The Elk Mountain pilot., 1902-04-29
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

Representative Richardson of Tenn
essee introduced the following resolu-
ton: whereas. There has been re-
Gently an unusual increase in the price
of beef, mutton. veal and pork. which
is abnormal and due largely. if not al
together, to trusts and other combina-
tions alleged to be unlawful in their
organization; therefore be it resolved,
that the ways and means committee be
instructed to investigate the question
of the recent increase in the price of
these articles and determine the cause
thereof. and If practicable offer some
Legislation that will afford some relief
from the evil complained of"
Senator Gibson has introduced bill
authorizing the secretary of the in
terror to restore TO public entry lands
embraced in whole or in part within
the segregations for reservoirs. The
bill provides that lands heretofore in
cluded within reservations for reser-
voir purposes, made in accordance
with the law approved October >, 1883.
and subsequent acts, may, in the dis
erection of the secretary, be thrown
open to entry and settlement under
the land laws as though such reserva-
tions had never been made, provided
that it has been ascertained by the sec
retary that such lands are not needed
for reservoir purposes and cannot
probably be used in future for such
purposes.
Friends of the omnibus bill admit
ting Arizona, New Mexico and Okla
homa as states, becoming impatient at
delay in taking up their bill, met and
decided that If the Speaker does not
agree to give them n day in court by
May LIST, they will insist ON the privi-
lege which the rules grant for the con
sderation of the bills admitting the
territories to become states of the I'm
ion. Delegate Rodey states that there
is more than a majority pledged in ia
vor of the bill and that its considera-
tion is equivalent to its passage in the
house. that the situation in the Senate
is favorable and if the bill passes the
House the prospects for its becoming
law at this session are bright.
The house committee on Indian af-
fairs has favorably reported the bill
which recently passed the senate for
the relief of Mrs. Arivetta d. Meeker
of Greeley, Colorado. The senate bill
appropriated $1,000 out of the annui-
ties of the confederated bands of utes
for the payment to Mrs. Meeker. The
house bill amends 1t by striking out
this provision and substituting an an
nuity of $500. to be paid from the
same source to Mrs. Mccker during
her lifetime. This payment is in recog-
milton of the services of Nathan Cook
Meeker, late husband of the beneti-
ciary. who was Indian agent mt the
White River Indian agency, Colorado.
for the loss his family sustained by
reason of his assassination and the de-
struction of his property by the In
dians in 1897.
The House committee on naval af-
fairs has completed the naval appro-
priation bill. The most important item
as to new ships was left until tie last.
and as finally determined upon was as
follows: Two battleships of about TO-
600 tons displacement to cost, eXclus-
i've of armor and armament, S4,212, 900
each; two armored cruisers of about
800 tons displacement each. to cost.
exclusive of armor and armament, ST.
659,OOO each; two gunboats of 1000
tons each, to cost S3S2, 900 each. The
16.0O0-ton battleships will be the larg
est ever authorized for the American
navy, and among the largest warships
afloat The srmored cruisers also will
be exceptionally large, for their class
considerably exceeding the New York
and Brooklyn in tonnage. The amount
S76,OOO,OO0.
The members of the executive coun-
ell of the American Federation of La
Dor had n conference with President
Roosevelt upon labor matters in which
the federation is interested. Regard
ing Chinese exclusion, the labor lead
ers told the president that they We're
not at all pleased with the failure of
the senate to add seaman's section
to the Chinese exclusion bill passed
yesterday. The president it is stated,
expressed himself in favor of an er-
fective Chinese exclusion law and as
in sympathy with the demands of
labor as to an eight-hour bill and n
prison labor bill. The president said
there had been a great deal of misun-
derstanding as to the order issued by
him relating to government employees
taking part in efforts for increase OF
pay, etc. This order, he explained, did
not refer to the efforts of organiza-
tions as bodies.
Mr.. Teller introduced in the Senate
the following: Whereas, it has been
currently reported that nearly the en-
tire crop of Cuban sugar has been pur-
chased and is now held by what is gen
orally known as the sugar trust:
which is the principal consumer of
raw sugar in the United States, and
that any concessions given to the rails
er of cane sugar in the island of Cuba,
or any measure intended for their re
lief by admitting their sugar at re-
duced rates of duty into the United
States will only benefit the sugar trust
and that the Cubans will receive no
real benefit from such concession; and
whereas, it is alleged that a number
of the citizens of the United States
have acquired large holdings of cane
producing lands in Cuba and are now
especially urging the reduction of duty
on sugar, under the claim that such re