Gilpin observer., 1902-05-22

The House committee on military af-
fairs has ordered a favorable report on
the bill to retire Surgeon General
Sternberg, with the rank of major gen.
eral.
An amendment to the naval appro-
priation bill appropriating $4,000 for
making tests of liquid fuel from the
California and Texas oil fields under
the direction of the Bureau Of Steam
Engineering, was adopted by the
House.
AS announced last week, the canvass
Of the House by the friends of the irri-
CATION bill has disclosed clear ma
jority in favor Of the measure. Later
it was announced that 1856 members
had promised to vote for it. Friends
Of the bill will now press for def
mite day for its consideration, and ex-
pect they will be given an opportunity
to call 1t up within two weeks.
The Senate committee on Philippines
has decided to call as witness before
that committee Miss Clemencia Lopez,
a sister of Sixto Lopez. The lady is
now in Boston and she will be asked to
come from that city to Washington to
give her testimony. The date Of her
appearance has not been fixed. Sena-
tors Lodge, Hale and Burrows voted
with the Democratic members to ask
her attendance.
The negotiations between Secretary
Hay and the ministers from Colombia,
Nicaragua and Costa Rica looking TO
the requirement of the necessary
rights for the construction by the
United States government Of either the
Panama or the Nicaragua canal, have
at last been concluded and the secre-
tary of state will be able to send to
the Senate three treaties covering the
ground. The general features of these
conventions already have been out
lined.
The general land office has decided
to open the bulk Of the Fort Hall In
dian reservation under the old rush"
system, which will take place June
17th. 1t is estimated that about 3OO,
600 acres are agricultural or grazing
land, which may be entered under
homestead, timber and stone laws, and
all these lands will be subject to the
rush" About 10000 acres within five
miles of Pocatello will be sold at public
auction and not be opened up during
the scramble.
Thomas f. Walsh has accepted plans
largest office building in Washington,
to be known as 1.-The Colorado" The
building will be on the corner of Four
teenth and G streets, the former site
of the Foundry church. The frontage
on G street will be ia feet and on
Fourteenth street 11S feet. There will
be nine floors and the building will
contain eight store and 243 office rooms.
The building will cost 100000 and the
ground cost 100000.
Senator Warren recently presented
to the President a petition of thirty
nine small stockmen living in the Hat
Greek, Wyoming, district, and compris-
ing practically all its residents. re-
questing delay in enforcement of the
order to remove fences from the pub
lie domain until some satisfactory law
passes Congress to adjust grazing in
the West. While the law will be en-
forced, it is understood an effort will
be made to work as little hardship as
possible, especially in communities
where no complaints have arisen of
fencing on the public lands.
The friends of Cuban reciprocity for
the time being have practically aban-
doned their effort to have the measure
made the unfinished business on the
Senate calendar and now express a
willingness that the Nicaraguan canal
bill shall continue to have the place
place of advantage, with the under
standing that the Cuban bill shall have
incidental attention when no one is
prepared to speak on the canal bill,
and 1t is understood that there will be
no effort to displace the latter. 1t is
now the intention Of the opponents of
the Cuban bill to see that the canal
bill is thoroughly debated.
President Roosevelt has signed the
bill giving Mrs. Arvella ID. Meeker of
Greeley, Colorado, an annuity for life
of $500. The Indian appropriation bill
carrying the provision for opening the
Uintah reservation and an appropria-
ton for furnishing water for the south
ern Ute Indians of Colorado, is still
in the hands of the President, unsigned.
Objections have been made to the bill
on account of the provisions for open
ing the Uintah reservation and leas-
ing lands on the Spokane reservation.
1t Is stated. however, that the Presi-
dent will not refuse to sign the bill on
this account and the delay In signing
is to fully satisfy friends Of the In
dians that the Indians rights are prop
erly safeguarded.
The House committee on military af-
fairs has decided to disapprove the
proposition suggested by Secretary
Root of establishing four large military
concentration camps in different sec
tons of the United States. Secretary
Root has been anxious to establish four
large permanent camps. one on the Pa
cific coast. two east of the Mississippi
river and one in the Rocky mountain
region, where large bodies Of troops
might be mobolized for field drills.
sham battles and other maneuvers.
The House committee maintains that
large camps are not desirable but IA
vors the creation of number of small
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