Gilpin observer., 1904-04-21

which has passed the House to donate
120 acres Of land to the Beecher Island
Battle Memorial Association.
The general deficiency bill reported
to the House contains items of $1,000
each for Robert w. Bonynge and John
F. Shafroth to reimburse them for ex-
penses incurred in their recent contest.
The nomination of Col. Albert l..
Mills, superintendent of the military
academy at West Point, to be brigadier
general, was favorable acted upon to-
day by the Senate committee on mill
tary affairs.
Congress has been Invited to attend
the opening Of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition on Saturday, April both.
The invitation, signed by President
Francis, was laid before the Senate by
President Pro Tenn. Frye.
The Senate committee on foreign re-
lations authorized a favorable report
Of the House joint resolution relating
to the exemption OF all private proper
ty at sea, not contraband Of war, from
capture by belligerent powers.
Several senator's have discussed with
Senator Elkins to-day the advisability
of making him chairman Of the Re
publican national committee. He em-
phatically asserted that he would not
think of taking the place under any
consideration.
Upon the request of Mr.. Fairbanks,
the Senate ordered the printing Of the
late President McKinley's last speech
at Buffalo as q public document. In
presenting the request Mr.. Fairbanks
stated that there are many inquiries
for the address.
Representative Hogg Of Colorado had
q conference with Clifford Pinchot, for
ester of the Department of Agriculture.
In the course of which the latter as
sured Mr.. Hogg that he had recon-
mended to the secretary the reserva-
ton of certain lands in Rio Blanco
county to the public domain. These
had been enormously included in for
est reserve.
Secretary Moody sent the following
telegram to Rear Admiral Barker at
Pensacola, commander-in-chief of the
North Atlantic fleet: Il learn with
profound sorrow of the irreparable loss
to your feet. the navy and the country
of the faithful and gallant officers and
men who met death while in the dis
charge of their duties. Will you con-
vey to the fleet my deepest sympathy
The House committee on irrigation
of arid lands agreed to resolution
calling on the secretary of the interior
to make an investigation as to how
much water may be taken from the
Colorado river for irrigating lands In
Arizona and California, how much
land can be irrigated, and what legis-
lation Is necessary for the project,
both under private and government en-
terprise.
Secretary of the Navy Moody has
transmitted to the House request
for a $4,000 appropriation to provide
for the proper care of the remains OF
victims of the explosion of the battle
ship Missouri The French ambassa-
DOR called upon the secretary of the
navy to-day to express his own and the
sympathy of the French nation for the
American people in the loss of life on
the Missouri.
The Latimer good roads bill will be
reported favorably by the Senate COM
mittee on agriculture early in the next
session of Congress. 1t was decided to
amend the bill by fixing at 100000 the
minimum appropriation which each
state shall receive first, the balance OF
the appropriation to be shared by each
state in proportion to its population.
Provision was made. however that no
city shall be credited with more than
$4,000 population.
The President accompanied his check
for 500 with the following letter to
Secretary Moody: MY Dear Mr.. Sec
retary-May l send through you this
contribution to be used for the depend
ent kinsfolk of the enlisted men who
have Just been killed on board the Mis-
souri,. Under the conditions of modern
warfare in order efficiently to prepare
for war risk must be run similar in
kind though not to the degree Of the
risk run in battle. and these men have
died for their country as much as II the
ship had been in action against the
enemy"
The non-attendance Of Republican
members of the House in what are con-
sidered the closing days of the ses-
sion is causing some vexation to the
managers of that body. A circular
mailed a few days ago to the Republic
can membership signed by Representa-
tive Tawney, the Republican whip"
and issued at the request OF Speaker
Cannon. calling attention in no uncer-
tain language to the necessity of at
tending to business. The leaders pre-
dict that April 2S will be the day OF
adjournemcnt and they are bending
every effort to carry out this plan.
The House committee on appropria-
tons has completed the general de-
ficiency appropriation bill, carrying
total of $10.3SS.744 The largest item
in the bill is 100000 for pensions.
The minority report declares that there
is no law on the statute books Of the
United States that warrants the 81 $780,
900 appropriation asked for by the COM
sioner of pensions to pay the deficiency
caused by legislative order. and I'VE
will move on the floor Of the House to
reduce the appropriation asked for
pensions to the extent of $1,500.000 for