The Somerset reporter., 1898-02-17
AT WASHINGTON.

The plan Of Secretary Gage Of the
treasury, for consolidating the crst.yna
districts OF Maine and of the wbola
country for that matter, which vas
toTecasted in the Journals WASHINGTON
dispatches some weeks ago WAS for.
warded to Congress v eGnesday The
bill, which he sent To both House and
-enate, should it become a Law. wonld
result IN quite saving 10 the govern
ment. 1t would give aggregate SALARIES
10 the six collectors Of Maine of 81 600
year. The salary for each collector il
fixed by the bill as follows: Aroostook.
szOO0; Rockland. 5000: Bangor. 5000,
Eastport, $1,000; Portland, $4,000: Bath
5000 ''''s--'
This is what the secretary saws about
the districts and ports of entry for the
State
In the State Of Maine The first district
snail be that Of Afoostook, in which
Houlton shall be the port Of entry; the
second district Passport. ia which Fast
port shall be the port Of entry the third
district Bangor, in which Bangor shall
be the port Of entry; fourth district
kockland, in which Rockland shall be
the port of entry; fifth district Bath. in
which Bath shall be the port of entry:
sixth district Portland. in which Port
land shall be the port of entry
Bills were introduced in the Honse
last week for the establishment. control.
operation and maintenance of the north
ern branch of the National Home for
Disabled Volunteer Soldiers at Hot
Springs, S. D., for the relief Of the suf
ferers by the wreck Of the United States
revenue cutter Gallatin off the coast of
Massachusetts in 1892, granting to the
State of Kansas the abandoned Fort
hays military reservation for the pur-
pose of establishing western branches of
the Kansas agricultural college and for
the Kansas State normal school thereon
and for public park, for the relief of
the legal representatives of John Roach.
deceased. the amount appropriated be-
ing s61, 751, and to provide for the re-
vision and adjustment of the sales of the
Otoe and Missouri reservation lands in
Kansas and Nebraska and confirm the
titles under the sales were passed.
The Senate then went into executive
session and at p. IN. adjourned until
Monday.
In the Senate Friday the consideration
OF the Indian appropriation bill was re-
sumed by the Senate and after being
amended to some extent the measure
was passed. The most important
amendment to the bill was that offered
by Mr.. Pettigrew of South Dakota, which
if finally enacted will restore the free
homestead law so far as it relates to the
Indian lands eeded to the United States
for which lands the settlers have been
obliged to pay the purchase price paid
to the Indians. The bill carries appro-
priatious aggregating nearly $1,000, 900.
The Hawaiian treaty has the right of
way in the Senate and it is expected
that vote will be reached this week.
The debate on the bankruptcy bill
began Wednesday in the House and
will be voted upon in accordance with
an order passed to that effect.
Wednesday the great topic of interest
vas the destruction of the Maine.
Just before the House adjourned. Mr..
Boutelle. chairman of the naval com
mitree, presented resolution which was
unanimously adopted. expressing regret
Tor the disaster, coincidence with the
families If those who lost their lives and
sympathy with the rjur, d.
A discussion on coast defences was the
Interesting featuIein Senate. Wednesday.
Many senators took the ground that the
appropriations should be for the full
amount Of the estimates by the war de-
partment instead of some 81 90, 900 less.
Senators Perkins and Hale said that il
was the policy IL the appropriation
committee 10 make an annual expenditure
OF SIC. 100000 a wear for the fortiiications