The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-12-31
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS


partment of mines and mining.
Senator Cullom has introduced in the
Senate bill providing for the retire
ment of the Hawaiian coinage and cur
rency.
Senator Hanna has introduced bill
granting n pension of $1,000 year to
Mrs. Mckinley, widow Of the late
President.
The House Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce has fixed Jan
uary 11th for taking up the Pacihc
cable question.
Senator Frye has introduced a joint
resolution authorizing the President
to invite the king of Siam to visit the
United States.
A bill has been introduced by Mr..
Mitchell fixing 50 as the minimum rate
of wages to be paid to women In the
employ of the government.
Representative Alden Smith of Mich
fgan has introduced a bill making the
birthday of William Mckinley, jan
uary 2Sth, a national holiday.
The House Committee on Agriculture
has fixed January 18th for taking up
the Interchangeable question, at
\ which time the various interests VIII
be assigned dates for hearing.
On December 23rd the Treasury De
partment drew a warrant in favor or
Rear Admiral Schley for $3,334-his
share of the prize money due him for
the destruction of the Spanish fleet al
Santiago July 3rd, 1898.
Delegate Wilcox of Hawaii has In
troduced bill making the leper colony
of Hawaii United States government
reservation, and providing that the
colony shall be under the control of the
Secretary of the Treasury.
The River and Harbor Committee has
taken action which insures the early
presentation of river and harbor bill.
1t was determined to close the hear
ings on January 25th and to have the
bill ready to report on February loth.
Senator Penrose has introduced bill
levying a duty of twenty-five per cent.
ad yalorem on all importations OF man.
ufactured silver. A preamble to the
bill declares it to be the purpose of the
measure to protect the silver mining
industry of the United States.
Arguments in the claims cases grow
ing out of the destruction of the battle
ship Maine in Havana harbor were
concluded on the 21st, before the Span
ish Claims Commission, and the COM
mission adjourned until January u,
1902.
At the instance of the Interior De
partment a bill has been introduced in
the House providing that forest reser-
vation lands shall be exchanged only
for lands of like approximate value ana
that no denuded forest lands shall be
exchanged for other lands
Supervising Architect Taylor has as
-sured Representative Shafroth that
there shall be no delay In calling for
bids for the interior finish of the mint
n at Denver. He will make a favorable
report to the secretary on Mr.. Shat
roth's bill increasing the cost limit or
the mint to SSOO,OOO.
Senator Warren has introduced bill
to pay jurors and witnesses in United
States Courts in Wyoming So per day
for attendance on and days consumed
going TO and returning from court and
10 cents a mile going and returning
when travel is by stage, and 10 cents
q mile when by railroad.
Lord Pauncefote, the British ambas-
sador, is daily expecting notice from
his government of its approval and
ratification of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty. AS soon as he has this, he will
arrange with Secretary Hay the date
upon which the final exchange of rati-
fications of the treaty shall take place.
A general order issued by the Navy
Department sets apart as naval res
ervation certain lands on Culebra Is
land, heretofore selected by n naval
commission as n naval reserve. The
island lies to the eastward of Porto
Rico, and came under the flag as one
of the dependencies of that island.
Secretary Longs attention having
been called again to reports that he
contemplated resigning from the Cabi-
net, he has again authorized an en-
phatic statement that such was not the
case. He said there was not word Of
truth in the report, and that he hao
not the slightest intention Of resign
ing.
The latest reports state that Senator
William ]. Sewell continues to rest
comfortably at his home in Camden
New Jersey. His physicians say that
: he shows slight improvement and
I that he is able to take considerable
nourishment. He appears to be in bet
ter condition than he has been during
the past few days.
Representative Martin of South Da-
kota has introduced a bill providing for
establishment of a mining experiment
station in each mineral producing
state. Each station shall have an eX-
pert geologist, salary $1,000 per an
mum, a chemist at $1,000 and an equip
ment costing $1,000. Assays of ores
shall be furnished free and shall be
made public fifteen days after samples
are furnished by depositors.
Representative Bell of Colorado has
introduced a bill providing that any
Union soldiers who while prisoners of
war, Joined the Confederate army with
the intention of escaping and who did
not actually fight against the Union,