The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-02
Uniform Birth and Death Reg
istration Demanded.
STATUE
Senate Vote for Donation of
Condemned Cannon.
Nelson Defeats the Fixing of
Date for Statehood Vote.
Sundry Civil Appropriation Bill
Reported in House.

Washington. Feb. 2.-When the senate
met today Mr.. Hale called attention to
an alleged combination among attorneys
TO maintain excessive fees in claims
fled with the Spanish treaty claims
commission. There he said, have been
placed at 3 1-3 per cent as shown by the
report of the commission He did not
suppose that the commission would re-
port the fun amount of the claims
$4,000 OO0-but that even if a reasonable
amount was reported the attorneys
would still receive in fees over So, ,0O0, 600
Mr.. Cullom, chairman of the foreign
affairs committee. assured Mr.. Hale
that the committee was now considering
bill fixing the rate of compensation
for attorneys in regard to these claims
A joint resolution was passed request
ing state authorities to cooperate with
the census office in securing uniform
system of birth and death registration.
A senate Joint resolution was passed
authorizing the secretary of war to fur
nish condemned cannon for a life size
statute Of General Henry Leavenworth
at Leavenworth, Kan.
The Rawlins resolution calling for in
formation regarding court martial in
/ the Philippines then was taken up.
Mr.. Berry CArlx.) said he never heard
I of a more rGnarkable defense OF an
/ officer than Mr.. Proctor made OF Cap
/ tain Brcwnel. mentioned as having
/ been connected with the death OF
Father Augustin- Captain BrOwneH,
4 he said, had admitted giving the water
cure to Father Augustin and yet the
autopsy is 3aid to have shown that ne
died OF fatty degeneration of the heart
I Father Augustin, he declared, had been
murdered and yet Captain BroWnelI
b. <4C % %
men of the American soldier or Ameri-
can officer.
Replying. Mr.. Proctor. with soma
+ emphasis, said.
The senator from Vermont defended
/ Captain BrOwne1 and continues to do
so, and resents the Implication Of the
senator from Arkansas that he was
guilty Of murder" Captain BroWne1,
he said, was in q situation where he
had to defend his men against treach-
cry, in which Father Augustin was the
prime mover.
MI. Berry answering Mr.. Proctor
said that if Mr.. Proctor approved of
Captain BrowneIl's conduct, that was
a question for him to decide "As to
his saying he resents. he said. Il don't
know what way he purposes to resent
MI Proctor made no reply.
Mr.. Quay asked for unanimous con-
sent for q vote on the statehood bill on
February IS.
Mr.. Nelson objected.
The army appropriation bill then was
taken up
IN THE HOUSE.
! Washington, Feb. 2.-When the house
met today Mr.. Cannon reported the
sundry civil appropriation bill and gave
notice that he would call it up at the
earliest opportunity. The bill carries an
aggregate appropriation of S7S, .929,
which is S.SS64 432 less than the esti-
mates and ST, ,355, $40 more than the cur
rent appropriation. The committee rec
ommends an appropriation of $1,000 600
for the relief of distress in the Philip
pines
This was suspension day and the
speaker recognized Mr. Bates CPa.) who
/ moved the passage under suspension of
the rules of a bill to provide for the
better separation and utilization of
public and private lands within the linn
its of railroad land grants in the arid
region"
Mir. Bates explained that the bill was
recommended by the interior depart
interior, he said to exchange arid and
semi-arid lands within the limits of rail
road and wagon grant for public lands
of equal value in order to assemble pub
lie and private lands in more compact
bodies so as TO permit them to be ad-
vantageOusly used.
Mr.. Jones (Wash.) protested vigorous
/ ly against the consideration of such an
important measure under suspension of
the rules. He declared that the amount
of land involved was from so, 600, 600 to
70 600 600 acres No man could tell ex-
aCtly how much land was involved This
was a proposition he said to pass with
twenty minutes debate on a side a bill
I affecting one-fifth of the public domain
/ of the United States. People who had
purchased lands from the railroads now
desired the government at it's expense
to segregate them from the railroad
lands in order that they could be used
/ to advantage. If they received the
privilege of exchange they would select
the best land available
Messrs. Kleberg (Tex.) and Shafroth
! (Colo.) also opposed the measure.
The bill was defeated on a viva voce
/ vote. The senate bill to authorize the
construction Of a new building for the
department of agriculture at a cost OF
S1.5O0,000 passed. The following bills
were passed
To appoint and retire Lieutenant
Robert Platt, q S. N, as a commander
in the navy; to appoint and retire Cap
tain John Russell Bartlett L. S. N, as
a rear admiral.
MORGAN STILL KNOCKING
Washington, Feb. 2.-The senate com
mittee on foreign relations today con-
sidered the Colombian canal treaty but
did not complete it. The committee will
meet again tomorrow. Senator Morgan
offered a number Of amendments which
were not accepted.
REPORT ON BRIBERY CASE
Washington. Feb. 2-The sub-cOm-
mittee of the house committee on naval
affairs met today TO begin the prepara-
ton of a report to be submitted to the
; full committee ia the matter of iuyesti-
cation of the Lessler bribery charges.
After a general discussion of the ques-
ton an adjournment was taken until 4
= p. m, in order that q tentative draft of
= findings might be prepared for the sub
committees consideration.