Gilpin observer., 1903-01-15


bills were passed.
Representative Cushman of Wash
ington has introduced bill carrying
an appropriation Of $150,000 for the
promotion Of salmon culture in Alaska.
The secretary of war has submitted
to the House an estimate Of $485, 900
for the laying Of a cable to connect the
headquarters of the Department of the
Columbia with the military telegraph
system in Alaska.
Senator Clay of Georgia has intro
duced q bill to provide for the free
importation Of commodities controlled
by trusts The bill confers upon the
President authority to issue a procla-
nation suspending the collection OF all
customs duties on such articles brought
from foreign countries.
The United States Supreme Court
has decided the case OF the Western
Union Telegraph Company versus the
Borough of New Hope, Pennsylvania,
In favor of the town. The case involved
the validity of an ordinance requiring
q license fee for telegraph wires and
poles In the town.
At cabinet meeting it was decided
not to accept the resignation of Mrs.
Minnie Cox, the colored postmaster AT
Indianola, Mississippi, where the post
Office has been closed owing to riot
GUS demonstrations due to race preju-
dice. 1t is felt by the administration
that to accept the resignation at this
time would establish bad precedent.
In an opinion handed down by JUS
tice Brown on the 5th instant, the
United States Supreme Court decided
in the Browns case that the money
sl- ny1
sugar exported is a bounty and that
the collector Of customs at Baltimore
was justified in levying countervail-
ing duty on Russian sugar under the
terms of the Dingley ls-.
IN the Senate the bill for the re-
demption of the silver coinage OF the
Hawaiian islands and its recoinage
Into United States coin was passed af-
ter an hours debate. 1t provides for
the redemption of silver coins by being
received either in Hawaii or the Unit
ed States in the payment OF dues.
Standard silver coins of the United
States may be exchanged for coin OF
Hawaii at their face value.
Representative Bell is making an ef-
fort to have incorporated in the sundry
civil appropriation bill an item OF
5000, 900 for the purchase of machinery.
appliances and furniture for the Den
yer mint and for an extension of the
limit of cost OF mint machinery from
e150.O00 as fixed by the sundry civil act
of June 6, 1900, to s225,000. This has
been recommended by Director of the
Mint Roberts and Secretary Shaw.
The United States Supreme Court
has decided in the case of certain kio-
wa and other Indians Instituted against
Secretary Hitchcock to prevent the
opening of lands in Oklahoma. that the
secretary was within his rights as an
executive officer of the government and
could not be enjoined. Hence that If
the complaining Indians were entitled
to any relief they must go to the leg
islative branch of the government, and
not to the courts.
The President has selected Col. Ed
ward NJ. Hayes, Thirteenth infantry.
for appointment as brigadier general
to succeed Gen. John A. Johnston, up
on the resignation OF the latter, which
will follow Immediately upon his con-
firmation by the Senate. Colonel
Hayes is lying at the point of death
at Fort Meade, South Dakota. He is
the officer of longest commission in
the United States army, which he en-
tered as a boy of thirteen.
The House committee on insular af-
fairs agreed to favorably report the
bill introduced by Representative
Cooper of Wisconsin to establish
currency system in the Philippines,
with certain amendments, one change
proposed being that the gold coin of
the United States and the silver coin
authorized in the bill shall be legal
IN tho fclandG Tho hill In
troduced provided that lawful money
of the United States should be legal
tender.
Senator Warren has presented to
the secretary of the interior several
protests OF citizens OF Big Horn coun-
ty against closing trAils across the
Yellowstone Park forest reserve.
Sheepmen have been accustomed to
cross that range with fiocks from the
valley of tho Shoshone to Gray Bull,
and 1t is alleged that forest officers
have closed the trails and stopped the
practice OF driving sheep across. SEN
ator Warren also presented protest
against the exclusion of sheep from
this reserve and asked that the re-
serve be inspected by competent
person, with a view to securing more
equitable distribution of range privi-
leges.
Tho committee on legislation OF the
Grand Army Of the Republic has been
In session at the Ebbitt House. II
considered manly pending legislation
fcr the aid OF veterans in seeking ap-
pointment to the public service. A
subcommittee was appointed consist
ing of Chairman Joseph W. Kay, New
York, and George II. Patrick, Alaba-
ma, and they visited the President and
postmaster general Friday in the In
terest of legislation to prefer those
who served the Union in the army or
navy in the Civil War in appoint
ments, retentions or promotions In
the public service over other persons.