The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-20
WESTERN COMMERCE
Important Session Held 10 Discuss
z Its Benefits.
NATIONAL LEGISLATION
Will Be Handled by the transmits
slssippi Congress.
CONCENTRATION OF INTERESTS.
Mining, Live Stock, irrigation and Other
Matters to Be Combined.
NEW DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT
Measures VIII Be Taken to Have Cab.
met Officer Created to Regulate
Mines and Mining.

st. Paul, Mimi, August 1e.--At 10 o'clock
this morning the Transmississippl CONNER
clal Congress was called to order hy Presi.
dent j. H. Smith of Salt Lake City Dele.
gates arrived yesterday aud early today
and representatives Of the entire West
were present at the opening session in this
city. The jurisdiction OF the Transmits
sissippi congress includes the States Of
Arkansas. California, Colorado. Idaho Iowa.
Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Louisiana, Min
nesota, Missouri, North Dakota. Oregon
South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington
Wyoming, Arizona Territory, Indian Ter.
ritory. New Mexico. Oklahoma, Alaska.
Hawaiian islands and the Philippines In
outlining the work of the congress for the
present session President Smith said: The
object of the TrarsmissisSippi congress is
TO crystalline the opinions OF tue Western
country in regard 10 the matters Of Ma
tional legislation and 20 bbring them be
fore congress In such a manner as 10 effect
the greatest good. So far as know there
is no particular topic for discussion other
than what may be brought up IN individual
delegations.
AN effort will be made st this session
to bring about consideration OF the dlf-
ferences of the West. There Is now a min.
ing congress, live stock congress an irrl
cation congress, good roads congress, all
operating In harmony but separately. The
idea that better results could be obtained
from concentration of these Is becoming
more and more widespread, and 1t Will re-
ceive consideration at the present session"
The congress was opened with an inyoca-
tion by Archbishop IRELAND, after which
addresses Of welcome were delivered ny
Governor Van SAINT, d. w, LAWYER, on be
half Of Mayor Smith f, 6 Strnger for the
Commercial club, and Rufus A. Hoyt, Min.
| nesota, vice president of the congress.
The president of the congress, Mr.. Smith.
then responded on behalf Of the delegates
and the morning session closed with music
Owing to the nonarryal of some Of the
speakers who had been placed on the pro
gram for this afternoons session, a mum
her of changes were necessitated. Colonel
Ed E. Browne Of Aspen, Colo, read q pa
per on "Nines aud Mining" In which he
urged the congress to take measures to Sc
cure the creation of n governmental depart
ment of mines and mining, whose head shall
be a member Of the president s cabinet E,
r Moses Of the executive committee dis
cussed the proposition TO maintain a score.
| tary Of the congress at Washington, whose
duty it shall be TO advise Transmlssisslppi
interests of measures pending before the
| National legislature, by which they may
| be affected
The afternoon session was Shortened
somewhat In order to allow the delegates
to participate in a steamboat excursion.
Tonight the subject under discussion was
Alaska" and among those who spoke were
Donald Fletcher OF Seattle and ]. A. Ivey
New Orleans wants to entertain the con
gress In 1903 and strong delegation Is II
attendance to present her claims