Evening star., 1902-01-15
TOPICS AT THE CAPITOL
ACTION DEFERRED on THE HEP
BURN CANAL BILL.
Secretary Root Points Out the Needs
of the Army-New Bills in the
House and Senate.

Fne House Nicaragua canal Dill was con-
sidered yesterday by the Senate committee
on interoceanic canals, but action was de-
ferred in order to permit further fnvestiga-
ton of the proposition made by the Pam
anna Canal Company. The motion for this
postponement was made by Senator
Mitchell. 1t provided for meeting next
Friday and instructed Senator Morgan, as
chairman of the committee, 10 confer in
| the meantime with the President for the
purpose of ascertaining whether the Pam
anna proposition had been received by the
isthmian canal commission, and in case it
had been received to ascertain from the
chairman of the canal commission what
time will be necessary for the commission
to prepare report upon the proposition
This motion was carried unanimously. The
action was due to the expressed wish of a
majority of the members of the committee
to afford opportunity TO give fair consid-
Grafton to the Panama proposition. There
was also sentiment expressed against any
prolonged postponement.
The Needs of the Army.
Secretary Root was at the Capitol yes
terday and spent half an hour with Chair
man Cannon of the appropriations commit
tee discussing in general way the needs
in the urgent deficiency bill now being
framed, and amounting to about s1,OOO,0O0
Secretary Root has called the attention of
Congress to the need of providing for the
fifty companies of Philippine scouts. COM
prising about 5000 men. Gen. Chaffee ca
bled the War Department recently that the
pay of the scouts by the insu1ar government
ceased December last. so that a deficiency
appropriation is required of S515, GOO for the
service of the scouts from that time for
ward.
Devices Invented by Naval Officers.
Senator McEnery has reported favorably
from the committee on naval affairs the
bill giving to the United States the use of
devices invented and patented by naval Of
ficers while in the public service.
To Admit Hemp Free.
Senator Hansbrough has presented an
amendment to the Philippine tariff bill ad-
mitting free of duty to the ports of the
United States hemp grown in the Philip
pines and relieving it from the export duty
charged in the Philippines when shipped to
the United States.
To Reorganize Consular Service.
The subcommittee of the House foreign
affairs committee having the matter in
charge has favorably reported the Adams
Dill to reorganize the consular service.
Naval Station on Porto Rico
Resolutions by the executive council of
Porto Rico, indorsed by Governor Hunt,
have been forwarded to Congress setting
forth the Importance of establishing
United States naval station on the island
and Offering to cede all necessary land for
this purpose.
New Bills in the Senate.
Senator Proctor has introduced a bill in
the Senate providing for the repeal of that
portion of the act of February ,, 1901, re-
lating to the army which requires that
chiefs Of staff of corps or departments shall
be appointed from the officers of such
staff.
Other important bills have been intro
duced as follows:
By Senator Dubois, granting to states
lands in lieu of school sections settled upon
before the survey of the land.
By Senator Penrose, making $50 the min
imum pension for the loss of a hand or
foot or for equivalent injury.
New Bills in the House.
Representative Cummings of New York
has introduced bill to give authors man
useript the benefit of the third-class postal
rate, the same as corrected proof sheets.
Representative H. C. Smith of Michigan
has introduced a joint resolution for a
constitutional amendment empowering
Congress to define the qualification of cleo
tors for members of Congress and requir-
ing that these qualifications shall be uni
form throughout the states. The purpose
Of the amendment is to prevent the dis
franchisement of voters at congressional
elections
Representative Hanbury of New York
has introduced bill for the acquisition of
land near Fort Hamilton, New York, for
defensive purposes.
Representative Tawney of Minnesota has
introduced measure in line with sugges-
uons in a report by Ambassador Choate to
prevent shipping masters from including
in bills of lading certain lighterage aid
barge charges which have grown up by
custom at large shipping points abroad
particularly on the Thames