The state herald., 1900-03-30
WASHINGTON NEWS.
what Congress is poins.-Notes From the
White House and tho Departments

|
The House committee on public LANDS
has reported favorably the bill extend
ing the provisions of the soldiers
homestead act to soldiers of the Span
ish war and Philippine insurrection'
The Senate committee on naval AZ
fairs has agreed to report the bill for Y
Pacific cable which Senator Hale was
authorized to draft at the last session
of the committee and the report was
later presented to the Senate. the OH
provides for a present cable only to
Honolulu, but declares purpose TO eA'
tend 1t In the future.
Under the currency act recently
passed 1t is possible to refund $S4O,OOo,'
600 of bonds. More than 200 charters
have already been applied for for
banks of $4,000 capital In towns OF D.
600 population, and comptroller Dawes
thinks the total will go up to 800 before
the end of the month. The applications
come mostly from agricultural towns
In the middle west. Iowa leading.
Ex-Governor McCord of Arizona,
who recently came to Washington at
the request of the Arizona Press Asso-
citation to further Arizona's claim to
statehood, states that there Is no pros
pect of securing Arizona's admission
at this session of Congress. Il have de-
cided to give up for the present, SAID
Governor McCord, "and will advise the
people of Arizona not to press the mat
ter until after Congress gets Puerto
Rico, the Philippines and Cuba OH It's
hands,"
The House committee on public lands
has reported bill abollshing the pay
ment of 1.25 an acre on land taken up
by settlers under the desert land act.
The committee also reported favorably
n bill to refund S1.25 per acre to per-
sons who have located under the pre-
emption or homestead laws, and who
have committed their entries by cash
payments to $3.50 per acre where the
lands located were within railroad
grant and the railroad was never
built.
The Senate committee on appropria-
tions has reported the urgency def
cheney bill, carrying an appropriation
of $4,000 for continuing the work Of
the geological survey in stream gaug-
ing in the arid and semi-arid states.
This work has been suspended by rea-
priatlon caused by extra work of the
survey during the drouth period in Cal
ifornia. photographer Newell of the
survey states that when the new ap-
preparation is available considerable
work will be done in Colorado and Wy.
oming.
After spirited discussion, extending
over three days, the Loud bill relating
to second-class mail matter was recon-
mended by the House to the committee
on postoffice and post roads. The ma
jority in favor of the motion to recon-
init was so decisive that 1t is regarded
as unlikely that the measure will ap-
pear again during the present Con-
gress. Mr.. Loud said after the vote
was announced that this was the third
time and out. so far as he was con-
cerned. The vote on the motion was
14S to 96, with 10 present and not vot-
ing. The bill Is intended to exclude
from the second-class postage rate all
books and pamphlets.
The division of issue of the comp
troller of the currcncy's office is send
ing new currency TO national banks at
the rate of more than n million dollars
| u tdN, anu Will CbullHut tb no SO Untll
the full amount which the banks are
entitled under the new law has been
furnished. Under the old law national
banks We're permitted TO take out cir
culation to the maximum of ninety per
cent. OF the par value OF the bonds de-
posted with the Treasury Department.
The amount of bonds TO secure circu-
lation is about S2i0.OOO. The new act
s.l.
ton to the par value of these bonds.
thus emitting them TO about S24, 100000
In excess OF that they have heretofore
enjoyed.
Ellis II. Roberts, treasurer of the
United States, says that under the new
currency law nearly S12.OOO.OOO Of sill
yer bullion must he Immediately pur-
chased by the mints for the coinage OF
10. - and 50-cent pieces. The new law
requires that the subsidiary silver shall
hereafter he kept at S100.0OO.0OO. which
Is an Increase OF S2i.0OO.O00 ($24 ,5I4,-
$50, for the amount outstanding on the
1st of the month was SI5.i25, Alb. The
same law provides that hereafter all
currency under the denomination OF
$40 shall be standard silver dollars or
certificates issued upon them. There.
fore all greenbacks and other notes OF
81, 81 and 50 are to he retired and sill.
yer certificates substituted for them.
| This Will require the coinage of about
l2O,OO,OOO new silver dollars within
the next year or two.
The conference ON the Puerto Rlcan
appropriation bill have agreed upon n
compromise measure. The Senate con.
ferees reeedcd from the Senate amend.
ment limiting the appropriation TO the
revenues collected ON Puerto Rican i'm.
portatlons until the frs, OF last Janua.
ry and restored the clause In the House
bill applying TO future revenues, read.
Ing nv follows: Together with any
further customs revenue collected on
lmportntions from Puerto Rico since
Jnnnray ]. 1900. or that shall hereafter
he collected under existing law" The
| provision In the Senate amendment
specifying the purpose for which the
money shall he used In retained, but an
addition IL made declaring specifically
that II shall be for the "ad and relief
OF the Puerto Rlcans."
The Republican peace committee met
after the adjournment OF the Senate
Thursday and practically ratified the
offer OF Senator Foraker In the Senate
TO separate the House Puerto Rico ,nr.
IN bill from the Senate governmental
bill, ana TO take vote on the House
measure. The peace committee is will
Ing that vote should be taken upon
the House bill ms first passed by tim,
body. provided II becomes apparent
TINT j, In impollilc TO attempt to amend
u, but mn effort VIII DE made to nsccr
tnln whether the House win consent tt