The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-25
In WASHINGTON CITY.

las asked tie attention o. the S<D4SS 10
one measure snsy, ard that authorized the
Columbia T. Red River Mountain railway
10 build bridge across the Columbia
river. NOT orl1y fer sts own use bat also for
wagons and general traffic. rates Of toll
TO be fixed BY the secretary o. war. The
lattsr's approval OF zhe construction OF
the bridge must be secured, ard the bridge
Is 20 De so baif that al water craft navi-
eating the river a. that point shall have
free and unobsIructed passage.
In order 70 secure this xhe company will
be required 10 furnish drawings and maps
showing the banks OF the river. shore
lines a. high and low water, and direction
and strength OF the current al all stages
The corporation VIII also BE- Obliged 10
maintain. al their Own expense. from sun
set 10 sunrise, such lights or other signals
on sad bridge as the lighthouse board viii
prescribe. The bridge IS also 10 be pest
route The United States viii have the
r.ght-of-way through the bridge and IT'S
approaches for postal telgrapa purposes.
and all telegraph ard telephone conapa-
mes shall have equal rights The owners
! of the bridge may charge reasonable
] compensation for SIS use by other compa-
MES, and IN case Of dispute the secretary
Of war is made arbitrator.
II the act passes. the bridge must be
built within three years or * viii be nun
and VOID. Any alterations or changes that
may be required by the secretary OF war
or congress must be made by the railroad
company at its own expense. and at any
time after the completion OF the bridge;
and the right 10 alter, amend or repeal
this act Is hereby expressly reserved; and
the right 20 require the entire removal OF
the bridge, constructed under the pnovis-
IONS of this act, at the expense OF the own
ers thereof, whenever congress shall de-
eide that the public interests require IL,
IS also expressly reserved.
Senator Cushnan X Davis has intro
duced a bill. which is now being consid-
cred by the committee on territories, 70
authorize and empower the governor OF
Alaska to appoint justices of the peace
and constabies IN and for the district OF
Alaska The bill provides that these OFF,
GERS. when appointed shall have the same
power as similar offices are given under
the general laws OF the state OF Oregon,
in force May IL, 1854. so far as the same
may be applicable n Alaska and not in
conflict with the laws OF the United
States.
The justices of the peace must keep a
record OF all fines and ferfeitGres received
by them, and pay them over quarterly TO
the clerk of the United States district
court in Alaska. Both justices OF the
peace and constahles. before entering on
the duties OF their Office, viii berequired TO
take oath that they VIII faithfully execute
the same; and each of the justices must
execute bond with sufficient sureties in
the penalty OF $500 for the faithful per-
Torrance of his duties. and file the same
with The governor before entering on the
duties Of his Office.
Ian all civil cases, at common law, any
issue OF fact is 10 be determined by jury,
at the instance of either party. and an APP
faT- ~fyratr al
from the Justices court to the district
court, as provided In section OF the act
of congress establishing a civil govern
ment fer Alaska, approved May II, 1854.
The senate IS quite likely TO pass the
bin sent over by the house December 8,
20 confirm certain cash entries or public
lands. IL provides that all entries of pub
lie lands made under the provisions OF the
act entitled IAN act to graduate and re-
duce the price OF the public lands to actual
settlers and cultivators," approved Au-
gust 4, 1854, which are Illegal and invalid
because of the fact that the lands covered
thereby had never been offered for sale
shall be confirmed. IT, upon examination
by the commissioner OF the general land
Office, they are found TO be otherwise reg
ular and IN compliance with that act and
the acts supplemental thereto.
Senator Mitchell. OF Oregon. is seeking
10 have amended the act OF September %.
1896. which forfeited lands granted TO rail-
roads, but not earned according TO the
terms OF the grant. Senator Aiitcheli's
proposed amendment extends the time
within which persons may purchase those
lands to January l. 1859, II being provided
however that this amendment shall not
interfere with the adverse claim that may
be attached to the lands or to any part
| thereof.
Senator Aliens recently introduced bill
| which Is now being considered by the sem
| ate committee on irrigation and reclama-
| ton Of arid lands, directs the secretary OF
| the interior to make surveys for and de-
| 4ermine and report on the cost OF erecting
| reservoirs in nearly every river OF the
United States and their tributaries Wash
! ington and Idaho are specifically mem
| toned. as to the Columbia, Snake, Sal
| mon. Cfalilngham and Clearwater rivers
| and their tributaries. The bill proposes 20
| appropriate 81 600 600 20 make these sur
veys. the money 10 be expended under
such rules and regulations as the secre-
| tary OF the interior may prescribe. The
secretary Is required 10 report to congress
on the first Monday in each year all the
| surveys examinations and estimates made
| by him or by his direction. and the amount
| of money expended pursuant to the re-
quiremsnts hereof.
Persons who believe mat important dis
! coveries of petroleum viii some
| day be made in the states of
/ washington and Idaho viii be interested
| I'm the bill Just introduced by Representa-
| tive Mondell. of Wyoming, 70 authorize
| the entry and patenting OF lands contain
| ing petroleum or other mineral oils. under
| the placer mining laws Of the United
| States. The bin provides that. in making
| application for the patentiDg or such
| lands under these laws, one bona nde dis
| covery OF petroleum or other mineral oil
| shall be deemed sufficient on any tract
| not exceeding 1e0 acres held by one indi-
vldual or any association. Lands reserved
| for the benefit OF the public schools or do
| mated to any state are not subject 10 the
| provisions Of the proposed act.
| Senator Mitchell. OF oregon, has already
| introduced In the senate an amendment
| which he proposes 20 offer 20 the sundry
| civil bin when II comes over from the
/ house making an appropriation OF 81, 800
| for the establishment OF auxiliary nsh
cultural stations az points 70 DO selected
/ by the commissioner OF fish and fisheries.
/ in California, Oregon and Washington.
/ for the propagation OF salmon trout and
| other FISH.
| Represen tatiye Loud. OF California. is
/ urging before the committee on public
lands his general bill amending the act
/ OF January q, 1885. granting "a right %
l way through bubble lands for tram roads.
| canals. reservoirs, and fer other pur-
poses" by the addition OF the following
/ provision:
THAT thu secretary OF t1le interior be
/ ard hereby Is authorized ana empoT cred,
1 under general regulations 10 Re n1ed oy