The state herald., 1903-03-06
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

The Supreme Court has decided that
lands allotted to Indians and held in
severalty by them cannot be taxed for
state purposes. The opinion. was held
that neither the lands held by the al
lottees, the permanent improvements.
nor the personal property used for the
cultivation of the lands is subject to
| taxation. He said that as the lands
| are held by the United States in exc
| cution of its plans relating to the In
dians, without any right in the Indians
| to make contracts in reference to
| them, or to do more than to occupy
and cultivate them. there is no power
in the state to assess and tax the lands
! for state or municipal purposes. This
| right could not, he said, accrue until
the lands are patented.
Senator Fairbanks introduced an
omnibus public building bill which has
been agreed upon by the Senate COM
mittee on public buildings and
grounds. BY the bill the amounts of
various buildings are increased to the
following: Colorado Springs, $l75,-
900; Evanston. Wyoming, $4,000;
municipal building, Washington, 81
100000. A new building is authorized
at Pierre, South Dakota, to cost $170,-
900. The sale of the old custom house
at Kansas City. Missouri, is author
lied, the proceeds to be applied to
the new building, tthe enlargement of
which is to cost not more than $iOQ,-
900. A change is made in regard to
Lincoln. Nebraska, the total cost be-
ing s35o,000, the old building to be
sold.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has submitted a report to the Sem
ate regarding all securities issued by
railroad companies, the par values of
each class of securities outstanding on
June 30, 1900, interest and dividends
thereon. etc. The report says that for
the United States the total par value
of railway securities is Sl1 ,724 OBS, ,S29
and their market value sS.35l ,l03, ,523.
The capital stock is stated to be par
value. S6,O2l 1864 500. and market value,
S3,25O. 1i4,596. The par value of the
funded debt is stated to be $5702 GIL, :
327. and the market value s., 100 ,95S,-
o27.
The President has sent 10 the Senate
report of the secretary of war upon
the resolution requesting information
quotes from an endorsement made by
the late military governor of Cuba, who
says that at the date of transfer of the
government of Cuba the Isle of Pines
was under the municipality of the
province of Havana. The Isle of Pines
was transferred to the de facto govern
ment of the Republic of Cuba, PENDING
the settlement by treaty between the
United States and Cuba. The island
to-day is under the control Of the civil
governor of the province of Havana
and the Republic of cuba No special
action was taken to protect the inter
ests of United States citizens who have
purchased property and settled in the
Isle of Pines. because no such action
was necessary. All Americans are in
the same condition as other foreigners.
1t was understood that when they went
there they took the risks incident to the
situation. Secretary Root says Gen.
Woods endorsement answers all ques-
tions of the Senate.
Senator Burrows. chairman of the
Senate committee on privileges and
elections. presented to the Senate n
protest signed by the Rev. J. l.. Leil-
itch. in the case of Senator-Elect Reed
Smoot of Utah. urging that MIR. Smoot
shall not be permitted to take his seat
In the Senate Mr.. Leilitch is in charge
OF Methodist missions In Utah and re-
sides In Salt Lake. He is In Washing
ton rs the representative OF the Min
isters' Association of Salt Lake. His
statement is sworn TO. Mr. Leilitch
declares that Smoot Is polygamist.
and now has plural wife. although he
deems 1t inexpcdient to give the maid
en- name OF the lady at this time. He
wants the Senate 20 compel the First
Presidency and the Quorum OF Twelve
Apostles to produce the record of this
plural marriage. MIR. leilitch also as
serts that. president Joseph +. Smith.
the president OF the Mormon church.
Is living in open polygamy. and has n
child born to him by his plural wife as
late as 1895" and also that President
Lorenzo Snow lived and died In the
practice of polygamy and polygamous
cohabitation. and that his plural wife.
Minnie Jensen Snow, bore him n child
as late as the winter OF 1861"
A scheme for the organization of the
new Department OF Commerce and / "a
bor has been laid before Congress by
Secretary Cortelyou. In the estimates
transmitted to that body through the
secretary OF ,le treasury. In addition
TO the twelve branches of the public
service transferred to the new depart
mcnt from other departments. which
have been appointed for. Secretary
Cortclyou asks for appropriations for
salaries aggregatlng 1868 $50. The sal
aries cover the sccrctary's Office. the
bureaus OF corporations and manufac-
lures and subordinate divisions. Sec
retary Cortclyou says In his letter that
provision should be made for the pay-
ment OF salaries Tor the remainder of
the current fiscal year OF such onlcers
and employees ms qualify before July
!. Los. but he says that the bureaus OF
corporations and manufactures proba-
bly, Will not besperfcctcd until some
time during the next fiscal year, so he
concludes that s569.6g0 will be sum.
Client for the remainder OF this and tho
next year. In addition TO the galnrIea
are estimates OF $4,000 for rent; sl5O-
900 for contingent expenses; $3.50. 900
FOR travelling expenses OF examiners.
100000 for printing and binding ,in-
cludins f250.000 for the census Officer.
In his recommendation for building
for his department. Secretary cortel-
you urges that tho future growth OF
the department be considered. He nnya
II should be- 30 planned In advance ma
10 be not Inferior In convenience or
beauty to the structures which com
m.rcial aud financial houses MT the