The Holly chieftain., 1902-04-04
>LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

has reported favorably Senator Mitch
ellis bill providing for refunding E1.25
per acre to homestead and pre-emption
holders Of land who secured lands by
entry within railway land limits and
paid at the rate of $3.50 per acre, and
where railway companies failed to con-
struct the lines Of railroad on account
of which such land grants were made.
The House committee on foreign af-
fairs voted to report the bill of Repre-
sentative Adams of Pennsylvania, to
reorganixe the United States consular
service and place 1t on civil service
basis. 1t provides for the appointment
by the President Of committee of two
senators. three representatives and one
State Department official to assist in
the reorganization of the consular SER
vice; which Is to be graded with fixed
salaries; fees are abolished; board OF
examiners is established, and provision
Is made for an eligible list from which
appointees may be selected.
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.. Shaf-
18th Of last December, was reported
favorably 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 broad domain ex-
tending from the Missouri river to the
Pacific ocean, comprising in area about
One-half of the United States, In which
n0 a01diprcf homn {c 1oootnd
The civil service commission will
shortly institute a test system of an
nual examinations of Its employees,
which, If proven practicable, Is desig-
mated to be extended to all branches Of
of the government service These ex-
aminations will be required of all, re-
gardless of whether they are seeking
promotion or not, and the employees
will be reduced in grade and pay IL
they fail to score seventy per cent in
the examinations. The regular eff
cheney records will be counted on the
basis of forty per cent out of the maxi
mum of 100 per cent. The commission
is instituting the scheme In its own
offices first, before taking steps look
ing to its general adoption.
The scheme for a Philippine currency
ms agreed OH by the Republican men,
bers of the currency committee Is that
there shall be coined a Philippine dol
lar OF the same weight and fineness us
the Mexican dollar and the British dol
lar. 1t Is to be bullion dollar, but
the volume Is to be limited only by
the demands of business The coin will
carry an American device on one side
and an Oriental design on the other,
and 1t is calculated that 1t will I'm time
be very popular coin throughout the
eastern world. The amendment also
provides for subsidiary coinage suf-
fcient to meet the wants of the Philip
pine people. The coinage Of this silver
dollar will be, done both In America
and In the Philippines.
President Roosevelt declared the 9TH
er day that SO long aS he is In office
no deserter from the army or navy
would find favor with him. The state
ment was made to Captains Frank
Bruner and Fred McDonough of Lytle
Post, G. A. r., of Cincinnati, who
handed in set Of resolutions from the
ex-Union soldiers of Cincinnati con-
demning the restoration Of deserters to
the rolls, and approving his course in
vetoing certain bills recently passed by
Congress. They also arranged to pre-
sent to the President at the next an
nual encampment Of the G. A. X. the
resolutions passed by the Lytle Post
thanking him for the stand he had TAX
en- In giving preference to Civil War
veterans lin the matter Of appoint
ments.
The answer Of the State Department
to the Richardson resolution directing
an investigation into the charges that
100000 had been used in bribery.
made in connection with the Danish
West Indian treaty, will disclose the
fact that the United States govern
ment has refused to have anything to
do with any persons not directly con-
nected with the Danish government.
The failure Of Congress to appropriate
the $5,OO0,O0O which was to be the
price paid for the islands would not
cause a failure Of the transfer OF the
territory. The construction of the
treaty by the State Department is that
directly upon the exchange Of ratificn-
tions the islands become the property
OF the United States without waiting
for the payment Of the money, and
the failure of Congress to make the ap-
preparation would simply leave out
standing debt of honor.
The House committee on foreign af-
fnirs has completed consideration OF
the Chinese exclusion bill and by n
practically unanimous vote ordered II
Fr.r ,-ntI