The Grit-advocate., 1903-02-06

District
The bill creating Salt Lake City a
port OF delivery was favorably acted
upon by the Senate committee on COM
merce. The bill carries with it the
privilege of transporting in bond to
the port.
The chairman of the House judiciary
committee has asked for rule
for the consideration of the an
thrust bill, and also for the bill
to expedite hearings brought under
the Sherman antitrust law.
John T. McDonough formerly secre-
tary of state of New York. has ac-
cepted Professionally the appointment
of justice of the Supreme Court of the
Philippines. The conditions on which
he accepts are said to be of such ma
ture that his appointment undoubtedly
will be made.
The Senate committee on agriculture
amended the agricultural appropria-
ton bill as it came from the House by
making the appropriation for the irri-
cation Investigations office 1000 in
place of the $4,000 named by the
House bill. This is in accordance with
the recommendation of the secretary Of
agriculture.
The House committee on pOstOfiices
and post roads has authorized a fav-
orable report on the bill introduced
by Mr.. Gardner of Michigan, to pre-
vent robbing the mail, and to provide
safer and easier method of sending
money by mail" 1t provides for sys-
tenn of post-check notes which are
made eXchangeable at money order
postoffices and banks.
The matter of the federal inspection
of live stock, bill governing which
the National Live Stock Association
has had before Congress. has passed
both houses and only awaits the sigma
ture Of the President to become a law.
The law abolishes all state inspection
of Interstate shipments, and places
this work under the Department of Ag-
riculture and saves the stockmen about
100000 annually of which they have
heretofore been held up.
The Senate committee on agriculture
after much discussion agreed to place
the omnibus statehood bill on the agri-
cultural appropriation bill as rider.
The proposition was strongly antagon-
ized, but it carried by a two-thirds
vote Senators Hansbrough, Foster
(Wash.) and Quay, Republicans, and
Bate, Heitfeld and Simmons, Demo-
Gratis, voting in the affirmative. and
Senators Proctor, Dolliver and Quarles,
Republicans, in the negative.
The three-shift system, by which
work will be kept up day and night,
has been inaugurated in the gun car
riage shop at the Washington navy
yard. There is an imperative demand
for completion of work. the orders for
which step is taken with view to ex-
pediting the completion of work the
orders for which were given over two
years ago. 1t is the purpose of the
naval officials to keep the other shops
at the yards in full operation during
the entire day and night as soon as
sufficient workmen can be obtained.
Representative Burleson of Texas
has introduced a concurrent resolution
directing the secretary of the interior
to report what steps have been taken
to prevent the illegal fencing of the
public domain in New Mexico, Wyo-
ming and Nebraska, the number of ap
plications or filings for part of the
public domain in Nebraska and Wyo-
ming during the years 1901 and 1902,
and other information. The attorney
general is also instructed to institute
suits to declare all fraudulent appro-
priation of said lands void and secure
judgment restoring said lands to the
public domain.
The House struck out of the Indian
appropriation bill the salary of the
agent at the Southern Ute reservation.
Colorado, and provided that the school
! and agency be placed in charge of
;pfo This Oh a n
recommended by the Indian Office and
is in line with similar changes made
at other agencies. The department
hopes by the change to place in charge
some one with long experience in the
Indian service and be relieved OF the
necessity of making further political
appointments at this point. All other
Colorado items remain in the bill as
reported.
Thee Navy Department has re
ceived full reports from its agents
abroad respecting the size. dispiace-
ment. armament, defensive power
speed and cost of the vessels no"
building for Chilli and Argentina in Eu-
rope. The Chilian battleships, two In
number, are generally described as re-
sembling the Alabama class OF our
own navy. IL cannot De dScel lalheu
that any option for the sale OF these
ships has been secured or indeed mas
been sought. and official denial Is
made of a purpose to purchase ships
which cannot be accomplished in any
case without legislation by Congress.
The question of the liability of An.
drew Smythe, late superintendent OF
the United States mint at New Or
leans, for $125.OOO in treasury notes
which were lost by him while in his
custody. was decided by the United
States Supreme Court adversely to Mr.,
Smythe. The claim was made on his
behalf that the notes were burned, and
it was urged that, as the notes were
only promises to pay. the government
had in reality lost nothing by their de,
struction. The court, however. refused