The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1902-05-17
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

| the llteu states 10 cause 10 De puI-
chased such provisions. clothing. medl-
cines and other necessaries as he shall
deem advisable and tender the same In
the name % he government of the
United States to the government OF
! France for the relief OF citizens who
| have suffered by the late earthquake
in the islands of the French West In.
| dies. The bill appropriates $1OO,OOO
| for the purpose and authorizes the sec
rotary of war to use the necessary
steamships belonging to the United
States to carry its purpose into effect.
| The bill passed without opposition. In
the House the consideration of the
measure was deferred over Sunday.
The Indian depredations committee
of the Senate made report upon Sem
ator's Warren's bill to remove from
depredations law the conditions requir-
ing that the claimant to secure relief,
must have been at the time the depre-
dalton was committed Il citizen of the
United States, and that the Indians
committing the depredatiOns were not
hostile to the United States. but in the
language of the law .'in amity." The
committee in its report sustained the
provision Of the bill removing the re-
Quirement Of citizenship. but on the
question of amity was unable to agree
and the discussion on this feature of
the bill will be taken to the floor of the
Senate. A number of western sena-
tors will urge the removal Of this con-
dition of the law. which Is regarded as
harsh and unjustitiable discrimina-
ton which bars many meritortous
claims from consideration.
| The sundry civil appropriation bill
which was pissed by the Senate fixes
| the final cost of the public building at
Cheyenne at $74,SS3.44. The sum Of
$1,000 is provided for the current ex-
penses of the Leadville fish hatchery.
The land office Ia allowed $s25.OOO to
De expended In the survey Of public
lands. One thousand dollars IL allowed
the Interior Department for the e1-
animation OF desert lands. For the sur
vey of private land claims In Colorado.
Nevada, Wyoming, Utah. Arizonn and
New Mexico the sum of $4,000 Is ap-
propriated The United States geOlog-
ical survey Is given an appropriation
of $1.07l. $50. of which $30O.OOO is TO
be expended in topographic surveys.
Two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars is set aside for the Improvement
and maintenance Of the Yellowstone
| National Park.
At meeting of the Philippine COM
mittee Senator Lodge presented cable
from General ChafYee giving the
charges and specifications of Major
Gardner relative to Tayabas province.
The charges consisted Of allegations
that troops had burned buildings. M
tives had been badly treated by Lieut..
George De G. Catlin, and assaults on
Iswr
Senator Lodge stated to the committee
that Catlin had been under treatment
for deranged mind Catlln was charg-
ed with striking natives for NOT taking
OF their hats to him. Senator Lodge
also laid before the committee list Of
over 800 officers and enlisted men in
the United States army who hnve been
tried by court-martlal for offenses
against natives: also Il list OF natives
tried by military commissions for
cruelty to United States soldiers and
violatio of the laws OF war.
1t is reported that friends Of the
pending irrigation bill who have been
making a canvass of the House find
that from twenty to twenty-five per
cent. of its members have heretofore
taken no interest in the measure what
ever, and have not yet decided whether
to support or oppose it. 1t Is with
these members that the irrlgatiOnists
are working, in an cndeavor to secure
their vote when the bill is considered.
The canvass that has so far progressed
among the disinterestcd members has
been encouraging and there is n strong
belief that Il good majority of them Will
support the bill at the proper time. 1t
has been difficult to arouse any inter
est among these members, who are
mostly from the South and the extreme
East, but the supporters of the bill In
tend to perservere throughout the time
intervening before the bill Is called
up. The general canvass has not yet
progressed sufficiently to warrant an
announcement of the result in figures,
although the canvassers feel confident
of securing safe majority for the bill.
Friends of the bill hope to get 1t up for
consideration May Goth
Following is the text of the Presi-
dents special message to Congress In
relation to the Martinique disaster: ITO
the Senate and House of Representa-
tives: One of the greatest calamaties
in history has fallen upon our neigh
boring island of Martinique. The con-
sui of the United States at Guadaloupe
has telegraplled from Fort DE France,
under date of yesterday. that the dis
aster is complete: that the city Of st.
Pierre has ceased to exist. and that the
American consul and his family have
persisted. He is informed that 10000
people have lost their lives, and that
10000 are homeless and hungry: that
there is urgent need of all kind Of pro-
visions and that the visit of vessels
for the work of supply and rescue Is
imperatively required. The government
of France while expressing their
thanks for the marks of sympathy
which have reached them from Amer
lea, inform MS that Fort De France and
the entire island of Martinique are still
threatened They therefore reCuest