Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-02-06
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

The following bills were passed IN
the Senate OF January 24th: Author
izing the detail OF officers OF the army
as chief and assistant chiefs of the
Philippine constabu.ary; providing Tor
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 preserya-
tion upon the Perkins bill authorizing
the President to designate areas In Tor
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 misdemeanor and
subject to fine not exceeding $1,000.
The game laws OF the preserves are not
to interfere with local game laws.
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 n
bonded superintendent. This change In
recommended by the Indian Office and
Is In line with similar changes made
ut 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 tho
necessity OF making further political
appointments Mt this point. All other
Colorado items remain In the bill M
reported.
II Is stated that following his
avowcd purpose to punish those fed
crai oiiicehoidcrs who have In their
capacity OF Republican party officials
been charged with bartcring their In
fiucncc. President Roosevelt Will issu.
orders Mt once for the dismissal OF
four active negro politicians In
Georgia. The identity Of tho men con-
victcd Of this method of procedure by
report OF pos;ofiicc inspectors has
not yet been disclosed. but II IL known
that two are members OF the Richmond
county Republican committee. one Ii a
Chatham county committeeman. ana
one is nn Official OF the Eleventh dis
trict Republican committee, residing
In Brunswick. Postmasters who are
alleged to have been held mp by these
negro politicians arc not To be dis
turbcd. the President regarding them
rs victims. rather than accessories.
The United States Will have control
OF the Panama canal practically In per-
pctulty. as required by the Spooner
act. this result having been attained by
the adoption OF plan for lease for
100 years. renewable ut the pleasure OF
the United States. and Colombia hay
Ing nothing to say about the extension.
the matters OF police md judicial con-
troll is settled by n scheme OF Joint nc-
tion. although II 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 aud Panama is vested In
the United States Just rs far as may be
necessary for the complete operation OF
the canal. and II is assured that our cs-
tra territorial Jurisdiction will be un-
questioned ns to waters and streams
pertaining to the canal. All port dues
on vessels passing through the canal
are to go to the United States by way
of Offset to the annual annuity pay
mcnts.
Mr.. Foraker. who was temporarily In
charge OF the statehood bill during n
short absence OF Mr.. Quay. took occa-
sion to defend the action OF the latter.
He said that from statements that had
reached him. the action of Mr.. Quay In
introducing the statehood bill Us pro-
posed amendments to the agricultural
and sundYy civil bills waN regarded ns
an unhcard OF proceeding. II was not
unhcard of ut all. he said. II was sim
ply question whether n majority OF
the Senate could do thing It wanted
to. He referred to previous lcgisla-
tion on appropriation bills. and said
that an appropriation bill had con-
tained the provision establishing a civ
II government in the Philippines. and
that the army appropriation bill just
reported provided for legislation ere
nting n general stan. Continuing. MIR.
Foraker said the majority In the Sem
ate had 1t In their power always to
make such an amendment to n bill.
when. in their Judgment. It is deemed
for the public good. Mr.. Clay of Geor-
gia also took the same position. and
read from the record. showing that the
Philippine legislation. known as the
Spooner amendment. was voted upon
the army appropriation bill.
The United States Supreme Court on
January 26th rendered. through Jus
tice Harlan. an opinion affecting the
Northern Pacific railroad land grant.
The case was that of Peter and Henry
Nelson. who located upon unsurveyed
land within the Northern Pacific grant
in the then territory of Washington in
1881. This was after the railroad COM
pany had filed its general map, show
ing its proposed route. but before It
had filed its map of definite location.
In the opinion handed down 1t was
held that the title of the settlers was
better than that of the railroad COM
pany. and that until the definite map
was flied Congress had control of the
lands within the grant, regardless of
the general map. Justices Brown and
Shras united with Justice Brewer in
his dissenting opinion. The chief point
Of the dissent was that the courts de-
cision clouds the title of all lands
granted to the railroad company. At
the time the map of definite location
was filed. as well as at the time the
road was completed. there was not.
said Justice Brewer. in the records of
the land department single word or
mark which indicated to anybody that
Nelson was on the land or claiming It.
or that the title to the railroad was
other than perfect. yet" continued
Justice Brewer. because Nelson was
on the land, II is held that the natept