Gilpin observer., 1902-12-11

| INdtiCHdI bdHk OIL LOUISVILLE, hen,
lucky. while its president. The Presi-
dent has endorsed the application as
follows: Denied; this seems an abb
solutely clear case of guilt with no ex-
cuse whatever for pardon"
The increase in freight rates which
are shortly to be applied on the roads
running from the Mississippi river and
points beyond to the East and South
will be investigated by the interstate
commerce commission, which has
ixed December 18th next as the date
for hearing to be held at the offices,
of the commission in Washington. The
commission has issued an order re-
quiring the attendance at the time
of the chief traffic officials or other
representatives qualified to give in
formation of the following roads:
Michigan Central, Lake Shore & Mich
igan Southern, Erie railroad, Balti-
more &c Ohio, Pennsylvania, Cleveland,
Cincinnati, Chicago & st. Louis, Wa
bash Railway Company, Baltimore &
Ohio Southwestern, New York Central
& Hudson River, Delaware, Lacka-
wanna & Western, Lehigh Valley,
Pennsylvania Railway Company.
Southern railway, Norfolk & Western
and the Chesapeake & Ohio.
Senator Lodge, chairman OF the Sem
introduced a bill for the regulation Of
the currency of the Philippine islands.
The bill provides that the currency Of
the United States shall be legal tender
in the islands and makes the gold dol
lar the unit of value. 1t authorizes the
coinage of a silver pesos of 416 grains,
which is to be paid in sums of less
than 100 pesos when demanded. The
peso is also to be received for all dues
to the islands unless specific provision
is made to the contrary. The Philip
pine government is authorized to take
such measures as it considers neces-
sary to maintain the parity of the peso
with the currency of the United States
at the rate of two pesos for one dol
lar. Authority is also given for the
issuance of certificates in the peso.
The Mexican and Spanish pesos are to
go out of existence by the 1st of De-
cember, 1908. Meanwhile their value
is to be fixed by proclamation by the
governor of the Philippines.
Senator Cullom has introduced a bill
to amend the Sherman antitrust law.
1t prohibits interstate commerce in ar
ticles produced by trusts, the penalty
for violation being a fine of from $500
to $4,000 The bill authorizes the at:
torney general or any district attorney
W ludht " lue leueIdl
judges for the summoning of persons
before them to answer questions as to
material violations of the antitrust
law in advance of the trial of a case,
and requires the judges to issue orders
for the appearance of such persons up
on this application. In such cases wit
/ nesses are to be protected against pros
I ecution on account of their revelations,
but they are to be deprived of their
right to refuse to answer because of
| self-incrimination. Annual reports are
required to be made by yall persons, firms
and corporations engaged in interstate
commerce. They are to be fled with
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
and they are to be subject to the scru-
tiny of the attorney general. but not of
the general public. The attorney gen.
eral is authorized to appoint fifty spe-
cial agents to seek out violations of the
law.
Representative Hull, chairman of the
House committee on military affairs.
has introduced bill creating a general
staff corps of the United States army.
| The bill provides that the staff be COM
posed of officers detailed from the army
at large, under such rules as the Pres
ident may prescribe The proposed du-
ties of the staff are to prepare plans
for the national defense and for the
mobilization of the military forces in
time of war; to investigate and report
on all questions affecting the efficiency
of the army and its state of prepared
ness for military operations; to render
! professional aid to the secretary of war
and to general officers and other supe-
! rior commanders. and to act as their
/ agents in forming and cO-ordinating
action of all the different officers In,
| carrying out their orders. 1t Is pro-
posed that the general staff corps con-
sist of one chief of staff of the army.
with the rank and pay Of a lieutenant
general; one major general and one
/ brigadier general, to be detailed by the
President from officers at large not be-
| low the grade of brigadier general;
four colonels, six lieutenant colonies
and twelve majors, to be detailed from
the corresponding grades in the army
at large; twenty captains. mounted.
Representative Bell OF Colorado In
troduced a bill which he intends to
press at the present session making
certain amendments in the irrigation
| law of the last session. The changes
are intended primarily to meet condi-
tions in Colorado. and do not seriously
alter the intent or character OF the
present law. In fact, says Mr.. Bell. the
amendments rather carry out the orig
inal intent of the legislation. filling In
omissions. as it were. The first amend
ment permits acquisition OF reclaimed
lands under cash entry, as well az
under the homestead law. in cases
where the land is part Of former tn
dian reservations open to set.iement
under treaties which stipulate that the
Indians shall be paid so much an acre
for their lands. In the region to be
reclaimed by the Gunnison river prof.
ect there is considerable area form
erly included in the Ute Indian reser-
vations. which could hardly be acquired