The Springfield herald., 1902-12-19

the resolution to adjourn from Decem-
ber Goth to January 9TH.
Bills have been introduced by Rep
resentative Lacey of Iowa to repeal the
desert land law and the Communication
provisions of the homestead laws.
The Senate committee on foreign re-
lauons has decided to postpone consid-
Grafton of a supplementary treaty ex-
tending for year the time for the rati-
fication of the cession of the Danish
West Indies to the United States. The
rejection of the original treaty by the
Danish Parliament makes action in re-
gard to the supplemental treaty un-
necessary at this time.
Senator Pettus has presented favor
able report from the committee on mil
itary affairs on a Senate bill giving
Brigadier General II. C. Merriam the
retired rank of major general. This
measure will without much doubt pass
the Senate in a few days. General Mer-
rian formerly commanded the Depart
ment of Colorado. He is now retired
and living in Wyoming.
1t has recently been brought to the
attention of Postmaster General
Payne that about twenty-five women
are holding positions as carriers in
the rural free delivery service, and
call has been made upon Superintend-
Machin of tnat branch for infor-
~htion about them. An investigation
will be made to determine whether
they are performing their duties in
satisfactory manner. Mr.. Payne is
said to be opposed to the appointment
of women to such service.
The House has passed bill author
izing the following persons to accept
presents and decorations from foreign
governments: Capt. b. II. McCalla,
U. S. N; Drs. Eugene Wasdin and IA.
d. Geddings. U. S. M. II. c.; Henry e.
Afford, w. A. Taylor, II. w. Wiley, M.
A. Carleton and John |. Shuttle, De
partment of Agriculture; John A. Ok
erman. Mississippi river commission;
Casper S. Crowinshield, United States
commercial agent; Miss Anna Tolman
Smith and Lieut. Col. F. H. Phipps.
Gen. Luke E. Wright. vice govern
or of the Philippines, before the House
committee on ways and means advo-
Gated reduction of tariff rates on
Philippine goods coming into the Unit
ed States to twenty-five per cent of the
Dingley schedule, as provided by the
bill introduced by Representative
Cooper, instead of seventy-five per
cent. as under the present law. Cen
eral Wright said this would result IN
better market for Philippine goods
and provide more revenue for the isl
ands
The annual report of Governor
Otero of New Mexico to the secretary
of the interior says the territory Is
unusually prosperous, irrigation work
has taken great strides, new mines are
opening and new towns and cities are
springing into life. The net bonded
debt of the territory is 81 ,034 .054. The
assessed valuation of property in New
Mexico is now Sal ,10S745, which the
0vernor says is not one-third OF its
Actual value for taxable purposes, a
fair estimate. he says, not falling far
short of $150.000,000.
The Secretary of the Interior has re-
quested that the appropriation of last
session for resurveying the boundary
lines between Colorado and New Mex
leo and Oklahoma be made available
until June 80. 1904 Otherwise the
appropriation will lapse next June. be-
fore it is possible to complete the sur
vey Howard b. Carpenter. who has
the contract, says that owing to SHOWS
in the Conejos and Culebra ranges.
across which the line runs, little can
be done this winter. No doubt the ex-
tension will be made.
The prospective retirement of Justice
Shiras from the Supreme Court. which
was announced by his son some time
ago as likely to take place at no very
distant date. it is believed may result
in the promotion to the supreme bench
of William II. Taft. chairman of the
Philippine commission. Governor
Taft's elevation to that court would be
the fulfillment of the general under
standing which existed at the time he
resigned from the federal court bench
in Ohio and took up his present duties
at the request of President Mckinley.
W. F. King of Ottawa, Canada, the
Dominion astronomer, is coming to
Washington to confer with the chief
of the geodetic survey for the purpose
of devising plans for the more perma-
nent marking of the forty-eighth par
allel from the Rocky mountains to the
Pacific coast and for tracing it on the
ground in the rugged mountains,
where the line had been previously
NDrked at long intervals. The mining
interests now call for continuous
visible line. An examination of the
line was made year ago under the
direction of the coast and geodetic
survey. Congress probably will be
asked for an appropriation to carry
out the work of demarcation.
The United States Supreme Court has
affirmed the opinion of the Circuit
Court of Appeals in the case of the
Knights Templar and Masons Life In
surance Company VS.. Rosa B. Jarman
The case involved the validity of the
suicide statute of Missouri of 1879 pro
viding that suicide shall not be de
fense against the payment of life in
surarce policy. the policy involved be-
ing upon the life of John f. Jarman
husband of Mrs. Rosa Jarman. who
while insane, took his life in Grundy
county Missouri in 1898 The decision