The Grit-advocate., 1902-12-26
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS


eral OF the army. made an argument
against the bill creating general
staff corps in the army before the
House copmittee on military afairs.
A bill has been introduced in the
Senate by Senator Warren and in the
House of Representative by Represen-
tative Mondell granting railroads and
water companies right of way through
government reservations and public
lands for reservoirs and pipe lines.
The House passed the pure food Dill
by vote of 72 to 81. The bill inhibits
ihe Introduction into any state or ter
ritory or the District of Columbia,
from any other state or territory or
from any foreign country. or the ship
ment of any foreign country of any ar
ticle of food or drug which is adulter-
ated or misbranded.
The President has concluded that it
will not be necessary to send the Gu
ban reciprocity treaty to the House. 1t
is said that the House may satisfy IT.
self by passing upon the reciprocity
proposition incidental to the consider
alton of some legislation, which will
be necessary to give effect to the
treaty, though that document will be
in Washington.
The Senate committee on commerce
has decided to report adversely the bill
appropriating $1,0O0,000 for the i'm
provement of the harbor at Baltimore,
Maryland. This position was not TAX
| en- because of opposition to the bill, but
because of the rule of the commit
tee against inaugurating individual
| rrh of iv,,r iv,y W ON,
there is no river and harbor bill, as is
the case this season.
The House committee on public
buildings and grounds is preparing an
omnibus public building bill for intro
duction at this session to provide
buildings in cities and towns where
| sites have been purchased by virtue OF
prior legislation but no provision
made for buildings. The bin will also
provide for extending the cost limit of
buildings under construction and
found inadequate for the needs of the
cities where located.
Senator Perkins of California has in
troduced a bill authorizing the Presi-
dent to set aside areas within forest
reserves to be preserved as breeding
places for wild animals. birds and fish.
and killing of game is to be prohibited
at all times. The senator has drawn
his bill along the lines recommended
by the President and with further
view to largely doing away with state
protection over game with the re-
serves.
Senator Depew has introduced bill
authorizing the issuance of emergency
L., 81,
1t provides that such currency shall be
supplied to any national bank with
capital of not less than $4,000 to the
extent of fifty per cene of the banks
capital. The extra capital is. however.
to be supplied only in case of string
ency in the money market sufficiently
serious to ieopardize values and i'm
peril the commercial and business in
terests of the country
w. Il. Johnston. missionary on the
Navajo Indian reservation, conferred
with commissioner of Indian Affairs
Jones recently regarding the condition
of the Navajos. He says that the great
drouth which has existed in the Nava-
jo country during the past six years
has almost impoverished those Indians,
and that 1t is impossible for them to
carry on under the present conditions
the sheep business in which they have
been engaged. He asked government
assistance, otherwise than financial, to
show the Indians how to help them
selves.
The Supreme Court dismissed the
writ of error in the case of Whitney
Layton against the state of Missouri,
on the ground that no federal question
had been raised in the trial court. The
case involved the constitutionality of
the pure food law of the state and has
attracted much attention. Layton.
whose place of business is in ST. Louis
was found guilty in the trial court OF
the use of alum in the manufacture of
baking power and fine of 800 was
assessed against him. The verdict
was affirmed by the state Supreme
Court.
The secretary of war has approved
a recommendation made by General
Randall, commanding the Department
Of the Columbia, that officers and men
be granted permission under restric-
tions to visit other posts for the pur-
pose of taking part in athletic con-
tests. Such permission will not be
considered as leave of absence or a
furlough, but will be noted on the re-
turns in the same manner as absence
with permission to hunt. The secre-
tary also has approved recommended
ton that an annual department con-
test in field sports be held on condition
that such contests be without expense
to the government.
The House passed the bill to reduce
the duties on products of the Philip
pine islands coming into the United
States from seventy-five per cent. of
the Dingley rates Ohe present duties)
TO twenty-five per cent. of those rates
The discussion of the bill was accom-
panied by considerable maneuvering
on the Democratic side to secure test
votes on various amendments designed
to lower the tariff still further. and a
record vote was forced on motion to |
recommit with instructions to report |
a bill providing for absolute free trade |
with the islands The division on this |
proposition was on party lines, with |
he exception Of Mr. Call (Republican |
rf Massachusetts, who voted with the |
Democrats.