The state herald., 1903-02-27
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

The president has signed the Elkins
rebate bill With the signing of this
measure the administrations anti
trust program for this session Of Con-
gress is completed.
Instructions have been sent by the
State Department to United States
Minister Powell to insist on his de-
mand upon the government of San Do
mingo for prompt settlement Of the
Clyde and Ros claims.
The Senate committee on foreign re-
lations has authorized favorable re-
port on the extradition treaty with
Mexico and also on an agreement with
France extending the provisions of the
French reciprocity treaty to Porto
Rico.
The senate committee on military
affairs has adopted favorable report
on the military academy bill. The bill
committee recommends increases over
the amount carried by the house bill
aggregating $9,100, bringing the total
to $S54,43S.
Commissioner Richards of the gen.
eral land Office has ordered the tempo
rary withdrawal from entry or settle
ment, except under the homestead
laws, of number OF townships in the
Carson, New. land district for irriga-
ton purposes.
The arbitration. claims Of certain
American sealer9against the Russian
government have been paid. The to-
tal including interest, Is now S165, ,3l5,
and includes Cape Horn Pigeon, $685.
0S3; James Hamilton Lewis, $i7,6Sf;
C. II. White, s52,l69; Kate and Anna,
s2.427.
The State Department has been ad
vised that the Congress Of Honduras
has confirmed the presidential decree
placing the conduct of affairs in the
hands of ministerial council and au-
thorizing President Sierra to take the
field in the campaign against Presl-
dent-Elect Bonilla.
The resolution which passed the SEN
ate providing that Rear Admiral
Schley be given the pay and allowance
of rear admiral on the active list,
was called up in the house committee
on naval affairs and there was tabled.
Messrs. Mudd of Maryland. Tate of
Georgia and Rixey of Virginia voted
against tabling it.
Representative Mercer Of Nebraska,
chairman of the House committee on
public buildings and grounds. is con-
ferring with Secretary Cortelyou con-
cerning a building for the new Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor. The
necessity for such building is very
urgent. as the department will be one
of the largest in the government.
The gunboat Bennington will be
commissioned at the Mare Island navy
yard about March IL, and attached to
the Pacific squadron. She will be COM
manded by Commander Chauncey
Thomas. a brother OF W. r. Thomas of
the faculty OF the Colorado State Agri-
cultural college and formerly OF the
Denver News editorial stan.
The house 10y majority Of . to l
rejected the conference report on the
army appropriation bill. because of its
provisions for the retirement of civil
war officers at an advanced grade and
permitting officers to deposit money
with the government al per cent in
terest The house emphatically voted
against both amendments and sent the
bill back to conference
II Congress fails To pass the bill per-
mitting the secretary of the interior to
lease all government lands in Nebras-
ka Mt from l TO cents per acre for a
given number OF years for pasturage
purposes. II is stated at the Interior
Department that the law providing
for the removal Of the fences from all
such domain will be enforced. In one
case over 65,000 acres were fenced in
by private interests.
Before passing the naval appropria-
tion bill the House made several
amendments, the most important being
one to authorize the secretary OF the
navy, In his discretion. to purchase or
contract for submarine torpedo boats.
after invest CATION of their merits. and
making an appropriation for that pur-
pose. The amendment was In the Ian
guage OF a hill introduced by Mr.. Hill
OF Connecticut, and II was stated on
the floor that II had the support OF all
the members of the naval committee.
1t was adopted practically without de-
bate. An amendment was adopted CIV
ing members OF Congress whose dis
tricts are not now represented at the
Naval Academy the privilege OF imme-
diately appointing TO fill such yacan-
cies.
There Is movement on among some
OF the friends OF the statehood bill In
the senate to couple the fortunes OF
that measure with those OF the Pana-
ma canal treaty and make the ratifca-
tion of the one depend upon the pas
sage OF the other. The details OF the
plan have not come to light fully. but
1t is understood that the scheme is TO
menace the treaty by delay until an
agreement to vote on the statehood bill
can be secured. None OF the statehood
supporters will admit that this Is the
| purpose. but one OF the most promi-
nent of them on the Republican side OF
the chamber admitted that such is the
tendency. Many of the statehood I'D
yocates ON both sides Of the chamber
say they will not allow Senator Nor
gan TO he forced by a test OF physical
endurance to complete his speech In
opposition to the treaty before he IL
willing TO conclude OF his own accord.
On February 10th. In the House. bills
were passed under suspension Of the
rules to amend the river and harbor
act so as TO authorize the expenditure
OF $4,000 for the construction of u
channel through Sabine Lake. to con-
meet with Taylor's bayou or Port Ar
thur canal Texas. to extend for three
years the time Of making nnal proof
OF the Colorado Cooperative Colony.
To cfrectunto the additional act OF the
international convention for tho pro-
lection OF Industrial property; 10 Is
sue patent 10 certain lands to Buffalo.
wyoming; TO grant the Central Ari-