Gilpin observer., 1902-02-06
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

| Mr.. Lacey, chairman Of the public
| lands committee has introduced q bill
| authorizing the President to transfer
by executive order any forest reserves
| to the control of the Department of Ag-
riculture, and after the transfer all
laws relating to the same under the
Department of the Interior shall apply
to their regulation, administration and
control in all respects under the Depart
ment of Agriculture. The President Is
also authorized to set apart such forest
reserves as he may deem proper for
game or fish preserves.
The Republican members of the
ways and means committee held pri-
vate conference Wednesday night and
decided to frame bill for the reduc-
ton of war revenue taxes before pro-
ceeding further with the subject of Gu
ban reciprocity. Chairman Payne at
once called meeting of the full COM
mittee for IL o'clock tomorrow, when
work on the warrevenue reduction bill
will begin. Many leading congressman
are quoted as saying that they believe
Cuba will be forced to seek annexation
by the delay in tariff CONCESSIONS
Secretary Hitchcock has ordered
withdrawn from public entry town.
SlIpS ~ anu tONeTlllS upon
which will be located the Gunnison
tunnel, by which the waters of the
Gunnison river will be conveyed to the
lands of the Uncompahgre valley. In
connection with this order of withdraw
al a very much involved condition of
affairs in the Montrose land district be-
came known to the Interior Depart
ment officials and a general investiga-
ton has been ordered. 1t is alleged
that relatives of one of the officers Of
the Montrose Land district received in
side information concerning the gov
ernment survey for the tunnel site and
We're thereby enabled to secure water
power rights of great value. A men,
ber of the government surveying party
which located the tunnel site is also
said to be implicated.
The Navy Department has issued an
order announcing that Rear Admirals
William L. Sampson and p. j. Crom-
well will be placed on the retired list
February 9th next, ON account of age
Admiral Sampson is now in this city
on waiting orders. his health having
compelled his REIMBURSEMENT of active
duties several months ago. Admiral
Cromwell is in command of the Euro
pean station. These retirements will
III. Cooper and George H. Wadleigh to
the grade of rear admiral. Rear Admi-
raj John A. Howell, the ranking Off
Ger in that grade, who is now serving
as president of the naval retiring
board, will retire for age March 18th,
and the vacancy thus created in the
list of rear admirals will be filled by
| the promotion of Capt. \. S. Crown
inshield. chief of the bureau of naviga-
ton. Admiral Crowninshield, when
promoted, will succeed Admiral Crom-
well in command of the European sta
ton.
An extended speech on the pending
| Philippine tariff bill was delivered in
the Senate Friday by Mr. Morgan of
Alabama. Speaking of the claims
which had been made that there was
no lawful government in the Philip
pines. Mr.. Morgan. with earnestness.
said there is a government there and
he was glad to say, very good gov
ernment. suitable TO the character of
these people and the circumstances in
| which We found themg 1t would ad-
vance the esteem of the F'ilipinos for
the United States if they could have a
delegate in Congress. as in the case of
Hawaii, said Mr.. Morgan. This, he
| thought, would be no violation of the
constitution. Referring to the work of
| the Philippine Commission. their per-
| sonality and their ability, he paid a
tribute to the late President Mckinley,
who, he said, was the happiest man in
the world in making selections of men
for responsible position. who always
| could be relied upon to do the right
| thing at the right time and in the right
way.
Both majority and minority reports
We're filed on the war revenue repeal
bill Monday. The majority report says
the probability of early withdrawal of
troops from Cuba and the reduction of
the force in the Philippines will make
further reductions possible. and also
| reviews the condition of the treasury.
In conclusion, the majority report
says: 1T cannot be denied that
large surplus furnishes temptation for
, extravagant expenditure. While Con-
gress may generally be relied upon to
keep the national expenses within rea-
sonable bounds II should be relieved
from the pressure which comes with
plausible schemes from every quarter
to raid an overlooking treasury" The
minority report approves the proposed
reductions, but asserts that they should
have been made long ago. 1t also ad-
vocates general revision of tariff tax
alton. with the retention of taxes on
accumulated wealth. There Is gen.
eral denunciation of the Dingley law
rs the mother of trusts, and the report
says that 1t enables the manufactures
to charge far greater prices to home
consumers than are received abroad
for the same goods. which is character
lied as plain robbery"
The statistics OF the manufacturing
Industries of the United States, as
shown by the official returns of the
twnlfth .apsns hnvA hnap annn,,a...p