Gilpin observer., 1903-02-19

purposes.
Rear Admiral George w. Melville
will relinquish his position as engineer
in chief of the United States Navy
within the next few weeks and will be
succeeded by Captain Charles w. Rae.
Cuban senator's and members of the
Cabinet regarding the coaling stations
for the United States navy have in
formed President Palma that they have
no objection to the treaty as inform
ally agreed upon. abI
The omnibus public buildings bill re-
ported to the House increases the limit
of cost of the public building at Colo
RADIO Springs from $135 900 to $175, 900,
and at Evanston, Wyoming, from $780,
eco to $150,000.
II the time limit expires next June,
without a reconsideration Of the Dan
1sh government of its adverse action
on the sale of its West Indian Islands.
the department will abandon further
efforts to secure the islands.
Superintendent Brownson of the
United States Naval Academy has re-
fused to accept the resignation of
Midshipman r.. p. Pearson, the young
man who had his jaw broken as the
result Of fight caused by his objec-
tion to hazing by his classmates.
The State Department has been ad-
vised by United States Minister Merry
that the president OF Salvador has in
formed him that complete tranquility
prevails in Salvador and that the ru-
mored declaration of war is false.
The 14th inst. was the last opportu-
nifty for passing private pension bills
in the House this session, and the cal
endar was cleared, not only Of House
but of Senate bills as well. 1926 in all
being passed. Three hundred and
twelve is the highest previous record.
made in the Fifty-first Congress.
Francis B. Loomis has been formal
ly installed in Office as assistant Sec
retary OF state. 1t has been arranged
that the incoming assistant secretary
shall take up part of the important
diplomatic work of the state depart
ment at once. in conjunction with
portion Of the consular business.
Adjutant General Corbin has made a
report to Congress in regard to the
militia of the United States. which
shows that there are 10.S53.396 citi-
zens fitted by age and physical condi-
ton to bear arms in defense of the
country in case of necessity. and that
organized militia.
Among the bills passed in the House
is one to grant a pension of $50 per
month to the widow of the late Repre-
sentative Rumple of Iowa. who died
about two weeks ago. Mr.. Rumple
had a gallant war record, having taken
part In over thirty battles and having
risen from private to the rank of cap
tain.
The House committee on census has
authorized favorable report on the
bin for the collection of municipal sta
tfstics in 1905 and biennially there
after. A subcommittee was appointed
to consider the advisability OF collect
ing agricultural and livestock statis-
tics every five years. as proposed by
pending bill.
The House public lands committee
has favorably reported the Senate bill
authorizing the sale of isolated tracts
Of land of less than 100 acres lying
within the limits of Indian reserva-
tions that have been opened to settle
ment, provided such tracts remain un
occupied for three years after all sur
rounding lands have been entered. The
bill affects the Uncompahgre. Southern
Ute and other Indian reservations,
where lands have been opened to set
tlement.
! The most important franchise yet
granted in the PHILIPPINES is conveyed
In an act by the Philippine commits
,sioner. q copy of which has just
reached Washington. granting to the
Manila Railway Company the right to
construct q branch road forty miles
long. from a station named Guiguinto
to an important Philippine town now
without railroad connection, known as
Cabanatuan. lying northwest OF Ma
nila. Up to this time the backbone
railroad, from Manila straight north
ward to Dagupan, has constituted the
entire railway system Of the Philip
pines. and this concession marks the
velopment which Is expected to open
the agricultural resources of the in
terror.
The Court of Claims has rendered a
decision of far-reaching Importance to
the naval establishment. II sustained
by the United States Supreme Court,
to which an appeal has been taken, the
decision will affect every court-martial
case tried during the past forty years
in which the sentence involved q loss
Of pay. The case decided by the court
was that Of John Smith, fireman In
the navy. who was tried and convicted
by court-martial on the charge of re-
fusing to obey proper order from
his superior officer and sentenced to
one years Imprisonment with loss of
pay during confinement. The court
gave judgment In his favor for the full
amount Of pay claimed, amounting to
about 1916. The decision was based on
the broad ground that the accused had
mot been furnished with copy OF the
charges and specifications on which
he was to be tried "at the time he
was put under arrest" according to
the requirements of the naval regula-
tions.
, In an executive session on the 11th