Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-03-13
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

The Senate committee on military af-
fairs made a report setting forth Its
purpose OF not advising the confirma-
ton of some 200 breyet commissions
sent in last year by the President. Sew
eraI Coloradoans who served In the
war with Spain were mentioned In
these nominations. The report of the
committee says that brevet commis-
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.
The conferees on the agricultural ap-
preparation bill came TO an agreement
The House accepted the Senate amend
ment appropriating $5OJ.000 for the
eradication OF the foot and mouth dis
ease and other contagious diseases. The
Senate receded from It's amendment in
creasing the total appropriation for
the general expenses OF the bureau OF
animal industry to the extent OF So0,-
600. thus leaving the appropriation OF
81 200. 900. The amount for the pur-
chase of seeds was fixed at $3.50. 900:
that for the bureau OF plant Industry
at $6Ti. $50: for the bureau OF forestry
at s350.0OO; for the bureau OF soils at
$2l2.4sO. The Senate provision allow
Ing the secretary to care for wild AMI
mails presented to the department is re-
taIned. The appropriation for the ir-
riga,ion Investigation is fixed ut $685.
0oV.
In the conference Of the two houses
on the naval appropriation bhl the
Senate surrendered on the principal
item OF disagreement. the amendment
relating 10 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. cS-
cept that two lj.O0O-ton battlcships are
substituted for one cruiser. II Is pro-
vided that the ships authorized may be
built by contract. or a; the navy yards.
and shall be built nj the navy yards II
II is found that combination OF ship
builders exists. The provision for an
Increase In the personnel OF the navy
remains rs the bill passed the House.
including nm increase In number OF
midshipmen. but the Increase Is to con-
tinue until 1913. instead of 1909. rs
fscd by the scns'e. Porto Rico is
given n miishipman. The age limit
for admission To the academy Is fixed
nt from 10 to 20 years. The provision
for naval hospital Mt Washington to
cost si:S.Ooo remains. while that for
an army and navy hospital In New
Mexico In stricken out. The item OF
s:so.Coo for coal dcpoiH and m In
crease In the appropriation for dry
docks already authorized 70 out. like
wise the provision for monument tc
Charles v. Gridley.
The report of the confcrccs on the
suIdry civil appropriation bill. which
was presented to the Senate. shows
that of the increase made by the Sen
ate the Hous. conceded ss,tsj o0G and
the Senate rcccdcd from items amount.
Ing In the aggregate To t.:o2 .3e5. Tn,
principal Items Of recession were those
making appropriations for the pro.
posed new post Office building In New
York. for the extension OF the imml-
grafton station nj Ellis island and for
the payment OF the claim OF cx-Quccn
1.iliupkalani. As the bill becomes %
law II carries total appropriation Of
eS2 .:12. .955. m Increase OF So. .i09. .595
over the amount carried by last scs-
sion's act. The appropriation OF $780,
900 for the proposed monetary confer
cncc was retained. ms was also that of
100000 to pay the expenses of the
Alaskan boundary commission. but the
Senate reccdcd from its amendment
fo:- 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
itoi went out, but the provision for u
building to be used ns Offices and COM
mittec rooms for the House OF repre-
sentativcs was retained. The Senate
amendment looking to the construction
of . 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 new
building for the national museum in
Washington to cost when completed
81. 500. 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.