La Junta tribune., 1900-12-15
WHAT IS BEING DONE AT
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL

The question OF the constitutfonality
OF the Blaine extradition treaty between
Great Britain and the United States,
signed by the representatives Of the
two governments In 1889, and which,
1t is asserted, has never been passed
upon, is TO be brought before the Unit
ed States Supreme Court in the cases
OF Fred Lee Rice. Frank Rutledge and
Thomas Jones. arrested in Chicago last
June on the request Of the Canadian
authorities. charged with being fugi-
tives from justice.
The secretary OF war has sent 90 the
House Of Representatives plan for the
permanent improvement of the Arkan-
sas river. the total estimated cost for
open river navigation being S25. .263,-
400 The river extends about 1.i60
miles, from It's source III Colorado 30
Its mouth hut the board of army en-
gineers recommends that the improve
ments be confined to the lower reaches.
below Grand river. The usefulness of
the improvement and its value to COM
merce ara set forth
Lieutenant General Miles had slight
| accident while heading the centennial
parade. break in his horses saddle
girth giving the general fall. The
head of the parade had just passed the
Presidents reviewing stand and Cen
eral Miles. having saluted the Presi-
dent. had turned his horse toward the
House wing of the capitol. The saddle
girth suddenly parted. and General
Miles was seen TO fall sideways. Gen
eral Miles suffered nothing save the
Inconvenience and annoyance of the
accident.
Supervising Architect Taylor has
Gfh fhmiftp1 IN a nSf m TO nf
additional appropriations required to
complete the various public buildings
of the country. For the Denver mint,
the original appropriation for which
was S5O0.OOO he recommended an ad-
ditional appropriation of 100000. or
the increase. 100000 is required by
reason of advance in prices of labor
and material and 500, 600 to put bur
glar-proof vaults in the building. Up
on this estimate being submitted, Rep
resentative Shafroth introduced bill
providing for the increased appropria-
tion.
The Senate committee on military af
fairs continues Its hearing upon the
anti-canteen provision of the military
bill. Rev. w. +. Crafts gave the re-
suit OF his own observations OF the op-
Grafton of the canteen at Newport
war. He said he had found 1t as low
as the lowest saloon. and that a regu-
lar orgie was In progress the day hewas
there, the report being that most OF
the soldiers at the post deserted that
night. He quoted General Sternberg
as saying that the canteen causes
many soldiers to contract the drink
habit, and General Miles as opposed
to the use of intoxicants by the soldiers
in the tropics.
The House passed the army reorgani-
zation bill by vote OF 166 to 1873.
Three Democrats, Hall of Pennsyl-
vania and Underhill and Slayton Of
New York, voted with the Republicans
for the bill. and Mr.. Mccall (Republi-
can. Massachusetts.) with the Demo-
Gratis against 1t. Otherwise 1t was q
strict party vote. The abolishment Of
the army canteen and prohibition Of
sale Of liquor TO soldiers under any con-
dition was carried by large majority.
The clause providing for promotion
and retirement OF Generals Shafter,
Lee and Wilson was stricken out.
Strong opposition will develop to any
attempt that may be made to reduce
the tax OF 10 cents a pound upon tea.
Republican members of the ways and
means committee explain that when
the war revenue bill was under con-
sideration the principal importers Of
tea and merchants appeared and ex-
planned that only the refuse or poorer
grades of tea We're being sent to this
country, and advocated a tax upon the
ground that 1t would insure the impor-
tation of better and purer article. 1t
is asserted that the tax has had the ef.
feet desired, and that the tea now i'm
.lxl- .. trnrk
is nutritious and of good quality.
At Cabinet meeting plans for
Philippine coinage were discussed.
Nearly all the business Of the islands is
Transacted in Mexican dollars and
army commissaries and others supplied
with United States money are at times
greatly embarrassed in making pur-
chases from the Filipinos by the fact
that, knowing nothing of our money.
or It's value, the latter often refuse to
accept II. The proposition which seems
to have met with favor by the admins
tration is to purchase silver bullion at
the present market price and coin 1t In
to distinctive dollars having a gold
value Of about so cents each. These
dollars probably will contain a little
less silver than the present standard
dollars.
The Senate has confirmed the follow
ing presidential appointments: Mineral
land commissioners in Idaho. G.. A.
Black OF Washington, +. A. Davis Of
Idaho, II. b. King OF Idaho; also Hunt
ington Wilson Of Illinois. to be secre-
tary Of the legation of the United
States to Japan: William D. Bynum of
Indiana, to be commissioner to revise
and codify the criminal and penal laws
OF the United States; B. II. Tatem Of
Montana, to be assayer in charge Of the
assay ofiice at Helena, Montana; Dan
lei H. Mcmillan Of New York, to be as
sociate justice Of the Supreme Court Of
New Mexico; to be major generals:
Brigadier General Lloyd Wheaton and
Brigadier General A. Chanee, United