The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-23
PR0SPECTORS ARE ALERT.
EAGER TO ENTER SOUTH OF col
VILE RESERVATION.
They Besiege Senators ana Son-
gressmen for Private Tips" n TO
the Exact Date when the Bill
Throwing IL Open Becomes Law.

WASHINGTON, May 22--The senators
and representatives Of the Washington
delegation in congress are receiving let
Tsrs continually from people who desire
10 know exactly the day ard the hour
when the south half Of the Colv.lle reserve
viii be opensd 10 mineral location Each
one of ths writers Is confident that II he
can only know this fact d little IN advance
or any che else, he can secure The very
choicest mineral locations and become I'M
msaseiy wealthy within snort time Some
OF the writers suggest that il the members
OF the delegation VIII furnish this infer
nation Ii wail result benetic1ally 10 them,
while others make no mention Of such
remuneration believing. no doubt, it 10 be
the duty Of a congressman or senator 10
sit UP nights in order thai the humolest
OF his constituents may acquire fortune
as the result Of his watchfuiness.
Seriously. however, either the morning
or evening papers in the cities OF WASH
ington Will know about the passage OF
this act within few hours. al the furth-
est, OF the time when 1t becomes law.
and probably as soon as il will be known
here. When the Indian bill comes out OF
conference. and the conference report IS
adopted by both houses, the b.l will be
engrossed and sent TO the president. In
the ordinary course OF business it VIII be
referred to the secretary of the interior
for a report upon its provisions. II the
latter md no serious objections 70 the
measure it Will be returned TO the presi-
dent, who Will affix his signature. This
viii occupy from 4 week 10 ten days If
the provision opening the south half Of
the Colville reservation TO mineral ioeators
remains in the bill when the conference
committee IS done with ii. there now
seems TO be every probability will be the
Tr xx-sh tN.4gAF LON
the president affixes his signature. or az
the end OF ten days, if. instead OF affixng
his signature. he allows the bill to be-
come a law without the approval.
The fact OF the president signing an ap-
preparation bill is always telegrapned by
the press associations promptly. With
Senator Wilson's amendment retained, the
signing OF the Indian appropriation bill by
the president will be notice that mineral
locatorS can go at once upon the Colville
reservation.
A petition OF settlers in township twelve
north. range nine east, in Lewis county.
has been presented to the commission Of
the general lana office urging the survey
Of the lands in order that the settlers may
secure title as early as possible. In reply
thereto Commissioner Hermann states
that, while this township is not Included
in a forest reserve, II is, nevertheless, adj
jacent thereto and therefore comes with
in the act CT 1897. which provides that
lands adjacent TO, as well as lands within
forest reserves, shall be surveyed under
the supervision of the director of the geo.
logical survey. Mr.. Hermann suggests that
the settlers make application to the drec-
tor or the geological survey by petition
for the survey.
The Seattle Brewing and Mating Com
pany has protested strongly against the
increase or the beer tax as provided in the
pending revenue bill. 1t calls IL a great
injustice TO impose an additional tax upon
the brewing industry, and compares it to
manufacture of matches. tobacco and
other articles of large consumption
Wines. it is also pointed out. do not pay
any internal tax. but on the other hand
are protected by large import duties. The
company also says il has 10 pay large
duty on its raw material on account of
the drouth in California and prospective
failure OF crops. IL is further pointed out
that when the war tax was imposed in
1861 the price OF beer was Sl2 per barrel
while today it is only about one-half that
amount. and wages and cost of production
have greatly increased In the meantime
yet the Dingley bin proposes the same tax
as during the civil war.
Capt. Shoemaker, chief of the revenue
cutter service, Is preparing 10 advertise
at an cary date. for supplies of ratious
and ship chandlery for the revenue yes
sells on the Pacific coast for the next fiscal
year.
Senator Turner has presented resolu-
tons, adopted by the Spokane Trades
Council, urging the establishment Of the
system OF postal savings banks, as a ben
eft to the laborIng men throughout the
United States. A subsequent resolution
briefly expresses the opinion of the coun-
ell regarding Secretary Gage II says:
Resolved, That We believe the secre-
tary OF the treasury Is prostituting his
high office when he makes an effort to
defeat the passage OF said bill"
Similar resolutions have been presented
in the house by both the representatives
from Washington.
J. l.. Baxter. of North Yakima Wash
has applied for an appointment in the
secret service division of the treasury de-
partment. j. NJ. Shaughnesy. OF Summer.
and r. II. Lindsay. jr., of Seattle, now a
temporary resident OF Butte Mont. are
applicants for appointment as naval ca
diets at Annapolis.
ALLAN b. SLACSON.