Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1902-01-16

concerning the aHalfS OIL MS coHiP aAy
and it's proffer to sell it's property and
franchise to the United States. M.
Jules Boeufve, of the French embassy,
also was present at the hearing. The
| meeting was held behind closed doors,
| representatives of the press being ex-
| cluded.
What Offer Includes.
NJ. Lampre was questioned at great
length by the members of the COM
mittee. He said that his mission to
the United States has been to ascertain
to whom to proposition for the sale of
the Panama property should be made.
Having informed himself upon this
point, he had conferred with Admiral
Walker, chairman of the isthmian
canal commission, as to the form of
the offer. He then had cabled' to his
principals, the result being that the
offer to sell for $4,000, 900 had >been
made directly from Paris and not by
him. He said, however, that it was his
understanding that the proposal in
Guided both the franchises and the
property of the Panama company, but
there is about 100000 francs.
Question Of Title.
NJ. Lampre was questioned es-
pecially concerning the title of the
present Panama company, several
members of the committee expressing
doubt as to whether those now claim
ing ownership had secured unques-
tionable title. He replied that they
had made their purchase through the
liquidator of the old company, and
that the transfer was regular. In
response to other questions he said
that in case the. transaction should
be consummated the money would be
distributed among the members of the
original company and those of the
present organization by arbitration.
He said that the proffer of his COM
pany had been made in good faith, and
that the company was able to "de-
liver the goods"
Ordered Rccommittcd.
Washington, Jan. 13.-In the house
yesterday bills were introduced pro-
viding salary of $25,OOO year for ex-
presidents of the United States, and to
establish pneumatic tube mail serv-
ice in the large cities. A bill was
pasesd to give the widow of the late
j President Mckinley the franking priv
ilege during the remainder of her life.
After debate the bill providing for a
permanent census bureau was recon-
mitted to the. census committee. The.
pension appropriate bill was re-
ported. tt carries $139,s42,230. ADJ
journed to Monday. 70
To Expedite Mail Delivery. 4
Washington, Jan. 13.-In connection
with efforts+the post office department
is making to expedite the delivery of.
mails in cities new scheme for quick
er dispatch of special delivery letters
is under consideration by Assistant
Postmaster General Shallenberger.
This contemplates attaching supple
mental letter box to the regular let
ter boxes on the streets with view to
depositing therein only the special de-
livery letters. This will be of much
benefit to sections of cities remote
from the post office as special deliv-
cry messengers would make a rapid
round of these special delivery boxes
at frequent intervals, transferring the
ordinary letters enormously deposited
to the regular boxes and carrying the
special deliveries to the post Office for
post marking and then delivering i'm
mediately to the addresses.
To Inspect West Point.
Washington, Jan. 13.-The members
of the congressional committees on
military affairs left here for West Point
for the purpose of making thorough
inspection of conditions at the military
academy with view to making pro-
vision for enlarging the establishment
ontmodern lines. The academy opened
originally with only ten cadets under
instruction. The corps increased grad
ually until it numbered 24O cadets in
1s43. 1t numbers 4s2 at the present
time and will comprise 511 cadets in
March, 1908. The buildings have not
kept pace with this steady increase
and are said to be toally inadequate to
the needs of the institution. It is
stated that 1t has become necessary to
assign three cadets to room original
ly intended for only one occupant.
Claims He IL Not Man Wanted.
Pittsburg, Pa, Jan. 13.-Edmond
Palmer, the actor undex arrest here,
charged with being fugitive from
justice from Chicago, where he is said
to be wanted on an indictment charg-
ing the larceny of considerable sum
of money, is making strong effort
to prevent being taken to Illinois. He
stoutly insists that he is not the Pal
mer wanted in Chicago.
Will Meet at Des Moines.
Ottumwa, Ia, Jan. l3.-President
W. A. McIntire, of the Iowa Retail
Hardware Dealers association, an
nounced that the annual meeting of
the association will be held in Des
Moines February 1s, 10, and 20. The
meeting promises to be one of the
| In ruasf in the hiaf0rv ~ tho ass0cia.