, 1902-01-23

tnat o,ooo auultlOnai mel are needed 10
man the new war vessels.
The postal authorities have refused
to admit the Railway Guide to the
mails as s~econd-class matter on the
ground that it contains no news.
Secretary Root has called the atten-
ton of Congress to the need of pro-
viding for the fifty companies of Phil
ippine scouts, comprising about 5,Uoo
men. A deficiency appropriation Is re-
quired of $4,000.
Representative Lowering of Massa-
chusetts has introduced n bill provid-
ing a salary for ex-presidents of the
United States at the rate of $4,000 an
nually from the date of retirement from
the presidency.
The project of giving n national as
pect to the Chicago drainage canal,
making il n link in water connection
between the Great Lakes and the Gulf
is being considered by the House com
mittee on rivers ana harbOrs.
Secretary Long has detached Rear
Admiral Wildes from his present duty
rs commandant of the Pensacola navy
yard IND ordered him TO relieve Rear
Admiral Louis Kemptf, the junior
F'lAlHl'll'i NolliiliaAlAAA'A 'H NNAN @s
station.
Oscar s. Straus of New York, for
merly United States minister to Tur-
key, has been appointed as a perma-
nent member of the committee of arbi-
tration at The Hague. The appoint
ment is to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of eX-President Harrison.
1t is now said thai all members of
the Isthmian canal committee except
Professor Haupt are In favor of recon-
mending the Panama route to Ii Pres
ident in the light of the new offer of
the Panama company to sell. Rear
Admiral Walker. Mr.. Pasco. Colonel
IIalnes and Mr.. Noble are all said TO
have come yer to Panama.
Representative Southland of Ohio,
chairman of the House committee on
coinage, is about to send invitations to
II number of the chief manufacturers,
merchants and others engaged in mer-
camille pursuits, to appear before the
coinage committee February 9th con-
corning the bill for the adoption of the
metric system of weights and meas
urcs.
The Senate committee on commerce
has authorized n favorable report on
Senate Fryc's ship subsidy bill. The
report will he made by Senator
Frye. The committee made several
amendments to the bill. The most i'm
portant were: Allowing mail carrying
vessels under the bill To be either iron
or steel. instead of steel only, az orig
inally provided. and reducing to 1000
gross registered tons the vessels receiv-
ing n bounty under the bill.
The Chesapeake Beach railway, cN-
tending thirty miles from Washington
To Chesapeake Beach. n resort on
Chesapeake bay, and owned mainly by
Colorado Investors, Is to he improved
before the summer season opens, by
the expenditure OF S5OO,OOO on track
Z and equipment. The steam loco
motives will be replaced by electric
motor engines capable of Il speed of
sixty miles IN hour Hon. otto Mears,
president of the company, who re
Gently returned from Denver, Will take
charge of the work.
The Senate Thursday for n brief
time. had under consideration the bill
creating II department of commerce,
and the discussion tended to how that
the measure will have to be amended
in many particulars before it can re
ceive the approval of the senate. Ser
iOuS objections We're raised to the
transfer to the proposed department of
several important bureaus now n part
of other departments of the govern
ment. 1t was pointed out that if the
bill as reported became n law 1t would
create the greatest department of the
government, and that the secretary of
III would have more power
than even the secretary of the treas
ury.
The irrigation bill. as completed by
the committee of seventeen western
members, and which will be reported
to II general caucus of all western
senators and representatives, while not
conforming 10 the views of all western
members, II is believed will be adopted
10y the aucus practically in its pres
cnt shape. Recent changes made from
previous drafts Of the bill give settlers
under proposed government irrigation
works the opportunity of taking up 100
acres instead of eighty, as originally
proposed. The fixed charge of 50 an
acre for government irrigated lands is
withdrawn, ana the price charged will
Ice the pro rata cost of irrigation, and
may be made in ten annual payments,
which shall he returned to the govern
mcnt reclamation fund. The commit
tee also struck out the proposition IL
give the secretary of interior authority
to sell water from government works
for irrigation of lands in private own
ership, and inserted Il proyiso that the
communication clause Of the homestead
law shall not apply to entries of lands
irrigated by government works.
\ meeting of the committee of west.
ern congressman on the proposed irri-
cation bill was held Monday night in
Senator Warren's committee room. Mr..
Newlands. secretary of the committee,
read letters from the secretary of the
interior, the director of the geological
survey and the commissioner of the
general lane office In answer to the
request of the committee to submit
views on the proposed bill. The sec
rotary of the interior referred the mat.
ter to the last named officials, who
submitted some suggestions and
amendments. the substance of their
Views being made toward stronger ma
tiunal control than the hill now pro.
villa. Frla pItaEfInp If gtuts ,~ falnInl