The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-10
GOVERNMENT BUNCOED
REPREsENTATIVE SHACKELFORD or MISSOURI HAS RESOLUTION.
Wapts an Investigation of Conduct of Panama Railway People While
 Negotiations for Purchase
 Were in Progress.

-.
 Washington, Dec. s.-tSpecia1.J- Representative D. W. Shackelford of Missouri has been to the Isthmus of Panama and come back loaded with an investigation resolution. Mir Shack elford obtained information that the Panama Railway people buncoed the United States by certain conduct while the negotiations for the purchase of the road was in progress. .>
 The resolution provides that since the United States oN ns SS per cent of the stock of the road, it. is proper that Congress should know all about It's affairs. Accordingly the Committee on Interstate and. Foreign Commerce Is directed to investigate the railway, it's franchises with, steamboat connection. whether unlawful dividends have been paid. and whether the railway is a party to a contract in restraint of trade or creating a monopoly. The Committee Is directed to make the in- vestigation as soon as possible, and the Committee or a duly authorized subcommittee thereof is given access to all books and papers of the corpo- ration and is empowered to call wit n esses~and demand all papers bearing on the case. The meeting of the Com mittee shall be held in Washington or In any other place which the Commit tee thinks necessary. The expenses uf the Investigation are to be paid out of the contingent fund of the House.
 One report which the Missouri Con- gressman heard was that the Panama Canal Company entered into a contract with the Pacific Mall Steamship Com pany. allowing that company extraor- dinary privileges of a monopolistic character. It is also charged that in 1903. while negotiations for the sale of the property were pending the direc- tors of the Panama Railroad paid divi- dends to its stockholders largely ir excess of the net earnings for the year. in violation of the laws of New York under which it was chartered.
 The bringing forward of this resolu- ton means considerable airing of tho whole Panama canal matter.
 To Promote Rifle Practice.
 Senator Proctor of Vermont. Chair man of the Senate Committee on Mill tary Affairs, has introduced hill ap- propriating one million dollars annual ly for the promotion of rifle practice. :. This bill was prepared by the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Prac- tice, a body of twenty-one members including officers or the army. navy marine corps and militia and promi- l nent civilians. It has been endorsed by the War Department and transmit red by General Robert Shaw Oliver
 Acting Secretary of War and President of the Board The objects of the bllI are briefly explained in General On- ver's letter ct transmittal to Senator 1 Proctor. as follows:
 1 T have the honor to enclose, for the consideration of your Committee n copy of the bill for the promotion of
 rife practice prepared by the National | Board, of which I am the President.
 This bill proposes the appropriation
 Of one million dollars annually for
 training in rife practice such citizens 1 belonging to rife clubs as desire to
 become efficient marksmen; for the | construction and equipment of proper
 shooting galleries; for the acquisition | construction and maintenance of suit
 able National Target Ranges, and foJ
 the issue of arms and ammunitions to | schools and rife clubs. Accompany wing this measure Nill be found memo randum giving somewhat at length the ! reasons which actuatcd the Board ir l preparing and commenting this meas ure to The favorable consideration ol Congress
 l T should appreciate it, therefore. fl