Gilpin observer., 1902-01-16
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

Representative Hooker Of Mississippi
has introduced joint resolution, re-
citing that Commodore Schley was the
senior officer in comand at the battle
of Santiago; that he was in absolute
command Mt the battle, and Is "entitled
to the credit due to such commanding
officer of the glorious victory which
resulted in the total destruction Of the
Spanish ships" The resolution pro-
vides for the thanks of Congress to
Admiral Schley and the officers and
men under his command.
A meeting Of the committee of west
ern congressman on the proposed irri-
CATION bill was held Monday night IN
Senator Warren's committee room. Mr..
Newlands, secretary of the committee
read letters from the secretary of the
interior, the director of the geological
survey and the commissioner of the
general land office in answer to the
request of the committee to submit
views on the proposed bill. The sec
retary of the interior referred the mat
ter to the last named officials, who
submitted some suggestions and
amendments the substance of their
views being made toward stronger ma
tional control than the bill now pro-
vides. The question of state or federal
control was discussed at length, this
being the point upon which the commit
tee seems unable to arrive at a con-
clusion, being about evenly divided.
An amendment submitted by Mr.. Mon
dell, making water appurtenant to the
land irrigated was adopted. The COM
mittee will continue its work Wednes-
day night.
The effect of wireless telegraphy
upon the future of the submarine cable
has been developed to some extent by
the House committee ON commerce, in
connection with the hearing on the pro-
posed Pacific cable. Vice President
Ward of the Pacific Commercial Gable
Company said he believed the company
he represented would be able to make
exclusive traffic arrangements from
points beyond the Philippines and con-
Meeting with China and Japan. He
maintained that while there was no
purpose to set up monopoly, yet 1t
was likely his company would have ex-
elusive traffic arrangements with the
far east. Chairman Hepburn asked
series Of questions as to the effect of
wireless telegraphy on the submarine
cable. Mr.. Ward replied that the new
system presented serious question.
He was not sure that the Pacific cable
project would have been undertaken il
the long-distance experiments had been
begun earlier. As to the claims that
wireless signals had been conveyed
1000 miles across the Atlantic, Mr..
Ward said that II the claims were
made good they would deter people
from laying any more cables.
Secretary Root is strongly opposed to
commercial reciprocity between the
United States and the Philippines ON
the general ground that any such ar
rangement would be destructive of the
''open door policy of this government
in the east 1t is argued that the Unit
ed States only secured the open door in
China after patient and assiduous
diplomatic negotiations with other for
eign governments concerned, and to
now deny to other governments the
same trade facilities with the Philip
pines enjoyed by the United States
would result In closing the principal
markets in China to the United States.
Speaking on this subject to-day, Cab
met officer said that the only way the
United States could do to be treated the
same as Russia, France, Germany and
Great Britain in the Chinese provinces
now in the possession of these govern
ments would be by granting the coun-
tries named equal privileges and facili-
ties with the United States for trade
with the Philippines. The above state
ments represent the position of Secre-
tary Root on the general question of
trade relations with the Philippines,
and the conclusion is that President
Roosevelt holds similar views.
A meeting OF the committee of west
ern senators and representatives which
has had In hand the formulation of O
general irrigation bill has been held in
Washington, the following states being
represented: Arizona, California, Col
orado. South Dakota. Nevada. Oregon,
Washington. North Dakota, Wyoming,
Kansas, Idaho. Utah and Nebraska.
Several members of the committee
present desired to amend the bill be-
fore submitting 1t to general caucus Of
western members, holding that the
measure had been severely criticised
both East and West. and should be put
in perfect form before submission to
general caucus. Additional discussion
followed on an amendment offered by
Martin Of South Dakota, proposing
that one-half Of the receipts OF land
sales In each state should be used for
irrigation purposes within the respect
i've states from which derived, the bal
ance to be expended in any state select
ed by the secretary Of the interior. Mr..
Martin contcnded that the SO 5000 which
would be available annually for irriga-
ton purposes, II placed In the hands Of
the secretary, would probably be ex-
pended In some one or two large enter
prises, and many smaller merltorious
projects in the several states would be
neglected. Mr.. Martin resented the
statements and publications of the
eastern press that the western states
are not to be trusted with the funds,
with the work of irrigation, or with the
public lands. In his state public lands
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