The Elbert County tribune., 1903-02-26
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

trust program for this session of Con-
gress Is completed.
Instructions have been sent by the
State Department to United States
Minister Powell to insist on his de-
mand upon the government of San Do
mingo for a prompt settlement of the
Clyde and Ros claims.
The Senate committee on foreign re-
lations has authorized a favorable re
port on the extradition treaty with
Mexico and also on an agreement with
France extending the provisions of the
French reciprocity treaty TO Porto
Rico.
The senate committee on military
affairs has adopted favorable report
on the military academy bill The bill
committee recommends increases over
the amount carried by the house bill
aggregating s9,100. bringing the total
to 1854. .i3s.
Commissioner Richards of the gem
eral land office has ordered the tempo
rary Withdrawal from entry or settle
ment, except under the homestead
laws, of a number of townships in the
Carson, New. land district for irriga-
ton purposes.
The arbitration claims of certain
American sealers against the Russian
government have been paid. The to-
tai, including interest, is now S165, ,315,
and includes Cape Horn Pigeon. $685.
033s james Hamilton Lewis. SiT ,6S4;
G. II. White, s52. 1853; Kate and Anna.
s2.427.
The State Department has been ad-
vised that the Congress OF Honduras
has confirmed the presidential decree
placing the conduct of affairs in the
hands of a ministerial council and au-
thorizing President Sierra TO take the
field in the campaign against Presi-
cent-Elect Bonilla.
The resolution which passed the sem
ate providing that Rear Admiral
Schley be given the pay and allowance
of a rear admiral on the active list,
was called up in the house committee
on naval affairs and there was tahled.
Messrs. Mudd of Maryland. Tate of
Georgia and Rixey of Virginia voted
against tabling 1t.
Representative Mercer Of Nebraska.
chairman of the House committee on
public buildings and grounds, is con-
ferring with Secretary Cortelyou con-
cerning building for the new Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor. The
necessity for such a building is very
urgent. as the department Will be one
of the largest in the government.
The gunboat Bennington will be
commissioned at the Mare Island navy
yard about March IL, and attached TO
the Pacific squadron. She will be com
manded by Commander Chauncey
Thomas. brother of W. II. Thomas of
the faculty of the Colorado State Agri-
cultural college and formerly of the
Denver News editorial staff.
- % Z
rejected the conference report on the
army appropriation bill. because of its
provisions for the retirement Of civil
war officers at an advanced grade and
permitting officers to deposit money
with the government at 3 per cent. in
terest. The house emphatically voted
against both amendments and sent the
bill back to conference.
If Congress fails to pass the bill per-
mitting the secretary of the interior to
lease all government lands in Nebras-
ka at from l to cents per acre for a
given number of years for pasturage
purposes, it Is stated at the Interior
Department that the law providing
for the removal of the fences from all
such domain will be enforced. In one
case over 60 900 acres were fenced in
by private interests.
Before passing the naval appropria-
ton bill the House made several
amendments. the most important being
one to authorize the secretary OF the
navy, in his discretion to purchase or
contract for submarine torpedo boats.
after Investigation of their merits, and
making an appropriation for that pur-
pose. The amendment was in the lam
guaee of a bill introduced by Mr.. Hill
of Connecticut. and it was stated on
the floor that 1t had the support of all
the members of the naval committee.
1t was adopted practically without de-
bate. An amendment was adopted Civ
ing members of Congress whose dis
tricts are not now represented at the
Naval Academy the privilege of imme-
diately appointing to fill such vacan-
cies.
There Isl 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-
tion 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 a test OF physical
endurance to complete his speech in
opposition to the treaty before he is
willing to conclude Of his own accord.
On February 10th. in the House, bills
were passed under suspension of the
rillas To amend the river and harbor