The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1901-02-23

The commissioner OF the general land
office. In an opinion upon the bill re-
Gently Introduced in Congress providing
for the extension of the general land
laws of the United States to the terri
tory of Hawaii with rules and regula-
lions for homestead entries by the sec
rotary of the interior, states that the
passage of the bill Mt present would
not be justified because of the lack of
data bearing upon the Hawaiian lands.
The commissioner recommends that
committee be appointed to collect the
necessary data.
The diplomatic and consular nppro-
priation bill was reported to the Senate
with an increase of SAT, 47O over the al
lowance of the House, making the total
81, S65,22S. The largest item Of in
crease is $4,000 for legation grounds
at Pekin China, and 5000 for student
Interpreters in China. The purchase at
Pekln for land adjoining the present
legation and the buildings thereon, as
recommended by Minister Conger. The
student interpreters are to be five In
number, to study the Chinese language
with view to aiding our consuls in
China.
Chairman Mercer of the House pub
lie buildings committee proposes to
hold back the consideration Of his ON
nibus bill for increasing the cost limit
of various public buildings, until the
last ten days of the session. This
course is adopted in the hope Of pre-
venting amendments providing for new
buildings being reported at this session
which authorize the construction Of
new public buildings and II the omni-
bus bill can be kept free from such
provisions there will be no doubt Of Its
passage. The resumption OF work
upon buildings at Cheyenne, Boise and
Salt Lake City depends upon the pas
sage of the bill.
The secretary of the treasury has
sent to the Senate a letter from the
commissioner general of immigration
requesting mandatory legislation for
the purpose of requiring steamship
companies bringing Chinese to ports of
the United States to return to China
those who may be rejected by the Unit
ed States authorities. The present law
is intended to accomplish that purpose,
but it is not considered sufficiently
specific. The commissioner general NJ
SO suggests an amendment to the exist
ing law authorizing Chinese and immi-
grafton inspectors to make summary
arrest Of Chinese believed to be I'M
lawfully in this country.
A spirited discussion took place in the
House over the amendment proposed
by Representative Hill of Connecticut,
by which he sought to strike from the
sundry civil bill an item appropriating
100000 to pay transportation charges
upon silver dollars sent from the Treas
ury Department and mints to the var
ious banks of the country. Mr.. Hills
proposition was opposed by western
members NIessrs. Shafroth and Bell
of Colorado were among those speak
ing in opposition. The proposition was
defeated and the appropriation remain
ed in the bill. Representative Mondell
of Wyoming Joined with the Colorado
representatives in retaining the appro-
priation.
The officers of the quartermaster's
department have prepared schedule
for transportation to San Francisco of
the volunteer troops In the Philippines.
1t shows that all the troops Gun be
brought home in time for discharge by
the Both of June next, which is the
late fixed by law for the disarmament
of the volunteer army. All the vessels
of the Pacific transportation fleet will
be used and will be run between San
Francisco and Manila OH close and
regular schedule. Counting the yOlun-
teers already landed or OIL their way
across the Pacific, 1t is estimated that
there are nearly 10000 still to he
brought to the United States before the
LIST of July.
Mr.. Cannon presented in the House
a detailed table showing the total ap-
preparation bills up to date. This
showed a grand total Of $685., 11S,5 1856,
emitting the $53,OO0,OO0 sinking fund.
This grand total Is j,256. 900 below
the estimates, which aggregated SI2O.-
374SO4 exclusive OF the sinking fund.
The bill to authorize the holding Of
the International exhibition at the GEN.
tennial anniversary of the Louisiana
purchase at st. Louis in 1903, and ap-
propria,ing $5,OOO,OOO therefor, passed
the House under suspension of the
rules by a vote Of 1O1 to II. The oppo-
sition was hOpelessly in the minority
and the struggle over the bill was brief.
| The question of closing the exposition
on Sunday was not mentioned during
the debate.
| At the diplomatic dinner few days
| ago the President Is said to have told
several OF the foreign ministers that he
did not see how an extra session OF
| Congress could be avoided because
there would be no opportunity for the
consideration Of Cuban affairs during
the few days that remain Of the pres
ent session and the subject was too i'm.
| portant to postpone any longer than Is
absolutely necessary. He did not in
| timatr to them when an extra session
would be called. but to others within
the last few days he suggested that
| 1t would not he advisable to submit
the Cuban constitution for the consid-
| GRAFTON Of our Congress until 1t con-
tanned some satisfactory provision de-
| filming the future relations which should
exist between the republic Of Cuba and