Gilpin observer., 1900-03-29

the Viscayes, commanded by General
Hughes, and the Department Of Min
danao and JOlO, commanded by Cen
eral Kobbe. Major General Otis will
retain the supreme command over
these departments as division COM
mander, occupying toward them po-
sition corresponding closely to that Oc-
cupied by General Miles toward the
military departments of the United
States. 1t is said Mt the War Depart
ment that the purpose of the new order
of things Is to free General Otis of
many minor details incident to the ad-
ministration of the islands, leaving
him at liberty to devote more time to
large questions of policy and civil ad-
ministration.
presented the petition of the wool grow
ers' association and the cattle growers
association of Lincoln county against
the leasing or ceding the public lands.
Whlle number of similar petitions
have been received by members OF
Congress from associations and indi-
yiduals living in the arid states, the
great bulk of the petitions with which
Congress has been flooded have come
from persons not directly concerned in
public land problems, and from parts
edge of public land conditions is not
likely to be in possession of those
sending the petition. The form of all
these petitions is indentical and they
are mainly sent by labor and trade or
ganizations located in the eastern and
southern cities. That they are not
spontaneous but are the work of Sc
Great bureau, is shown by the fact of
the opposition to the Shafroth bill,
which provides for absolute reclama-
tion of the land to be ceded and for its
distribution among actual settlers in
small tracts.
Senator Foraker has introduced the
amendments to the Puerto Rican gov
ernmental bill which We're read to the
Republican senatorial caucus Monday,
and some of Which were agreed to by
1t. The amendments We're Incorporated
in a new print of the bill. and the bill
as thus anb nded introduced as II new
measure. The first important change
is made in section 3. in which the in
habitants are described as "citiZens of
Puerto Rico, and as such entitled to
the protection of the United States"
whereas in the old bill they We're des-
ignated as ''citizens of the United
States" The following provision is
substituted for section s in regard to
articles imported into Puerto Rico from
ports outside of the United States:
That on and after the passage of this
act the same tariff customs and duties
shall be levied, collected and paid upon
all articles imported into Puerto Rico
from ports other than those of the
United States. which are required by
law to be collected upon articles i'm
ported into the United States from for
eign countries The new provision in
regard to commerce between the Unit
ed States and Puerto Rico places n tax
of fifteen per cent. if the Dingley rates
upon imports into the United States.
This tax to be discontinued after two
years. Imports into Puerto Rico to be
free Of duty.
Il think the Cubans are getting to un-
derstand that steady progress is being
made toward the establishment of their
government. | do not think they wish
the present condition of affairs to con-
tinue, but they are not impatient about
taking over the government" Sec
tary Root made this statement after he
had reported to the President on his re-
turn from Cuba. 1t was evident from
the secretary's manner that he does
not think the Cubans are yet ready for
government, though he would not
say so. The strongest men in Cuba"
he continued, realize that the educa-
ton of the inhabitants of the island is
going on as rapidly as it can. The Gu
bans are capable of learning the art of
government and are very anxious to
learn. They have taken very kindly to
the business of education The island
Is in very satisfactory condition, po-
litically and otherwise. Everything is
inf n.,l. a ;,.
our people 90 to Cuba and look over
the island. The cities and towns are
clean and everything is in excellent
condition. The island is consequently
healthy. Very few of the troops are
on the sick list. lit is the purpose of
the department to withdraw troOps
from time to time. but as n result OF
my trip 1t is not proposed to accelerate
such withdrawal. 1t is intended to re-
duce the military force after n time.
Nothing is to he done now. l have tax
en- no action respecting the formation
of Cuban battalions. We have no au-
thority at present to take such action.
To do so now would necessitate the
discharge of some of the volunteers in
service"
Anticipating favorable decision
from .he courts on the suit now pend
ing to determine the validity OF the vi
tai patent of the Bell telephone. the RI
walls of the Bell company are consoli-
dating for n fight that will be fierce
and long. Negotiations now pending
contemplate an organization that will
embrace everything that is not In the
Bell company under the awkward title
of the Telephone. Telegraph and Cable
Company of America. 1t is to have a
capital stock of S3O,0OO,OOO, and
the incorporators are the ruling
men in the several local companies.
The impression has gone out that the
Western Union Telegraph Company is
behinl the scheme 10 consolidate the