Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-01-08

President Roosevelt, as we'll as senators
and representatives with whom he con-
versed today. that the beet sugar interest
VIII no longer oppose the granting OF lower
duties to Cuba through the treaty that has
been negotiated.
II Mr.. oxnard voices the sentiments and
attitude Of the beet sugar producers the
matter is already settled. It is understood
the representatives Of the beet sugar pro-
ducing states will have a conference in the
near future and decide upon some plan of
action in relation to the Cuban treaty.
Should the opportunity offer, 1t is believed
that an effort will be made to postpone
action on the treaty until next session.
Confer on Leasing BilI.
A conference lasting over two hours was
held tonight in the office Of Secretary
Hitchcock for discussion OF the proposed bill
to permit the cattlemen Of Nebraska to lease
from the government certain lands for
grazing purposes. Those present were:
Secretary Hitchcock, Judge vandeventer,
assistant attorney general; Senators Diet
rich and Warren, Representative Lacey,
chairman Of the committee on public lands,
and Representatives Burkett, Shallenberger,
Jones, Miller. Shafroth, Griffin. Gibson and
Moody, members OF the public lands COM
mittee.
During the session every phase of the
situation was presented and discussed thor
oughly. at the conclusion of the confer
ence 1t was agreed that the Nebraska dele
cation be permitted to draft a bill and
submit 1t to Secretary Hitchcock and Chair
man Lacey. 1t is now thought that since
full conference has been had a bill can
be drawn by the Nebraskans embodying
points that would be acceptable to all con-
cerned. The main points, as printed in
previous dispatches to The Bee, after a
conference between the cattlemen and Ne
braskans and Major Lacey Just prior to the
holiday adjournment will be Incorporated
In the bill to be drawn as a result Of to-
nights talk with Secretary Hitchcock and
Judge Vandeventer
John e. Stevens of Lincoln, has been ap-
pointed assistant engineer in the geolog-
ical survey service, at $1,000.
Postmasters appointed: Iowa, w. o. Book,
New Albin, Allamakee county; 2. G. Pres
ton Woodward, Dallas county. South Da-
kota, Helos H. Koons, Richland, Union
county.
Army Appropriation Bill.
The house committee on military affairs
today concluded the work on the army
appropriation bill which will carry an ap-
propriation Of s72,5ss.3s7, about IS, ,OOO, 900
less than the estimate. The appropriation
last year was $91 124636. Provision is made
for the mastering out OF the Porto Rican
provisional regiment on July l next, the
soldiers to receive two months extra pay,
also that soldiers qualifying as expert
rihemen shall receive 81 extra pay per
month, also to authorize the secretary of
war to accept 1000 from the Daughters
of the American Revolution for the erec-
tiop Of a memorial building for the physical
and moral welfare of the enlisted men at
such military posts as the secretary OF
war may direct.
The principal items to the bill are as
follows: Army war college, SIS 900; pay of
officers, $4,000, 900; pay of enlisted men, $9,-
100000; hospital corps, SIS. AGO. pay OF re-
tired ctf:cers, $2171 $50; pay of retired en-
listed men, S724, 327; additional pay for off,
GERS and enlisted men serving on foreign
stations $7O0OOO; Philippine scouts, $780,.
160 subsistence, $1,000 900; quartermas-
ters' supplies, $4,000, 900; incidental ex-
penses, quartermaster department. 81 ,2OO,-
600; barracks and quarters, $4, $50 900; bar
racks and quarters in Philippines $500 900;
transportation, $15,0O0,0 900; clothing and
camp equipment, $4,000. 900; for completion
engineer school in Washington, $500 900;
ordnance stores, 1926, ,266; for manufacture,
repairing and issuing arms at national ar
mories, 81, 900.
Report of Philippine Commission.
The president today submitted to con-
gress the third annual report Of the Phil
ippine commission, with extensive appen-
dixes Accompanying the presidents let
ter of transnittal was a letter from Sec
retary Root, making strong plea for i'm
mediate help by congress for the inhab-
itants Of the archipelago.
In his letter transmitting the report and
indorsing Secretary Roots plan, President
Roosevelt says:
l call your attention to the recommenda,
tions contained in the letter of the secre-
the enactment of the measures already
pending in your body for the Detterment of
the Philippine islands is lmperatvely de-
manded by the situation in those islands
and serious calamity may come from fail
ure TO enact them.
Secretary Root in his letter says:
beg to ask special consideration of the
recommendations OF the commission, all of
which have my hearty approval.
II seems 10 me the conditions resulting
from the destruction by rinderpest of 90 neT
cent of the draft animals of the Islands
and the consequent failure of the rice crop,
followed by an epidemic of cholera, call for
action from congress beyond that which
the commission specifically asks.
The removal of export duties on goods
shipped from the fhlilpplneS 10 the United
States has materially reduced the revenues
OF the Islands, while the duties collected I'm
the United States on imports from the
Philippines which were to be turned over
TO the insular treasury have amounted to
practically nothing. At the same time the
decline in the price OF silver, the evils of a
fuctuating currency and the Impoverish-
ment Of the people have reduced the gov
ernment revenues when they are most
needed for relief. 1 think the occasion for
relief In the Philippines is now greater
than ii was in Cuba when congress Hp-
propriated 100000 for the payment OF the
Cuban soldiers, or than Il was IN Porto
Rico when thousands of dollars were con-
tributed by the people, and more than
81 100000 paid out OF the national treasury
Tor the relief OF the sufferers from the hur-
Ticane Of August, 1899.
An appropriation Of not less than So 3OOQ-
600 for the relief of the distress In the
Philippine islands would be I'm harmony
with the course pursued toward other Span
ish islands.
Previous experience indicates that such
an appropriation could be made most use
full by giving The Philippine government
discretion to apply 1t in such proportions
as IL deems wise.
FavOrs Arbitration Treaty.
The senate committee on foreign rela-
tions today authorized Senator Lodge to
report favorably the general international
arbitration treaty recommended by he
Pan-American conference held at The City