The Grit-advocate., 1903-02-20
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS


by him for the disposition of the lands
of Porto Rico. 1t authorizes the ap-
pointment of commission.
The Senate committee has reported
an amendment providing for the pay
ment OF $1,000 to the Italian govern
ment on account of the killing of two
Italians in a riot at Erwin, Mississippi,
in 1901.
Seator Blackburn has introduced an
amendment to the sundry civil appro-
priation bill making an appropriation
of 100000, 'in full satisfaction of all
| claims or pretended claims of eX-
Queen Liluokalani.
Senator Foraker has reported favor
ably the bill for the disposition of the
lands of Porto Rico. The bill as re-
ported authorizes the appointment of
commission for the determination OF
the question.
I A bill has been introduced by Sen
ator Burton Which provides that
| henceforth $l2 shall be the minimum
pension allowed. 1t provides for an
increase to that amount of all pen
| sions now below that figure.
| The House committee on military
affairs has authorized a favorable re-
| port on the bill, which has passed the
| Senate, providing for the detail of re-
| tired officers of the army and navy as
instructors at educational institutions.
| Governor Taft is drafting a bill to
extend civil service government to the
sections of the island of Mindanao,
which are inhabited by Moros. He
purposes to make the military COM
mander governor of the island and
create an assembly representing the
| people.
! President Roosevelt has intimated,
with some emphasis, that he does not
desire to deliver formal speeches at re-
ceptiors or banquets on his proposed
Western tour. This was in response
to an invitation extended by Repre-
sentative Jones of Washington to at
tend a Board of Trade banquet at Sc
! attic and deliver an address. The Pres
ident appreciates the courtesy of such
| invitations, but thinks formal dinners
| and entertainments are not as desira-
BILE methods of meeting people as more
informal affairs.
The house committee on ways and
'rclus u orGaly .aoorted the b.ll p.u-
viding that all registered brood ami
mails be admitted duty free. whether
they are to be retained as the property
OF the importer, or are brought in to
be sold. The committee report eX-
| plains that under a recent decision OF
the board of general appraisers it is
held that such animals imported to be
sold are dutiable. Senator Harris has
introduced a bill in the senate author
! l2lng the free Importation of thorough
| bred live stock for breeding purposes.
Third Assistant Postmaster General
Madden has issued a manual of in
structions for the conduct of registry
business in the rural free delivery SER
vice. The most important innovation
provides for the registration Of letters
and parcels left in the rural mail
boxes, the carrier leaving the sender's
receipt in the box. Formerly it was
necessary for the sender to meet the
carrier on the route. Rural carriers
also are required to accept for regis
tratlon mail matter properly prepared
and offered by any one that meets
them while on duty. whether patron
of the rural free delivery service or
not. Storekeepers on rural routes Gus
tomarily receive the mail matter OF
their patrons. delivering it to them at
the first opportunity. Registered mai
has not been delivered in this manner
in the past. but it is now provided that
on the written orders which the ad-
dressees are required to leave for the
delivery of their mail to the storekeep-
er, registered mail also will be deliv-
cred. except such as is indorsed by the
senders deliver to addressee only"
After much discussion the Senate
committee on public lands finally
agreed to report the Quarles bill, pro-
viding for the repeal of the desert land,
timber and stone, and the commuta-
ton clause of the homestead act. the
bill approved by the secretary of the
interior. The most fervent advocates
of the repeal measure were Senator
Gibson of Montana. who said nearly
half of his state had been stolen under
the present land laws, and Senator
Berry of Arkansas. Repeal was Wig
Orous.y opposed by Senators Clark
of Wyoming. kearns, Heitfeld, and
Chairman Hansbrough 1t was agreed
to report the bill favorably by vote
of seven to six. A minority report
will be made by Senator Hansbrough.
The minority members are not a unit
as to retaining all the land laws Sew
eral favor the repeal Of the commuta-
tion clause of the homestead act, and
| Senator Gamble favorS an amendment
of the timber and stone act so that a
price shall be fixed upon each piece of
timber land disposed of, according to
its actual value.
The Senate committee has added the
following amendments to the Indian
appropriation bill: Providing that the
uneXpended balance of the appropria-
ton for 1908 for the support of Apache
and other Indians in New Mexico and
Arizona be made available for 1906;
authorizing contract to be made with
the Utes for the transfer and sale of
the Mesa Verde tract, containing the
cliff dwellings, in Montezuma county;
construction of a mess hall and en-
ployes' quarters at the Grand Junction