The state herald., 1900-03-30

tne open uoOr negotiations SouceEu-
ing China.
Representative shafroth last week
presented the petition of the wool grow
ers' association md the cattle growers
association of Lincoln county against
the leasing or ceding the public lands.
While number of similar petitions
have been received by members Of
Congress from associations and indi-
vlduals 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
Of the country where accurate knowl-
edge Of public land conditions is no.
likely to be In possession Of those
sending the petition. The form of FL
these petitions Is indentical and they
are mainly sent by labor and trade or
ganlzations 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 vShafrOth bill,
which provides for absolute reclama-
tlon of the land to be ceded and for Its
distribution among actual settlers In
small tracts.
Representative Hay of Virginia filed
the report of the House committee on
military affairs on the bill establishing
national battlefield memorial park of
6,OOO acres on the sites of the battles of
fredericksburg, charlottesville, The
Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court
House. The representative states that
more men were Shere engaged than In
any battle in the worlds history, num-
bering at least 100000, with losses in
killed and wounded on both sides
amounting to 1o0,S$S. The intrench-
ments all over the field are said to be
In remarkable state Of preservation.
At Fredericksburg also is the home of
Washington still intact, monument
erected by the Daughters of the Amer
lean Revolution. Here, too, Captain
John Smith anchored his little bark
and fought the Indians in 160S, and
within sight Of the city were born
Washington, Monroe, Jefferson and
Madison, the Lees Of both the Revolu-
tlon and Civil War, and Zachary Tay-
lor. The report adds that in Virginia
the great war began and ended, and not
an acre of this soil, where more men
fell than on all the other battlefields of
the war. has yet been dedicated as
national park.
The correspondent of the Chicago
Record. Republican paper, says:
Representative Page Morris of Mime
sofa and six other Republican members
of Congress have found 1t necessary to
go home and explain to their constitu-
ents their reasons for voting for n tariff
on Puerto Rico. and all of them are
Ittnl.- t., Insn tbntp uaa ats,h ,,f
inexeusable blunder. One member
down and let his constituents jump on
him." TO use his own words. He did
not attempt to defend the bill. He
said that ii would have been necessary
for him to change the opinion of every
intelligent man in his district. and that
is too big JOB, so he promptly entered
the plea Of guilty and threw himself
upon the mercy Of his constituents,
asking them TO take into consideration
certain extenuating circumstances. II
told them that | was led by party 10y
atty into voting against my own convic-
tion." he said, but l promised never
TO do so again. This seemed to please
the people, and | think l am stronger
than ever in my district, bat had q
mighty narrow escape from political
oblivion" Those members who are at.
tempting to defend their action meet
with many embarrassments and only
provoke n controversy In which they
come out second lest. II is the gen.
cral opinion that the passage of the
Puerto Rican tax bill will cost the Re-
publican party the control of the next
House OF representatives.
II think the Cubans are getting to un-
derstand that steady progress is being
mnde toward the establishment of their
government. I do not think they wish
the present condition of affairs to con.
time. but they nre not impatient about
taking over the government" Sec
tary Root made this statement after hc
had reported to the President on his re-
turn from Cuba. 1t was evident from
the sccrctary's manner that he does
not think the Cubans are yet ready for
self government. though he would not
say so. ''The strongest men In Cuba"
he continued. ''reallze that the educa.
tlon OF the inhabitants OF the island ia
going on as rapidly as 1t 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, DO
litically and otherwise. Everything IA
quiet and serene. | would like to have
our people 20 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 ara
on the sick list. lit Is the purpose OF
the department TO withdraw troops
from time to time. hut as result OF
my trip 1t Is not proposed TO nccelerats
such withdrawal. II is Intended to re-
duce the military force after time.
Nothing is TO he done now. have tax.
en- no action respecting the formation
OF Cuban batinlIons. We have no nu.
thorl,y at present TO take such action
To do so now would neccssitnte tbs
discharge OF some OF the volunteers in
service"
Anticipating n favorable decision
from the courts 90 the suit now pend
Ing 10 determine the validity OF the w
tai patcn, OF the Hell telephone. the RI
yals of the Hell company are consol.-
dating for n fight that viii bc flcrcr
and long. Negotiations now pending
contemplate nn organization that viii
embrace everything that is not In tb~
Bell company under the awkward titls
OF the Telephone. Telegraph ana CABIN
Company Of America. II IN TO have a
capital stock Of S30,000.O00. ano
the incorporniors are the ruling
men In the sevcrnl local companies
The impression hns gone out TINT tho
Western Union Telegraph Company 10
behind the schcmc IL consolidate tiAa
| uptI. It.il In,...... l,t That IL ssnuti q