Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-11
Representative johnson Preparing a
Bill for Their determination.
FOR ECONOMY AND GENERAL PEACE
Current Notes Regarding the Com
mittees.
DIST RIOT LEGISLATION

Representative Johnson of North Dakota
is preparing a bill providing for the COM
plete determination of the seal herd of
Bering sea. 1t is on the lines of the bill
proposed last year by Representative Ding
ley, but is much more brief, and makes the
determination unconditional whereas Mr.
Dfngley's measure provided determination
as an alternative if pelagic sealing was not
stopped.
Mr. johnson says the recent Berng sea
negotiations have further demonstrated the
impossbility of stopping seal poaching. The
seals are yielding the government nothing,
he says, the exclusive privilege of TAX
ing seals. granted by the government, has
yielded only a few thousand dollars since
1880. In the meantime, Mr.. johnson points
out, the government has spent hundreds of
thousands of dollars in commissions and
in maintaining a patrol of ships in Bering
sea. He says it has been amply demon
Strated that the seals are worthless
set. and that their determination will be m
the interest of peace among nations and of
economy for the United States.
In the Committees.
The following sUbconimitteemen of the
House committee On military affairs have
been appOinted
Army organization, appropriation and
miscellaneous, Mr.. Hull of Iowa; Military
Academy, battlefel6s. etc. Mr. Marsh of
Illinois; Soldiers Home national cemeter-
les, etc. Mr.. Griffin of Wisconsin; volun-
tary muster bounty and pay etc, Mr. Fen
tcn OF Ohio: arser ais, barracks and mill
lary reservations. Mr.. Mahany of New
York; retircments, restorations and rellefs
Mr. Mcdonald of Maryland; descrtions
Messrs. Brownlow cf Tennessee and Bel
knap of Illinois
The House committee education has
reported faVorably the bill to aid in the
establishment of homes in states and terri
tories for teaching articulate speech and
vocal language to deaf children before they
are OF school age.
LEGAL Legislation.
Mr. Bankhead of Alabama has introduce
ed a bill in the House authorizing the
United States to purchase the property
known as the old Congressional Globe build
lnG.on Pennsylvania avenue between Sd and
~ streets. to be used as a warehouse for
the storage of public documents. The lot
contains II JIG square feet and $4,000 is
named as the price 10 be paid.
Mr.. bingham has introduced a bill in the
House increasing the salary of the post
mastcr al Washington to $1,000 per annum
Mr. Williams of Mississippi has intro
duced in the House the bill offered by him
in previous Congresses requiring street
railways in the District to pay for their
franchises.
Increase the Navy.
At the request of the Senate naval COM
mittcc. Secretary Long has prepared a bill
for an increase of the navy on the lines Of
the recommendations contained in his an
nUal report to the President The bill
provides for one seagoing coast line battle
ship, primarily for service on the Pacific
coast, designed to carry the heaviest arnlor
and most powerful ordnance upon a dis
placement Of not less than IL 800 tons, to
rave the highest practicable speed. and to
81, ,I.O.tED.
The bill also provides for six seagoing tor
pedo boats of about 1I5 tons displacement
to cost, including armament, not exceeding
S,125,oCO. and three torpedo boat destroy
ers. of about 300 tons displaceme each
to have maximum speed of thirty knots,
and to cost. including armament, not more
than S!HOUtB.
Secretary Long has also asked for
thority to make contract with the Bath
iron works for the construction of the
training ship for the Naval Academy. The
bid of that company for the hull of the ship
was about $4,000 Tho vessel cannot b.
constructed with the available funds and
the Secretary recommends an additional ap-
preparation Of S12l.u0o. in order that he
may award the entire contract to the Batn