Gilpin observer., 1902-06-26
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

General Greedy has entered into
contract with the Marconi Wireless
Telegraph company for the erection of
two wireless telegraphic stations con-
Meeting Fort Gibbon, Alaska, with
Bates Rapids, on the Tanana, a dis.
tance of 1855 miles in an airline. The
company undertakes to have the sta
tions in working order by October
next. General Greedy already has an
overland wire from Nome City to Fort
Gibbon, and with other existing lines
in Alaska, this wireless system will
complete circuit from Behring sea
down to the south coast. The COM
pany's undertaking is to supply a sys-
TEN that shall work every day without
/ interruption, else the government will
not be under any expense.
The bill providing for the establish
ment and maintenance Of schools and
departments of mining in several
states, to be supported by the funds
arising from the sale of public lands,
is to go over until next session with
out action. Since the irrigation bill
came to the front and became a law,
the friends Of this bill have refrained
from pressing it, for fear of injuring
the larger measure. They took the po-
sition that irrigation was of more i'm
portance than the small allowance for
mining schools. There is some doubt
In the minds Of some friends Of the
mining school measure whether they
will now be able to secure part of the
land funds for this purpose, in view
of the donation of this fund for irriga-
tion.
On motion of Mr.. Sulloway of New
Hampshire, the House passed under
suspension of the rules the Senate bill
TO increase the pensions of those who
have lost limb or limbs or have been
totally disabled in the military or
naval service of the United States.
The House amendments to the bill re-
duced the increase allowed for the loss
of hand or foot from $45 to $40; for
and arm at or below the elbow or a
leg at or below the knee from $50 to
SAG; leg at the hip joint or an arm
at the shoulder from $50 to $55. No
amendment was maze to pensions for
total disability, whic., remains at $50.
The committee also added an amend
ment to increase the pensions of SOL
diers under the dependent act of 1890.
when they require frequent and per-
iodical aid" from $12 to $50.
Senator Teller offered the following
resolution: Whereas, it seems imprac-
! ticable to prepare during this session
| of Congress an itemiZed statement
showing the collection and disburse-
ment of all funds for the whole period
of the military occupation of Cuba;
and whereas, 1t is important that a
statement be now made Of the account
hereafter named; therefore be it re-
solved, that the secretary Of war be,
and he is hereby directed to send to
the Senate the following: A full item
tzed statement of all payments made
| out of Cuban funds to any person or
corporations, If any, for the purpose of
promoting reciprocity between the
United States and Cuba, at any time
during the military occupation of Cuba
by the United States and whether such
payments were authorized or approved
by the secretary of war"
Major Lyttleton W. T. Waller, U. S.
NJ. c., accompanied by Brig. Gen. Hey
wood commanding the marine corps,
| called at the navy department and had
a pleasant talk with Secretary Moody.
whom Major Waller had not met. 1t
was stated that the conversation did
not touch upon business matters, but
was confined to an exchange of pleas
antries, the secretary praising in gener-
| GUS terms the work of the marines in
the Philippines, and General Haywood
adding few words in the same vein.
Major Waller looks very well and
| sturdy for man who has been through
terrible campaign, but is suffering
from an attack Of laryngitis, which
makes speaking Tor any length of time
an arduous task. He is on leave Of alb
60 Ifo
town, Norfolk, Va, where the citizens
will present to him sword and give
, a banquet in his honor.
| The report Of Secretary Root to the
senate calls attention to the fact that
the minimum at which the regular
army is required to be maintained, by
the act of February 2 1901, is 52,087
men and the maximum is 100000. We
now have less than 10000 in excess
of the minimum number. The cost Of
that excess only is properly to be stat
ed rs occasioned by operations in the
Philippines. In the middle of the fis-
cal year ending June 80, 1901, there
were about 10000 American soldiers
in the islands. That number is now re-
duced to about $1,000. Orders have
now been issued for the return of the
Eighth, Fifteenth, Twenty-fourth and
Twenty-fifth infantry and squadron
of the Tenth cavalry, and when these
orders have been executed the number
of American troops in the Philippines
will have been reduced to $4,000. For
the past six months we have been
bringing troops home as rapidly as we
could do SO economically by the use
Of our own transports.
Secretary Root, on. the 10th inst.
made answer to the senate resolution
of April II, calling for information
as to the cost of the war in the Phil.
ippines. 1t is shown that $4,000 was
advanced for the expenses Of the
| philinnine commission originally from