The Elk Mountain pilot., 1903-02-17

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 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 Liliuokalani.
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
a commission for the determination of
the question.
A bill has been introduced by Sem
ator Burton witch provides that
henceforth $12 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.
The president has signed the bill ap-
propriating Sl,500.000 for constructing
a new building for the department of
agriculture in Washington city. Plans
for the new structure will be drawn at
once. The building will be erected on
the plaza directly in front of the pres
ent building.
The house committee on ways and
means favorably reported the bill pro-
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
izing 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 1t was
necessary for the sender to meet the
carrier on the route. Rural carriers
also are required to accept for regis
tration mail matter properly prepared
and offered by any one that meets
them while on duty. whether a 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 mail
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"
The naval appropriation bill report
ed to the House carries $79,0iS.420. or
Sc. AZ. .0S9 less than the estimates. The
current appropriation is SIS. $50. 1863. 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 SIT
officers. and 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, eightyfour 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 sS00o000 to
S10.000.000. The sum of 100000 is ap-
propriated for experiment station and
testing laboratory in the department of
marine engineering and naval division.
Senator Aldrich has introduced a bill
authorizing banks which are national
repositories to deposit for the safe
guarding of the government other Sc
curities than government bonds. The
intention of the bill is to give greater
elasticity to the currency and permit
of the release of larger volumes of the
n of rfrir
gency In addition to government
bonds the bill provides for the deposit
of state bonds, municipal bonds of cit
les of 100000 population, which have
been in existence for twenty-five
Years and which have not defaulted