at sea, and S700 while
on leave or waiting orders.
Two important laws relating TO the
life saving service were enacted, one
providing that stations on the Atlantic
aud Gulf coasts shall be manned from
the first of August to the first of June,
and those on the lakes from the
opening until the close of navigation;
the other extending the benefits oi
marine hospitals to the crews OF thos e
stations. On suggestion OF the secr> :
tnry of the treasury, the quarantine
laws were amended To exempt vessels
plying between near by ports OF the
United States and Canada and
Mexico.
The act of March, 1855, relating 10
lights on fishing vessels, was continued
In force hy such enactment that it
would not be repealed by recent regu-
lations to prevent collisions at sea,
which in some respects would have
overru,ed il. A revenue cutter was
provided for service in the harbor at
San Francisco, fog signal was estab-
liShed at Ike vance, Wis, and range
lights as well as lightships with fog
signal in Boston harbor.
Public Land Legislation.
An act was passed extending from
four to five years the limit OF time
within which final PROOF NAV be made
by settlers who have declared their in
tention of taking up desert lands. An
other law IN the interest of western
settlers was one enabling those who
desire to locate in other than mineral
lands TO secure u survey by depositing
with the government "A sum SUITE Client
to cover the cost of the survey. Affi-
davits i'll land entry cases may be
made before the United States COM
missioner instead of the United States
circuit court commissioner as provided
hy law, were made valid by special en-
aetment. Other legislation of impor-
lance relating To public lands includes
the act to enable the state of Montana
10 select as part of the land granted to
her in becoming u state, any of the
lands in Bitter Root valley above Lol0
Fork of the Bitter Root river; an act
extending the time of payment to pur-
chasers Of lands of the Omaha tribe ol
Indians in Nebraska TO December l,
1897; an act authorizing the secretary
Of the interior To lease for periods Of
10 years 20 acre tracts in the Yellow.
stone Park for hotel stores, and an acl
for the resurvey of Grant and Hooker
counties in Nebraska.
Two more important Investigations
desired by the house committee Oh
labor have been authorized, one for al
investigation into the effects of ma
chinery on labor, with reference TO III
productive power and effect upOl
wages, hours of work and employment
Of women and children; the second, TO
an investigation OF the extent of EN-
ployment Of women and children anC
the conditions under whicn they work
Both inquiries will be conducted hy
the commissioner of labor.