The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1903-02-27
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

rebate bill. With the signing of this
measure the administration anti
trust program for this session of Con-
gress Is completed.
Instructions have been sent by the
State Department to United States
Minister Powell to insist on his de-
mHnd upon the government of San Do
mingo for a prompt settlement of the
Clyde and Ros claims.
The Senate committee on foreign re-
lations has authorized a favorable re-
port on the extradition treaty with
Mexico and also on an agreement with
France extending the provisions of the
French reciprocity treaty to Porto
Rico.
The senate committee on military
AFFAIRS has adopted favorable report
on the military academy bill. The bill
committee recommends increases over
the amount carried by the house bill
aggregating $500, bringing the total
to 1854 .i3s.
Commissioner Richards of the gen.
eral land Office has ordered the tempo
rary withdrawal from entry or settle
ment, except under the homestead
laws, Of a number OF townships in the
Carson. New. land district for irriga-
ton purposes.
The arbitration claims of certain
American sealers against the Russian
government have been paid. The to-
tai. including interest. is now sl65, ,3l5,
and includes Cape Horn Pigeon. $685.
033; james Hamilton Lewis, SAT .GS4;
e. II. White, 52l6S; Kate and Anna,
s2.427.
The State Department has been ad-
vised that the Congress of Honduras
has confirmed the presidential decree
placing the conduct of affairs in the
hands of a ministerial council and au-
thorizing President Sierra to take the
field in the campaign against Presi-
dent-Elect Bonilla.
The resolution which passed the sem
ate providing that Rear Admiral
Schley be given the pay and allowance
of a rear admiral on the active list,
was called up in the house committee
on naval affairs and there was tabled.
Messrs Mudd Of Maryland. Tate of
Georgia and Riney OF Virginia voted
against tabling II.
Representative Mercer of Nebraska.
chairman OF the House committee on
public buildings and grounds, is con-
ferring with Secretary Cortelyou con-
cerning building for the new Depart
ment OF Commerce and Labor. The
necessity for such n building is very
urgent, as the department Will be one
of the largest In the government.
The gunboat Bennington will be
commissioned at the Mare Island navy
yard about March II, and attached 10
the Pacific squadron. She will be com
manded by Commander Chauneey
Thomas, a brother Of w X. Thomas OF
- Il. a Csusa 1pr
cultural college and formerly OF the
Denver News editorial staff.
The house by majority OF to !
rejected the conference report on the
army appropriation bill. because OF its
provisions for the retirement OF civil
war officers nj an advanced grade and
permitting officers to deposit money
with the government Mt . rer cent. in
tercst. The house cmphatically voted
against both amendments and sent the
bill back to conference.
II Congress fails to pass the bill per-
mittinR the secretary of the interior to
lease all government lands in Nebras-
ka at from ! to s cents per acre for a
given number OF years for pasturage
PURPOSES IL is stated nj the Interior
Department that the law providing
for the removal of the fences from all
such domain will be enforced, In one
case over 65. 900 acres were fenced in
by private interests.
Before passing the naval appropria-
ton bill the House made several
amendments. the most important being
one to authorize the secretary OF the
navy, in his discretion. to purchase or
contract for submarine torpedo boats,
after Investigation OF their merits, and
making an appropriation for that pur-
pose. The amendment was In the Ian
ruaye of bill introduced by MIR. Hill
of Connecticut. and il was stated on
tho floor that Il hnd the support of all
the members OF the naval committee.
1t was adopted practically without de-
bate. An amendment was adopted CIV
ing members of Congress whose dis
tric,s arc not now represented at the
Naval Academy the privilege OF imme-
diately appointing to ftll such vacan-
cics.
There Is movement on among some
OF the friends OF the statehood bill In
the senate to couple the fortunes of
that measure with those OF the Pana-
ma canal. treaty and make the ratitica-
ton OF the one depend upon the pas
sage OF the other. The details of the
plan have not come to light fully, but
IL is understood that the scheme is to
menace the treaty by delay until an
agreement to vote on the statehood bill
can be secured. None of the statehood
supporters will admit that this is the
purpose. but one of the most promi-
ncnt of them on the Republican side OF
the chamber admitted that such is the
tendency. Many of the statehood ad-
vocates on both sides OF the chamber
say they will not allow Senator Nor
gan to be forced by test of physical
endurance to complete his speech in
opposition to the treaty before he Is
willing to conclude OF his own accord.
on February 10th, iu the House, bills
were passed under suspension OF the
rules to amend the river and harbor
act so as to authorize the expenditure
of $l25.O00 for the construction or
channel through Sabine Lake. to con-