Gilpin observer., 1903-12-17
EVENTS IN WASHINGTON AND
TRANSACTIONS OF CONGRESS

Inc senate ny resolution SenC tue
claims of the confederated bands Of
Ute Indians Of southern Colorado apd
New Mexico to the Court of Claims.
The senate committee on foreign re-
lations authorized a favorable report
on the naturalization treaty between
the United States and Hayti.
There are now fifty-three forest re-
serves, created by presidential procla-
nations under section "a Of the act OF
March 8, 1891 go Stat. L.. 1095), en-
bracing 62,354965 acres. This is an in
crease over last year Of 2.179 200 acres.
Senator Teller's bill, providing for
the resurvey of several townships in
Routt and Rio Blanco counties, states
that existing bona fide claims of set
tiers are not affected. One hundred
and twenty thousand dollars is provid-
ed to defray the expense of the survey.
For the grazing season of 1901 there
were 1926 permits issued to Craze 277, :
621 head of horses and cattle in thir-
ty-two forest reserves; for 1902, there
were 2,642 permits issued to Craze 357,-
! 552 head in thirty-seven reserves; and
for 1903 there were 4,121 permits to
Craze 529,973 head in forty-four re-
| serves.
At the opening Of Congress the fol-
lowing list of contests was announced
by the clerk of the House: California,
Fourth district; Illinois, Sixth dis
trict; Massachusetts,, Ninth district;
Missoufi, Eleventh and Twelfth dis
tricts; North Carolina, Tenth district;
Pennsylvania, Tenth district; Okla
homa. delegate-at-large; South Caro-
lima, First and Seventh districts; Ten
nessee. Eighth district; Colorado,
First district.
President Roosevelt declared to a
party of Illinois officials and politicians
who called on him that he would take
no part, directly or indirectly, in the
political contest now being waged in
that state. The members Of the party
are supporters of Governor Yates and
hope he may be renominated and re-
elected. The President, in addition to
defining his own position, does not ex-
pect that federal officeholders in the
state will participate actively in the
contest, as his position in respect to
such activity is pretty well under
stood.
Representative Prince of Illinois, a
member of the Banking and Currency
Committee, has introduced bill pro-
viding that 100000, 900 of the public
moneys now deposited with national
bank repositories shall be invested by
the secretary of the treasury at the
rate of $5,000.000 a month in state,
county ant municipal bonds which pay
interest at not less than two per cent.
The bonds which may be required are
the same as those designated in the
Aldrich bill of the last Congress. A
provision is included in the bill au-
thorizing the secretary OF the treas
ury to sell these bonds, but not more
than 100000 may be sold in any
one month.
The War Department has prepared a
bill to be submitted to Congress pro-
viding a method OF award for distin-
guished services. The measure auth
orizes the President (when in his
Judgment the services of any officer
shall warrant it) to grant such officer
distinguished service commission,
not to exceed two grades above that
held by him, such commission to car
ry with it the pay Of such grade, and
the officer to be entitled to wear upon
the collar of his coat the designation
of grade so conferred; said distin-
guished service commission not to
sion held by the officer so far as the
privilege of rank and command are
concerned.
Incidental to the general investiga-
ton being conducted by the interior
department into the land frauds in the
West, an inquiry is being made of the
records in the general land Office in
Washington by inspectors detailed for
thaf bnir fvaD frsr
connection with charges that employees
of the office have given advance in
formation of lands to be set aside for
forest reservations whereby opportun-
tiles are afforded spectators to take
up lands in the territory to be reserved.
Secretary Hitchcock will not make any
detailed statement as to the scope of
the inquiry to be made, confining HIM
self to the general statement that an
investigation of the records of the
local Office along the lines indicated is
under way.
The president has submitted to Con-
gress with his approval rules and reg
ulations for the lease. sale or other
disposition OF the public lands, other
than timber or mineral lands, in the
Philippine islands, made by the gov
ernment of the islands. They provide
for homesteading. selling and leasing
OF portions of the public domain; pre-
scribe terms and conditions to enable
persons to perfect their title; provide
for the issuance OF p"tents without
compensation to certain native settlers
upon the public lands; provide for the
establishment of town sites and sale
OF lots therein. and for hearing and
decision by the Philippines Court OF
Land Registration of all applications
for the completion and confirmation OF
all imperfect and incomplete Spanish
concessions and grants in said islands.
Governor Brady of Alaska, in his an
nual report to the secretary of the in
terror. urges provisions for Alaska's
representation by delegate in Con-
gress. and says that Alaska's main