Gilpin observer., 1900-06-07

ence report on the military academy
appropriation bill, concurring in the
Senate amendments to make Miles lieu
tenant general and Corbin Il major gen.
eral. The bill now goes to the Presi-
dent.
The Senate has passed the House
bill authorizing the secretary of the
interior to sell timber from the public
lands and to permit persons residing
within or in the vicinity of any forest
reservation TO cut and remove from
such reservation dead and down tim
ber for their own use for tirewod, or
Improvement of their homes, mining
claims or farms.
EX-Secretary of State John w. Fos-
ter has just completed the manuscript
of very important work upon the his
tory of American diplomacy, which will
be published next fall. There is no
man in the country better qualified to
write such n volume than Mr.. Foster,
for he has had more practical expert
ence in diplomatic affairs than any
man of his generation.
Secretary Root has made answer to
the Senate resolution inquirng as to
the number of Filipinos killed and
wounded, and the number of prisoners
taken since the insurrection began.
Having no detailed information on the
subject, the secretary cabled the in
quiry to General Macarthur. command
ing at Manila, and received the follow
ing response. which was submitted to
Congress: "FilipinOs killed. 1O.IS0:
wounded. 2.O14; captured and surren-
dered. 1921: number of prisoners in
our possession. about 1000"
Both the French and Russian embas-
sizes are negotiating for sites for the
erection of buildings for their use. The
French ambassador resides in an old
fashioned house that belongs to the
heirs of the late Admiral Porter and is
neither large nor convenient enough for
his use. The Russian ambassador oc-
cupies the old Cresswell mansion in an
obsolete portion of the city. although it
is quite commodious and convenient.
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassa-
dor, is seeking site in the suburbs
where his government can erect large
embassy surrounded by gardens.
conference agreement has been
reached on bill which will open to
settlement about two million. four
hundred thousand acres of public land.
Senator Shoup of Idaho originally pro-
posed the bill opening to settlement
the old Fort Hall. Idaho, military res
ervatiOn. containing about four hun
dred thousand acres. Delegate Flynn,
in the House. secured an amendment
similarly opening II tract of about two
million acres in Southwest Oklahoma.
The Indians first receive allotments of
Oklahoma lands of 100 acres each,
with 100000 acres to be held in com
mon by them, the balance of 2.OOO,OOO
acres being opened to homestead set
tiers for S1.25 per acre.
Senator Tfllman made remarkable
threat in the Senate the other day. He
declared that he would prevent the
passage of any more pension bills I'M
ill the House of Representatives had
passed one he had introduced for an
increase of pension for South Carroll
M veteran of the Mexican war He
said his bill had passed the Senate and
had been hung up in the House. while
hundreds of others had received con-
sideratiOn. He felt that his constitu-
ent had been treated unfairly and
therefore gave notice that all pension
legislation would be stopped until the
House of Representatives did what he
asked of them.
A great injustice has been done
Lieutenant j. B. Barnadou of the ma
w by those who have censured him
for obtaining n patent upon process
for the manufacture of smokelcss
powder, which he discovered while
making experiments at the govern
mcnt torpedo station at Newport.
Lieutenant Bernadou * perhaps the
most eminent chemist in the navy and
has made many important discoveries.
Ia hus lao.
powder known. and 1t Is true that he
obtained u patent on the process. but
this was done by the advice and in
structiOns of his superior officers In
order to prevent private manufacture
prs from taking advantage of his dis
covery. and ms soon ns the patent was
granted he assigned II to the govern
ment of the United States.
No official statement has been pre-
pared of the cost of the Spanish war,
but W. II. MncLennan, chief of the di-
vision of bookkeeping and warrants of
the Treasury Department, has a mem
Drandum based on the money advanced
TO various disbursing officers, which
shows that S.iSS 900. 900 has been with
drawn from the public treasury to de.
fray expenses growing out of the
Spanish and Philippine wars. as well
as the expenses incident to prepara-
lion for hostlltics. This covers the ma
tlonal defense fund, the expenses of
the Paris peace commission and the
s20.OO0,0O paid to Spain for the Phil
lppincs. In this connection II may be
interesting to note the expenditures of
the lighting departments of the govern
mcnt during recent years. In 1896 the
expenditures of the War Department
were $50 $50, 800; in 1897. SIS.D5O. .267:
Ia 1898. sol ,g92,OOo, and during the
fiscal year ending June 30. 1880. they
were S22D,S .25I During the eleven
months of the present fiscal year the
expenditures were Sl26,l22.5ji
In the Senate Friday a memorial was
presented by senator Perkins from the