The Elk Mountain pilot., 1902-01-21

man the new war Vessels.
A general increase of almost fifteen
per cent. in the postal receipts at the
fifty principal postoffices of the United
States during December last is shown
in an official statement just Issued.
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 5000
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
4 United States at the rate of 5000 an
nually from the date of retirement from
the presidency.
The project of giving national as
pect to the Chicago drainage canal,
making it link in water connection
between the Great Lakes and the Gulf
is being considered by the House COM
mittee on rivers and harbors.
The pension appropriation bill has
been completed by the House commit
tee on appropriations and reported to
the House. 1t carries S139, $40, go, ex-
actly the amount of the estimates, as
against S145, ,245, ,230 appropriated last
year.
Secretary Long has detached Rear
Admiral Wildes from his present duty
as commandant of the Pensacola navy
yard and ordered him to relieve Rear
Admiral Louis Kempff, the junior
squadron commander on the Asiatic
station.
Oscar S. Sraus of New York, for
merly United States minister to Tur
key, has been appointed as Il peruia-
nent member of the COMMITTEES of arbi-
uation at The Hague. The appoint
ment is to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of ex-President Harrison.
Leading senators and representatives
are still disposed to assist the Cubans.
The proposition is to allow Cuba
straight reduction of twenty per cent.
Off the Dingley rates on sugar, molas-
ses and tobacco. A reduction of twen-
ty-five per cent. is possible.
Senator Patterson has introduced a
bill appropriating S2S2co additional
compensation for Robert j. Spotswood
and William C. Mcclellan for carry
Ing United States mail from Morrison
to Fairplay and Leadviile in 1879. This
bill was formerly introduced by Sena-
tor Wolcott.
Rear Admiral Robley d. Evans has
been placed In charge of the American
naval reception to Prince Henry of
Prussia, when he comes to attend the
christening of the Emperor's new
yacht. A grand banque will probably
be given by Prince Henry on he i'm
perial yach Hohenzollern in New York
harbor.
Representative Mondell has intro
duced a bill instructing the secretary
| Of the interior 20 issue the city
of Basin, Big Horn county, Wyoming,
patents for the townsite upon which
the city is located. Uuder the law
now governing, the proceeds of sales
of lots on the townsite go to the gov
ernment. Under the proposed law the
city will get the benefit of such sales.
Representative Kleburg of Texas
has introduced bill directing the sec
retary of state to propose a treaty
with Mexico by which an internation-
al board of engineers may be appoint
ed to make surveys and estimates for
an international system of irrigation
In the valley of the Rio Grande river
for the benefit of Mexico and the Unit
ed States. The bill appropriates $780,
900 to carry out its provisions.
Representative Shafroth, in a speech
before the public lands committee,
urged the members to endeavor to Sc
cure the reference of all the irrigation
bills to the public lands committee.
Under the administration of Speaker
Reed measures of this character were
referred to the public land committee.
Speaker Henderson refers them to the
committee on the irrigation of arid
lands.
The laborers employed in the govern
ment departments will be brought into
the civil service under presidential or
ders, the first of which will be issued
in the near future. The inclusions will
be made separately by departments
Instead of in bulk. There will be no
scholastic examination, applicants be-
Ing graded according to experience and
recommendations, with the required
preference to war veterans. This reg
lstration system already is in operation
In the Navy and War Departments.
The House continued to debate on
the pension appropriation bill and de-
voted much time to the proposition ad-
vanced by Mr.. Rixey of Virginia to
open the doors of the Soldiers homes to
ex-Confederate veterans. Two notable
speeches were made in support of the
proposition, one by Mr.. Gardner, a
Michigan Republican, and the other by
Mr.. De Almond. n Missouri Democrat. |
Mr.. De Almonds eloquence aroused
both sides of the House. The Republi-
cans, with the exception of Mr.. Card |
ner, took no part in the discussion of
the Rixey suggestion, which met with
much opposition on the Democratic
side on the ground that it was utterly |
lmpracticable.
The committee which is framing an
irrigation bill held n meeting Wednes-
day evening and amended the bill here