Gilpin observer., 1903-02-12

The conferences Of the two houses
on the bill increasing the salaries of
United States judges reached an agree
ment generally accepting the salaries
fixed by the bill as it passed the House.
1t fixes the salary of the chief justice
at $4,000 and of associate justices at
$12. 500 each, of circuit judges at $1,000.
and of district judges at $4,000.
Judge Willis Van Devanter, whose
nomination as circuit judge for the
Eighth circuit was sent to the Senate
by President Roosevelt, will, when he
assumes the duties of his new position,
make his place of residence Cheyenne.
Judge Van Devanter will remain on
duty in the Interior Department until
his successor is appointed and qualified.
There are numerous applications for
the place, but nothing is known of the
intention of the President in making
selection to fill it. Among those mem
toned in connection with the position
is Colonel Hays of Ogden, Utah.
The naval appropriation bill report
ed to the House carries $79,04S, APO, or
$6,142,0 ,0S9 less than the estimates. The
current appropriation is S7S,S56.363. In
addition to the provision for the con-
struction of three first-class battle
ships, one first-class armored cruiser,
two steel training ships and one wood
en-. brig, the bill allows the selection
of two midshipmen for each senator,
representative and delegate, thus dou-
bling the number. The committee says
that with the present deficiency of SIT
officers, and with the number of Off
GERS that will be required for the ships
Z in process of construction, the def
cheney in the number of officers at the
end of four years will be 1850. unless
additional mfdshipmen are authorized.
/. Further provision is made for the ap-
pointment of twelve ensigns from war
rant officers and for the appointment
of thirty additional lieutenant COM
manders, fifty additional lieutenants,
thirty additional surgeons, twenty-nine
naval constructors, eighty-four addi-
tional officers for the pay corps and
5000 enlisted men. The limit of cost
for the building of the naval academy
is to be increased from $s,000,000 to
$10,000.000. The sum of 100000 is ap-
propriated for experiment station and
testing laboratory in the department of
marine engineering and naval division.
The annual report of the secretary
of agriculture for 1902 recommends an
appropriation of s75 900 for continuing
and extending the work of irrigation
investigations during the coming fiscal
year. AS the agricultural appropriation
bill was reported to the House on jan
uary Goth, it carried but S25 900 for this
Office. After having passed the House
as reported by the committee. the agri-
cultural bill went to the Senate. The
Senate committee has amended it so as
to carry $500 for, the irrigation in
vestigation instead of $4,000 reported
by the House committee. If the amend
ment passes the Senate, which is likely,
the matter will have to go before con-
| ference committee composed of men,
bers of the Senate and House agricul-
tural committees. If the increase con-
tended for by the Senate should not be
agreed to in conference. the work of
thte investigation would be SO curtailed
during the next fiscal year as to have
its influence for good reduced to an ex-
tent altogether unwarranted at this
time. The S25,000 provided by the
House committee would be barely
enough to maintain a small office force
In Washington and to print such publi-
cations as that force would be able
to prepare from facts gathered by cor
respondence. 1t could not complete the
reports of water right conditions in the
states remaining to be investigated,
which it has been planned to accom-
plish during the next two or three
years.