The Grit-advocate., 1904-02-26


acres of land in the San Francisco land
district, pending an investigation OF the
feasibility OF the establishment OF the
proposed Monterey forest reserve.
The House bill authorizing the di-
rector of the census to cooperate WIN
the state of Michigan in taking the
census of manufacturers OF that state
vas passed by the Senate. The Dill
also provides for a like cooperation IN
other states.
Announcement has been made at the
Navy Department of the retirement at
his own request of Rear Admlral
Charles S. Cotton. commander-ln-chlel
II the European station. He VIII prop-
sbly be succeeded ~ Year Admiral
French f. Chadwick.
The President recently issued an ex'
ecutiye order revoking those OF Presl'
dent Mckinley, allowing gifts from OIL
ticers of the army and navy and the
civic establishment in Porto Rico,
Cuba the Philippines. etc, to be ad-
mitted into the United States free oil
duty. The privilege had been abused
Of late.
The fortifcation appropriation bill
was reported to the House on the loth
inst from the appropriations commit
tee. 1t carries total APPROPRIATION Oh
S713l 1872, which Is less by $i41 ia
than was appropriated for fortiiications
at the last session of Congress. Inc
estimates on which the bill is based
aggregates s2l ,513,l97.
The House committee on postoi!ces
and pOstroadS agreed to the report OF
a sub committee raising the salaries
of rural free delivery carriers TO
maximum of 1920 per annnm instead
OF $500. as at present. The report
agreed to take away from such car
riers the express and news agency
privileges which they now have.
Senator Carmack has introduced an
amendment to the bill regulating snip
ping trade between ports OF the Ohlteu
States and ports or places in the fhii-
ippine archipelago. The amendment Is
for the purpose of extending the time
of the application of the coastwise laws
of the United States to the Philippine
archipelago from July !. 1904, to July
l, 1909.
| The Indian appropriation bill as
egreed on by the House comittee on
Indian affairs carries a total of $500
! S1l based on estimates amounting TO
1872 252. The amount of the last bill
was ss.521 ,306. For current expenses
the bill carries $722 400; fulfilling
treaty obligations, s2077.764 gratui-
ties, 1856 600: incidental expenses, $1t,-
300 miscellaneous, $6l5,s6s; schools
I s3,55l ,SGS
Vice President Vale of the Denver
Rio Grande company, was given hear
ing by the House committee on inter
state and foreign commerce in 1aVor ol
bill eXempting narrow-gau ROADS
from the application Of the safety ap-
pliance law, insofar as such law re-
nuires the use of air brakes on loco
motives. Mr. Vale wishes authority
to eouip locomotives OF his road with
water brakes. using air for the remain
der of the train.
Several bills were introduced in the
Senate February 20th for the increase
of soldiers and sailors pensions in
case of serious disability. Senator
Burrows proposed an increase to $75
a month for the loss Of both legs or
deafness in both ears. Senator Hoar
proposed an increase to 800 a month
for total blindness and Senator Calm
ger proposed an increase to $50
month for all survivors of the Mexican
war.
Secretary Hay received. by cable
from Ambassador Mccormick, the re-
ply of the Russian government to the
proposition relating to Chinese neu-
tralty. 1t is considered by the depart
ment to be responsive to our note and
its substance has been com
municated to the governments
of Japan and China. 1t is the present
intention merely to acknowledge the
Russian note While the text of the
note is withheld at present, it is said
that Russia attaches a condition to the
effect that acceptance of the PROPOSE
ton is not to be regarded as excluding
Manchura from the seat of war.
Delegate Rodcy had hearing before
the committee on mines and mining of
the House on his bill permitting pros
pecting and mining on land grants in
New Mexico, where minerals were re-
served to the government by the
Court of Private Land Claims. Hun
dyeds of thousands of acres of mineral
lands are involved in the bill. The
Department of the Interior has made
an adverse report but Delegate ROdcy
takes issue with the department on the
law governing the matter and stands
a good show to convince the commit
tee that he is right and obtain favor
able report.
If the effort which is being made in
Congress to transfer the control of
the forestry reserves from the Depart
ment of the Interior to the Depart
ment Of Agriculture are successful, the
enormous area of -. .254 ,965 acres now
included in the reserves will be placed
in charge OF Clifford Pinchot. chief for
ester of the Department of AGricul- |
ture. Mr. Pinchot was deliberately ed
ucated for the career of forester. |
He graduated from Yale in 1889, then
studied forestry in France, Germany. !
Switzerland and Austria. He worked |
as a practical forester on the Wander |