Gilpin observer., 1903-03-12

The Senate committee on military af-
fairs made a report setting forth its
purpose of not advising the confirma-
ton of some 200 brevet commissions
sent in last year by the President. Sew
eral COlOradoans who served In the
war with Spain were mentioned in
these nominations. The report of tho
committee says that brevet commits
sions cannot, according to law, be be-
slowed except In time of war. AS war
Is not supposed to exist at the present
time the nominations will not be favor
ably reported.
During the last session of the expir-
ing Congress Colorado delegates se-
cured substantial appropriations for
the completion of the Denver mint and
the Colorado Springs postoffice. A
term of the United States Court was
established at Montrose, the co-opera-
tive colony in Montezuma county got
an extension of it's time for entry to
government lands, Montrose secured
site for water works and arrange
ments were made whereby a tract Of
Indian lands where the remains of the
cliff dwellers are located will be soon,
turned into government reservation.
A full score Of bills granting pensions
and increases of pensions to Colorado
veterans of the Civil War were passed.
Substantial improvements will be
made at the Grand Junction Indian
School and Leadville fish hatchery
with appropriations which Colorado
senator's and representatives secured.
In the conference of the two houses
on the naval appropriation bill tho
Senate surrendered on the principal
item of disagreement, the amendment
relating to the increase of the navy.
The provision as agreed on provides
for three battleships Of 10000 tons dis
placement and two battleships of 49,
600 tons displacement, and entirely
eliminates the provision for cruisers
The effect of the agreement is that
the House programme is accepted, ex--
cept that two 13,000-ton battleships are
substituted for one cruiser. 1t is pro-
v1ded that the ships authorized may be
built by contract, or at the navy yards,
and shall be built at the navy yards il
1t is found that combination of ship
builders exists. The provision for an
increase in the personnel of the Ravy
remains as the bill passed the House.
including an increase in number OF
midshipmen. but the increase is to con-
dnue until 1913, instead of 1909, as
liked by the Senate. Porto Rico is
given midshipman. The age limit
for admission to the academy is fixed
at from 16 to 20 years. The provision
for naval hospital at Washington to
cost $3.50 remains, while that for
an army and navy hospital in New
Mexico is stricken out The item OF
S25C,OO0 for coal depots and an In
crease in the appropriation for dry
docks already authorized go out, like
wise the provision for a monument to.
Charles ". Gridley.
The report of the conferees on the
sundry civil appropriation bill, which.
was presented to the Senate, shows
that OF the increase made by the Sen
ate the House conceded So, ,423, ,0O6 and
the Senate receded from items amount
ing in the aggregate to 81 ,2O2 1926 The
principal items of recession were those
making appropriations for the pro-
posed new post Office building in New
York. for the extension of the immi-
grafton station at Ellis island and for
the payment of the claim of ex-Queen
LiliuOkalani. AS the bill becomes q
law it carries total appropriation of
$82. .272 ,955, an increase of $22 ,109 ,596
over the amount carried by last ses-
sion's act. The appropriation of $780,
600 for the proposed monetary confer
ence was retained. as was also that Of
100000 to pay the expenses of the
Alaskan boundary commission, but the
Senate receded from its amendment
for the revival Of the joint high COM
mission for the settlement of differ
ences with Canada The House pro-
vision for the enlargement of the cap
itol went out, but the provision for q
building to be used as offices and COM
mittee rooms for the House of repre-
sentatives was retained. The Senate
amendment looking to the construction
of a similar building for the Senate
was disagreed to. The Senate pro-
vision for the beginning of the con-
struction of the new Department OF
Agriculture building remains in the bill
as does the provision authorizing the
beginning of the construction of O new
building for the national museum In
Washington to cost when completed
81, SOC. 900. The conferees also left un-
disturbed the provision allowing the
coinage of subsidiary silver, without
regard to the amount outstanding. The
amount appropriated for military posts
was compromised and placed at ST.
100000.