The Springfield herald., 1903-02-20


by him for the disposition of the lands
of Porto Rico. 1t authorizes the ap-
pointment Of commission.
The Senate committee has reported
an amendment providing for the pay
ment of $1,000 to the Italian govern
ment on account of the killing OF two
Italians in q riot at Erwin, Mississippi.
in 1901.
Seator Blackburn has introduced an
amendment to the sundry civil appro-
priation bill making an appropriation
of 100000. 'in full satisfaction Of all
claims or pretended claims" of ex-
Queen Liliuokalani.
Senator Foraker has reported favor
ably the bill for the disposition OF the
lands of Porto Rico. The bill as re-
ported authorizes the appointment OF
u commission Tor the determination OF
| the question.
| A bill has been introduced by Sen
| ator Burton witch provides that
henceforth $l2 shall be the minimum
pension allowed. 1t provides for an
increase to that amount of all PEN
sions now below that figure.
The House committee on military
affairs has authorized a favorable re-
|
Senate, providing for the detail of re-
tired officers of the army and navy as
instructors at educational institutions.
Governor Taft is drafting bill to
extend civil service government to the
sections of the island of Mindanao,
which are inhabited by Moros. He
purposes to make the military COM
mnnder governor of the island and
create an assembly representing the
people.
The president has signed the bill ap-
propriating $1,500.000 for constructing
new building for the department of
agriculture in Washington city. Plans
for the new structure will be drawn at
once. The building will be erected on
the plaza directly in front of the pres
ent building.
The house committee on ways and
means favorably reported the bill pro-
viding that all registered brood ami
mails be admitted duty free, whether
they are to be retained as the property
of the importer, or are brought in to
be sold The committee report ex-
plains that under recent decision OF
the board OF general appraisers 1t is
held that such animals imported to be
sold are dutiable. Senator Harris has
introduced a bill in the senate author
izing the free Importation of thorough
bred live stock for breeding purposes.
Third Assistant Postmaster General
| Madden has issued q manual of in
structions for the conduct of registry
business in the rural free delivery SER
vice. The most important innovation
provides for the registration of letters
and parcels left in the rural mail
boxes. the carrier leaving the sender's
receipt in the box Formerly it was
necessary for the sender to meet the
carrier on the route. Rural carriers
also are required to accept for regis
tration mail matter properly prepared
and offered by any one that meets
them while on duty, whether patron
of the rural free delivery service or
not. Storekeepers on rural routes Gus
tomarily receive the mail matter of
their patrons. delivering it to them at
the first opportunity. Registered mail
has not been delivered in this manner
in the past. but it is now provided that
on the written orders which the ad
dresses are required to leave for the
delivery of their mail to the storekeep-
er, registered mail also will be deliv-
cred. except such as is indorsed by the
senders deliver to addressee only"
The naval appropriation bill report
ed to the House carries $T9,O4S. APO. or
SG,142, ,0S9 less than the estimates. The
current appropriation is $3.50. 1868. In
addition to the provision for the con-
| struction of three first-class battle
ships, one first-class armored cruiser,
two steel training ships and one wood
en- brig, the bill allows the selection
of two midshiDmen for each senator.
representative and delegate, thus dou-
bling the number. The committee says
that with the present deficiency of 577
officers, and with the number of off,
GERS that will be required for the ships
| in process of construction, the deti-
cheney in the number of officers at the
end of four years will be 1850. unless
additional midshipmen are authorized.
Further provision is made for the ap-
pointment of twelve ensigns from war
rant officers and for the appointment
| of thirty additional lieutenant COM
manders. fifty additional lieutenants,
| thirty additional surgeons. twenty-nine
| naval constructors. eighty-four addi--
/ tional officers for the pay corps and
1900 enlisted men. The limit of cost
for the building of the naval academy
\ is to be increased from sS.000000 to
| sl0,000.0O0. The sum of 100000 is ap-
propriated for experiment station and
testing laboratory in the department of
! marine engineering anu HaNdl ulNlSloll.
Senator Aldrch has introduced bill
authorizing banks which are national
! repositories to deposit for the safe
guarding of the government other Sc
| curities than government bonds. The
| intention of the bill is to give greater
elasticity to the currency and permit
| of the release of larger volumes of the
government funds in times of strin-
gency In addition to government
bonds the bill provides for the deposit
of state bonds, municipal bonds of cit