The Mena star., 1899-06-08
Congressman Burton Thinks There Will Be Another Bill Passed
 by Congress Next Winter.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL DISCUSSED.
A Board of Officers Considering a System of Rules Under Which Enlisted Men May Make Allotments of Their Pay to Support Their FamIlies-A Cuban Gem to Be Taken.

Washington, June 7.-Representa- tive Burton, of Ohio, who was chair man of the river and harbor committee of the last house, called on the presi- dent yesterday. It is believed that he will be again appointed to that posi- tion, despite the reports that it was to go to MT. Cooper, of Wisconsin, in rec ognition of the early action of that state in coming out for the successful candidate for the speakership. MT. Burton says:
 think there will have to be another river and harbor bill passed this winter. The ordinary rule is to pas a bill on alternate years, but, as last years bill was year behind this schedule, we shall have to restore the order by some leg islation this winter This bill will have to be a large one am afraid. The great thing in the next bill, however, will be the Mississippi river and it's outlet, two separate matters The con- tinuing contracts on the Mississippi, which were provided for in 1896, expire in 1900. We shall have to authorize 8 continuance of this work, for Q great deal remains to be done. Then the mouth of the Mississippi river is going to take about Sll 900 005 if we accept the South west pass project, which seems the only way of making permanently satisfactory outlook.
 What is the outlook for the Near agua canal, which your committee with such difficulty kept out of the last river and harbor bill?' he was asked:
 We should insist that the canal be neutral ized. The idea of making it the exclusive prop erty of the United States will not stand in- vestigation We, of all nations, have mad it policy to insist upon the naturalization Of ca nals and waterways, and to attempt the exclu sive ownership of this one would be a reversal of our historic position and it would be exceed ingly wise, wthal, for, in the event of war, it would be comparatively easy for an enemy to blow up our locks and dsms and do us vast amount of injury which we should be saved i f it were ncutralized. I understand that Sena- tors Fry and Morgan have come around to the idea that the canal must be neutralized. I wish also that private company might build it.
 Another matter which the river and harbor commission had to deal with was the irrigation proposals. l am unalterably opposed to put ting such an appropriation into Q river and harbor bill. The idea of putting reservoirs B., 900 feet above the level of the sea in an appro- priation bill in aid of our rivers and harbors is ridiculous, and yet our conference commission had to take the responsibility of saying that we would see the whole river and harbor bill fall rather than put these appropriations in I have no doubt the arid lands ought to be taken care of, but it should be done in more straight forward way, by direct bill for that purpose, and not by a rider on our bill. think it would be better to turn the arid lands over to the states and let each one work out it's own prob lems, either by state control or by private en- terprise. It is large problem and long dis tance of to be handled successfully from Washington.
 Allotments to Pay Soldiers Families.
 Washington, June '. A board of of ficers was appointed to meet in this city to-day to devise and propose a sys- tenn of rules under which enlisted men of the United States army may make allotments of their pay for the support of their families or relatives, for their own savings, or for other purposes, dur ing such time as they may be absent on distant duty, or under circumstances warranting such action. Before enter ing upon it's duties the board inquired into the working of the law and system under which allotments of pay are made for like purposes by officers and men in the United States navy.
 Cuban Census to Be Taken.
 Washington, June 7.-Senor Quesa- da, the representative of the Cuban junta in Washington, has been offered by the war department the position of census supervisor of Cuba. He has de- clined the appointment. It is the in- tention of the department to take the census of Cuba in the fall in order to establish proper basis for the plans in connection with the ultimate forma- tion of a government for the island. -------------------------------- --------------------------
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