The Meeker herald., 1902-03-22
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

The work of harm0nixing the conflict
over Cuban reciprocity has progressed
10 far that n committee OF cOnferees,
or arbitrators. representing the two
sides of the controversy, assembled
to frame a compromise agreement.
President Roosevelt's attitude to-
wards the project OF reciaiming arid
lands will probably figure largely in
the growing popularity Of the New
.ands- Hansbrough bill before the
house, says News special The
presidents views have not changed
since the delivery Of his message
10 congress and ON several &C.
caslons recently he has given evidence
that he is heart and soul with the
Westerners In their government irriga-
ton measure.
Representative John G. Bell has
taken a stand against what he terms
the undignltied principles In the post
Office department. He has been inves-
tigating cases in Colorado where
rooms have been rented to the post
office authorities for the nominal sum
OF 81 per year, 1t being openly admitted
that the low rental was offered by pri-
Sate parties for the purpose OF having
the postotflce placed in a locality where
it would enhance the value Of property
in which they were interested. Mr..
Bell learned enough to satisfy himself
that this has been widely practiced in
the West, and countenanced by the de-
partment.
Representative ShafrOth said on
Tuesday that there was every indica-
ton that the present Congress would
provide for the long sought for sol
diers' home at Denver. Mr.. Shat
roth's bill, which he Introduced on the
18th of last December, was reported
fayorably to-day from the House COM
mittee on military affairs, which voted
unanimously to report 1t favOrably, and
did SO, setting forth in the report the
fact that there Is a broad domain ex-.
tending from the Missouri river to the
Pacific ocean, comprising In area about
one-hnlf of the United States, in which
no soldiers home Is located.
The House during the present week
viii pass the river and harbor bill, will
decide the contested election case of
Moss VS.. Rhea, from the Third KEN
lucky district. and will consider the
bill for the retirement Of officers OF the
revenue cutter service. Such 10 the
program Of the House leaders. The re-
port In the contested election case is
against Mr.. Rhea, the sitting member,
who Is Democrat. and 1t ia regarded
as a foregone conclusion that he will
be unseated. The revenue cutter SER
vice bill was defeated In the last Con-
gress, but its friends claim they have
hope that 1t will meet a better fate
now. 1t believed TINT the river and
harbor bill will not consume more than
two days.
The bill to adopt the weights and
measures Of the metric system as the
standard for the United States, as In
troduced by Representative ShafrOth.
was favorably reported by the House
committee on coinage, weights and
measures. 1t provides that after Janu-
airy /, 1904, all the departments OF the
government Of the United States in
the transaction Of all business Iequir-
ing the use Of weight ana measure
ment, except In completing the survey
of public lands, shall use only the
weights and measures Of the metric
system, and after the LIST of January,
1907, the weights and measures Of the
metric system will be the legal stan
dard weights and measures OF and In
Al - Bat
tue on..eu SUITS
MI. snattuc gives the foliowing sum
mary OF the immigration Dill and the
report recommending It's passage; Ihe
general purpose OF TINS Dill IL to pr1ng
together IN one act scattered legisla-
tion on tniS SUBJECT ehactea from 1919
70 1854 IN regard TO the Immigration
OF aiiens into the United states. Inc
mead tax on Immigrants is Increased
from -. as at present, 10 Sl.O. rms
is to meet the expenses OF the immigra-
tion business. inc Dill provides also
TOT not only rejecting undesirable
Aliens NJ our ports, but, by following
up those VINO nave unlawfuiy enected
criminal burdens upon state and mu-
nfcipal institutions, and within five
years after their arrival returning them
to the country whence they came" .