The Holly chieftain., 1903-02-13
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

sentative MAIDEN prOViQln& tlat nre-
men injured In the performance Of
their duty shall receive full pay dur
ing the time they are incapacitated UP
to six months. II they are permanent
ly injured, on certificate from the
health ofiicer or city physician they
will be retired on half pay. Firemen
after twenty years service are to re-
tire on half pay.
Representative Small of North Car
olina has introduced q concurrent res
olution providing for the appointment
by the speaker of a committee OF
eleven members of the House to inquire
generally into coal conditions in the
United States. The resolution further
directs the committee to inquire
VIII sher any combinations exist be-
tween mine owners and operators and
the transportation companies in viola
tion of the laws of the United States"
A report is to be made to the next Con-
gress.
Judge Willis Van Devanter, whose
nomination as circuit judge for the
Eighth circuit was sent to the Senate
by President Roosevelt, will, when he
assumes the duties Of his new position,
make his place of residence Cheyenne.
Judge Van Devanter will remain on
duty in the Interior Department until
his successor is appointed and qualified.
There are numerous applications for
the place. but nothing is known of the
intention Of the President in making
selection to fill 1t. Among those men,
toned In connection with the position
is Colonel Hays of Ogden, Utah.
In discussing the statehood bill in
the Senate Mr.. Teller contended that
the few Mormons in Arizona would not
be capable of controlling elections
there So small a consideration should
not, he contended, stand in the way
OF promise made in the treaty OF
Guadaloupe, Hidalgo, to admit as
states the territory acquired from Mex
leo. Mr.. Spooner said that so long as
the bill had been pending Mr.. Teller
was the first to break silence on the
Democratic side of the chamber. Re-
plying, Mr.. Teller said the reason why
the Democrats had not spoken was
found in the fact that they did not
want to assist in the delay which he
believed had been preconcerted, prear-
ranged and studiously followed, by
what he believed to be the minority in
the Senate.
The naval appropriation bill report
ed to the House carries $79.04S,4 ,420. or
$6.142, ,089 less than the estimates. The
current appropriation is s7S.S56.363 In
addition to the provision for the con-
struction Of three first-class battle-
ships. one first-class armored cruiser,
two steel training ships and one wood
en- brig, the bill allows the selection
of two midshipmen for each senator,
representative and delegate, thus dou-
bling the number. The committee says
that with the present deficiency Of 577
officers. aQd with the number of Off
GERS that will be required for the ships
in process of construction, the def
cheney in the number of officers at the
end OF four years will be 1850, unless
additional midshipmen are authorized.
Further provision is made for the ap-
pointment of twelve ensigns from war
rant officers and for the appointment
of thirty additional lieutenant COM
manders. fifty additional lieutenants,
thirty additional surgeons. twenty-nine
naval constructors. eighty-four addi-
tional officers for the pay corps and
5000 enlisted men, The limit of cost
for the building of the naval academy
is to be increased from $S,000000 to
$10000.0O0. The sum of $500, 900 is ap-
propriated for experiment station and
testing laboratory in the department of
marine engineering and naval division.
The annual report of the secretary
of agriculture for 1902 recommends an
appropriation of $4,000 for continuing
and extending the work of irrigation
investigations during the coming fiscal
year. AS the agricultural appropriation
bill was reported to the House on jan
uary goth. it carried but $685. for this
Office. After having passed the House
as reported by the committee. the agri-
cultural bill went to the Senate. The
Senate committee has amended 1t so as
to carry $4,000 for the irrigation in
vestigation instead OF $25,0 600 reported
by the House committee. II the amend
ment passes the Senate, which is likely,
the matter will have to go before con-
ference committee composed Of mem
bers Of the Senate and House agricul-
tural committees. If the increase con-
tended for by the Senate should not be
agreed to in conference, the work OF
thte investigation would be 30 curtailed
during the next fiscal year as to have
Its influence for good reduced to an ex-
tent altogether unwarranted at this
time. The S25,000 provided by the
House committee would be barely
enough to maintain a small Office force
In Washington and to print such publi-
cations as that force would be able
k<p