Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-03-06
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

I
State Department TO United States
Minister Powell To insist on his de-
mand upon the government Of San Do
minso for a prompt settlement OF the
Clyde and RIOS claims.
The Senate authorized Senator AID
rich to report TN amendment to the
civil appropriation bill for 100000 to
carry into effect the Presidents rec-
ommehiation for an international con-
ference OF s,iyer and gold-usins ma
tions.
The house by a majority Of 2 to !
rejected the conference report on the
L army appropriation bill. because Of Its
4 provisions for the retirement OF civil
war officers at an advanced grade and
permitting officers to deposit money
with the government at per cent, IN
tsrest. The house emphatiealiy voted
against both amendments and sent the
bill hack TO conference.
The House on February 2ith adopted
the Philippine currency bill with all
the Senate amendments except that OF
Senator Patterson. authorizing the
President To call a conference OF na-
tions looking to an international eS-
change whose purpose would be to
prevent ruetuation OF the price OF sill
l yer. Tn. bill went to the conference
/ for n decision on this amendment.
1 which was favored In a special mes
sag. to Congress by President Roose-
/ welt.
Tn. Senate committee on the Phil,
ippines reported adversely Senator
Carmack's resolutions directing the
/ committe. To continue the inyestisa'
tion of conditions In the Philippines.
The committee decided to report IN.
yorabiy Senator Rawiins' resolution
asking for papers In court'martiai
cases In III. Philippines. but amended
Il to include only n summary Of the
cases. The committee decided not to
print III. compilation OF receipts and
expenditures in tho Philippines. as IL
was found the expenditure would be
about $4,000.
The Supreme Court has decided that
lands allotted to Indians and held In
seyeraliy by them cannot be taxed for
state purposes. The opinion was held
that neither the lands held by the ai-
iottccs. the permanent improvements.
nor the personal property used for the
cultivation of the lands IN subject to
taxation. He said that aA the lands
are held by the United States In exc
cutIon OF Its plans rclatin. to the In
dIans. without any right In the Indians
To make contracts In reference TO
them. or to do more than TO occupy
and cultivate them. there Is no power
In tn. state TO assess and tax the lands
for state or municipal purposes. This
right could not, he snid. accrue until
the lands are patented.
Senator Fairbanks introduced m
omnibus public building bill. which has
been agreed upon By the Senate com.
mIttcc on public buildings aad
grounds. by the bill tho amounts Of
various buildings are Increased to the
following: Colorado Springs. $i75..
900: Evanston. Wyoming. $i79.ooo:
municipal building. Washington. 81.
600. 900. a new building Is authorized
nj Pierre. South Dakota, to cost $l10..
900. The sale OF the old custom house
nt Kansas City. Missouri. is author
| lied. the proceeds to be applied to
the new building. the enlargement OF
which In to cost not more than $500.
600. a change Is made In regard to
Lincoln. Nebraska. the total cost be.
ing $4,000. the old building to be
sold.
Three years nEo William Cary San
/ ger. then inspector general OF the New
York National Guard and now assist
ant secretary OF war. made thorough
inspection OF the reserve and auxiliary
forces OF England and OF the militia
| OF Switzerland. The work was yolun-
tary. for though President Mckinley
greatly desired II. there was no appro-
priation available and Col. Sanger de-
| fraycd his own expenses. The result
| OF this investigation Is embodied In n
| report Just issued which II is thought
will become n text book for the mill
| tary student. Says the author: The
story OF the Spanish-American war
has much which Americans must read
with pain" and then he tells how seri-
ously the government was embarrassed
In Its efforts to make use of its cumber-
some and refractory state militia.
There is n movement on among some
OF the friends of the statehood bill in
the senate to couple the fortunes OF
| that measure with those of the Pana-
ma canal treaty and make the ratifica-
ton OF the one depend upon the pas
sage of the other. The details of the
plan have not come to light fully. but
1t is understood that the scheme Is to
menace the treaty by delay until an
agreement to vote on the statehood bill
can be secured. None of the statehood
| supporters will admit that this Is the
| purpose, but one of the most promi-
nent of them on the Republican side of
the chamber admitted that such is the
tendency. Many of the statehood ad-
| vocates on both sides of the chamber
say they will not allow Senator Nor
gan to be forced by test of physical
endurance TO complete his. speech in
opposition to the treaty before he Is
willing to conclude of his own accord
| The conferees on the bill for the pro-
lection of the president have agreed
and their report has been submitted to
the house. The senate accepts the
house amendments to the original bill.
with some changes in the wording.
AS agreed upon by the conference COM
mittee the death penalty is provided
for anyone who shall wilfully or malic-
iously kill the president or vice-presi-
dent. or any officer upon whom the du-
| ties of president may devolve under
the constitution, also for the wilful
killing of any officer of the government
| in line of succession to the presidency,
or any ambassador or minister accred-
ited to the United States. Any at
tempt TO murder the officials named is
made punishable by death or imprison-
| mani fnr pnt Iocs than ton yoore Awe