The state herald., 1903-02-13
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

The House public lands committee
favorably reported Representative
Mondell's bill authorizing the city OF
Buffalo. Wyoming. to purchase tract
Of fifty-five acres for cemetery purposes
at $1.25 an acre.
The Grant memorial commission, ap-
pointed under the act of Congress of
1901 to select plans for a monument to
General Grant. met on the 4th inst.
and decided to select the model sub
mitted by Henry Merwin Shready of
New York.
Representative Small of North Car
olina has introduced concurrent res
olution providing for the appointment
by the speaker of committee of
eleven members of the House to inquire
generally into coal conditions in the
United States. The resolution further
directs the committee to inquire
whether any combinations exist be-
tween mine owners and operators and
the transportation companies in viola
ton of the laws OF the United States"
A report is to be made to the next Con-
gress.
In discussing the statehood bill in
the Senate Mr.. Teller contended that
the few Mormons q Arizona would not
be capable of controlling elections
there. So small a consideration should
not. he contended, stand in the way
of promise made in the treaty of
Guadaloupe. Hidalgo, to admit as
states the territory acquired from Mex
leo. Mr.. Spooner said that so long as
the bill had been pending Mr.. Teller
was the first to break silence on the
Democratic side of the chamber. Re-
plying, Mr.. Teller said the reason why
the Democrats had not spoken was
found in the fact that they did not
want to assist in the delay which he
believed had been preconcerted, prear-
ranged and studiously followed. by
what he believed to be the minority in
the Senate.
The Senate committee on commerce
has been considering the nomination OF
Dr. w. ID. Crum, colored man, to be
collector of the port at Charleston,
South Carolina. Senator Tillman.
Mayor Smithe of Charleston and Col
mel Hemphill appeared in opposition to
confirmation. They preferred charges
to the effect that Crum had sold out as
= delegate to the Minneapolis Repub-
iican convention, and in support of this
charge read an affidavit in which II
was declared that he had been sent to
the convention as a Harrison delegate
but had shifted to the support of Blaine
on promise of the appointment of
postmaster. II was made quite plain,
however. that the principal opposition
was because of Crum's color. and Sena-
tor Tillman admitted as much. He told
the committee that the people OF the
Sohtn did not want their offices filled
by negroes. And" he said. " so long
as they are so filled there will be trou-
Bile: oil and water will not unite" En-
Gov. p. B. S. Pinchback OF Louisiana
and Whitfield McKinlay. formerly OF
South Carolina. both colored. appeared
for DR.. Crum. They declared that the
charge of selling out at Minneapolis
was unfounded. and eulogized DR.
Crum as a man of education and char
actcr.
On February End, which was "sus
pension day" In the House. the speaker
recognized Mr. Bates of Pennsylvania.
who moved the passage. under suspen-
sion OF the rules. of bill TO provide
for the better separation and utiliza-
ton OF public and private lands within
the limits Of railroad land grants In
the arid region Mr. Bates explained
that the bill was recommended by the
Interior Department. II permitted the
secretary OF the interior. he said. to
exchange arid and semi-arid lands
within the limits OF railroad and wagon
grants for public lands OF equal value
in order to assemble public and private
lands In more compact bodies. so as to
permit them To be adyantageously used
Mr.. Jones OF Washington protested
vigorously against the consideration OF
such an important measure under sus-
pension OF the rules. He declared that
the amount OF land involved was from
&c 100000 to 00O0 600 acres. No man
could tell exactly how much land was
involved. This was a proposition. he
said. 10 pass within twenty debates on
q side, a bill affecting one-fifth nf the
public domain OF the United States
People who had purchased lands from
the railroads now desired the govern
ment. at its expense. TO segregate them
from the railroad lands in order tina,
they could be used TO advantage. II
they received the privilege OF exchange
they would select the best land avail
able. Messrs. Kleborg OF Texas and
shafroth OF Colorado also opposed the
measure The bill was defeated by a
viva yoee vote.
Article OF the new treaty. with
Great Britain providing for n tribunal
TO settle the Alaska boundary line dis.
pute stipulaies that the boundary line
tribunal shall be Immediately appoint.
ed and shall consist OF hix impartial
juris,s. three to be named by the Pres
ident OF the United States and three by
his Britannia majesty. All questions
must receive a majority vote Of the
tribunal. Provision Is made for the ap-
poln,mcnt OF other juristE To MI yncan-
cles and for officers OF the tribunal, In
cluding scientific experts and agents
Article . provides that the tribunal
shall consider In the settlement OF the
questions submitted to It's decision the
treaty between Great Britain and Rus
rlA OF 1888, and the treaty between the
United States and Russia of March 40
1867. and particularly articles J, I and
5 81 the nrst mentioned treaty" II IL
provided that the frst meeting Of tho
boundary tribunal shall be In London
Tho decision IL to b. made IA soon A.
possible after III. arguments are con
clud.d. and within three months. un.
less the President and the British KinE
I by common accord extend the time
z Provision also Il made as to how the
decision shall be prepared and handed
TO the agents Of the respective GOV.
ernmen,r. As soon as decision ha.
been sent TO the contracting parties
7 .srh shall send une oF f,ofa arlsutfds