The state herald., 1902-06-20
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

VI mlHcTS III tIe IeTTllOrleS uBTeeu 10
accept the Senate amendments to the
bill. AS agreed upon the bill provides
that owners of coal mines in territo-
ries shall provide ventilation of not
less than 5000 cubic feet per minute
for every fifty men, air to be forced
through the mines by proper machin-
cry, to dilute and render harmless poi
sonous gases. Entries, room md all
openings shall be kept dampened with
water to cause coal dust to settle, and
IL water is not obtainable ut reason
able cost, accumulations of dust shall
be taken from the working portions Of
the mines. The conferrees retain the
Senate amendment striking out the
provision requiring owners to employ
professional shot firers to fire blasts.
The President has nominated Briga-
dier Generals John c.. Bates and
George w. Davis to be major generals.
Brig. Gen. John c. Bates was born In
Missouri, where he entered the regu-
lar army as n first lieutenant of infan-
try in 1861. He was brigadier general
of volunteers in the Spanish war, and
was with Shafter at Santiago. In the
Philippines his notable works were
the negotiation of the. treaty with the
Sultan of Jolo and the capture of
Lieutenant General Trias of the in.
surgent army. He has four years
more of active service. Brig. Gen.
George w. Davis entered the volun-
teer army In his native state of Con-
necticut in 1861 as n quartermaster
sergeant, and became n captain of the
regular army in 1867. After the war
with Spain he was made governor gen.
eral of Porto kico, where he remained
until ordered TO the Philippines in
1901. He has only one more year to
serve.
Representative Shafroth Is highly
elated over the passage of the irriga-
tion bill. This measure" said he, sin
my judgment, does more for the West
than all other appropriations we have
obtained since the acquisition of that
territory. 1t starts with a fund of
cash to our credit and the
fund will increase at the rate of S3,-
100000 to S4,OGO,OOO each year. In re-
payment for water rights 1t is likely
to constitute fund finally of several
hundred million dollars. 1t is practic-
ally turning over to us the receipts
4
about one year believe the secretary
of the interior will begin the construc-
ton of reservoirs and irrigation works.
lie will probably start with three or
four projects simultaneously. Definite
surveys Will first have to be made.
as the surveys now on record are not
sufficiently accurate to draw final
plans. l am anxious that practical
projects shall be selected, even II some
delay ensues, for II would be n bitter
to those who have Sc
cured the passage Of this bill to see its
first fruits turn out failures"
The Presidents Cuban reciprocity
message was variously regarded by
OF Congress. The straight
reciprocity men urged that the effect
would be to cause at least some of the
beet sugar Republicans TO abandon
their opposition. They contcpdcd that
some OF them had misunderstood the
attitude OF the President, and there
was no longer any excuse for opposing
reciprocity measures. The measure,
they said, would clear the atmosphere,
rendering the Presidents attitude un-
mistakablc. and therefore bring oppon-
nents within the party face TO face
with the fact that In continuing their
they are aniagonlzlng the
official head OF the party. I'VE have
known all the time where the Presi-
dent stood on this subject. and have
told the Republican opponents OF re-
ciprocity Just what the facts are" said
n leading reciprocity senator. "rhey re-
fused TO accept our assurances. and
profcssed to have expressions from the
President 10 the country. The message
confirms all that we have said TO them.
II clears the atmosphere. and neces-
sarlly the result must he beneficial for
"A reciprocity bill" The beet sugar
leaders declared at the close OF the day
that the message had caused no loss
whatever TO them; TINT all those scnn-
tors who had stood with them before
are stlll with them They also assert
ed that the Presidents interposltlon in
the matter had had the effect OF caus-
Ing to hesitate some senator's who here
lOfore had not taken positive stand
against reduction because of the feel.
ing that the President should leave
Congress to deal with the subject In
Its present stage
During the discussion OF the Corllss
Pacific cable bill In the House MIR. Cor
Hiss said: This measure provides for
n government cable uniting our Islands
IN the Pacific with the American con-
tlnent iy It's terms the cable shall
be Amerlcan-mndc. laid by American
ship. and managed by the American
government" lie argued that no one
had the right 10 lny cable without
permission OF Congress. lie placed
the cost OF construction at not exceed.
Ing sl0,0o0,0oo aud the cost OF opera.
t!on M SioooDp per nnnum. A govern.
incnt survey Of the route already had
been made. he said, At nn expense OF
s20o.Ooo, lie estimated that the rcve-
nuc from commercial business alone
would bo far In excess of the cost OF
operation. MIR, Corllss presented 10
the House statements aud figures IN.
tended to show the existence OF en-.
BILE monopoly and Its purposes. lie
presented III. grants ofbinln.d by the
Eastern Extension Gable Company
obtained from China. Japan aud the
Sapnlsh Islands IN the Pacific. includ.
Ing Guam, the Philippines ana Mnr.
shall Islands. 10 show ihnt this cnhl,
company had control of cable commu
nicniions with the Far East. and con,
I trolls over 1O,eoo miles OF nuhmnrIG,
cables, l, had mn exclusive monopJN
In China. he said, until 1880. and IL
Spanish grant In the Philippines fnt
until inin, Ito coni.ndcd TINT III,
Commercial Pacific Gable Company
which proposed to lay n cable 10 lin
wall aud thence 10 Manila. was mcr.