The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1903-01-30

reserve and a naval militia.
Chairman Grosvenor of the House
committee on merchant marine and
fisheries has appointed sub-commit-
tee to investigate the subject of coal
transportation.
The House passed the agricultural
bill with only one amendment of mo-
ment-an increase of the appropriation
for free seeds from s270,000 to 100000
The bill carries $685. $50.
The House judiciary committee has
authorized favorable report on the
bureau to create a bureau in the De-
partment of Justice for the study of
the criminal, pauper and defective
classes.
Senator Hoar has introduced con-
current resolution, rendering the
thanks of Congress to Signor Marconi
for the great benefit he had done to
mankind by the invention Of the wire
less telegraph.
The Senate committee on military af-
fairs has ordered favorable report on
Foraker's bill appropriating 100000
for the erection of headstones to mark
the graves of Confederate soldiers bur-
led in the North.
The Senate committee on mines and
mining has reported favorably an
amendment to the sundry civil bill ap-
propriating 100000 to the geological
survey for investigation of mines and
mining in the United States.
Representative Foss, chairman OF
the House committee on naval affairs,
has introduced a bill establishing a
naval militia and defining its relations
to the government; also for the enroll
ment and organization OF United
States naval reserve.
The House has passed bills pension
ing the widow of Gen. Franz Siegel at
$1OO month. the widow of Gen. James
S. Negley at $50 and the widow OF
Rear Admiral Henry Picking at $40.
Two hundred and thirty-five private
pension bills were passed in one day.
The Alaska delegate bill has been
passed by the House. 1t provides for
the representation of the territory of
Alaska in the House of Representatives
by a delegate. 1t also defines the citi-
Eenship and the qualification of cleo
tors and creates the machinery for the
elections, the date of which shall be the
last Tuesday in September. The first
delegate is to be elected next autumn
and is to hold seat in the Fifty eighth
Congress.
The following bills were passed in
the Senate of January oath: Author
izing the detail of officers of the army
as chief and assistant chiefs Of the
Philippine constabulary; providing for
the compulsory attendance of witnesses
before registers and receivers of the
land office; appropriating 100000 for
headstones for the graves of Confeder-
ate soldiers who died in northern pris-
ons; providing for monuments to the
memory of Gems. Francis Nash and
William Lee Davidson of North Caro-
lima. both Revolutionary soldiers.
a favorable report was made by the
Senate committee on forest preserva-
tion upon the Perkins bill authorizing
the President to designate areas in for
est reserves which should. in his opin-
ion be set aside for the protection and
breeding of wild animals. The regula-
tions for such preserves are to be under
control of the secretary of the interior
and persons violating the regulations
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and
saSject to fine not exceeding $1,000.
The game laws of the preserves are not
to interfere with local game laws.
The House committee on military af-
fairs has completed the army appro-
priation bill, which carries s72.5SS. .337.
The appropriation last year was $91.-
246.636. Provision is made for the
mastering out of the Porto Rican pro-
visional regiment July 1st next. the
soldiers to receive two months extra
pay; also that soldiers qualifying as
expert rifiemen shall receive 81 extra
per month, also to authorize the secre-
tary of war to accept $4,000 from the
Daughters of the Revolution for the
erection of a memorial building for the
physical welfare of the enlisted men
at such military posts as the secretary
of war may direct.
The United States will have control
of the Panama canal practically in per-
petuity, as required by the Spooner
act. this result having been attained by
the adoption of plan for lease for
100 years, renewable at the pleasure of
the United States. and Colombia hay-
ing nothing to say about the extension.
The matters of police and judicial con-
troll is settled by scheme of joint ac-
ton, although it especially is assured
that no citizen of the United States will
be tried by any other than his own
courts. Control of the waters of the
ports of Colon and Panama is vested in
the United States just as far as may be
necessary for the complete operation of
the canal. and it is assured that our eS-
ira territorial jurisdiction will be un-
questioned as to waters and streams
pertaining to the canal. All port dues
on vessels passing through the canal
are to so to the United States by way
of offset to the annual annuity pay
ments.
BY the terms of the treaty signed by
the United States and Panama the Unit
ed States agrees to make cash pay
ment of $4,000 200 In gold to the Co
lombian government, and after the ex-
piration of nine years. to pay rental
of $3.50, 900 per year. The lease of the
strip of land to be used for the canal
and for canal purposes is practically
made perpetual. the provision on this
point being that the first lease shall be
for 100 years and renewable thereafter
in terms of 100 years at the pleasure OF
the United States. The strip is to be