The Lamar register., 1904-03-02

DtHueu lHoHeyb utpooitth W ,o'''
cost of plating and office work in
connection with mining claims.
The Indian appropriation bill az
agreed on by the House comittee on
Indian affairs carries a total of $3.50
Sl1. based on estimates amounting to
S7,732, ,252. The amount of the last Dill
was $S.521 .3O6. For current expenses
the bill carries s722.40O: fulfilling
treaty obligations, s2.077,164; gratui-
ties, S566,00O; incidental expenses, $40,
900; miscellaneous, s615,S6S; schools
1851 .S6S.
Vice President Vale of the Denver d
Rio Grande company. was given a hear
ing by the House committee on inter
state and foreign commerce in favor oil
a bill exempting narrow-gauge roaas
from the application of the safety ap-
rliance law, insofar as such law re-
quires the use of air brakes on loco
motives. Mr.. Vaile wishes authority
to equip locomotives of his road with
water brakes. using air for the remain
der of the train
Several bills were introduced in the
Senate February 10th for the increase
of soldiers and sailors pensions in
case of serious disability. Senator
Burrows proposed an increase to $40
month for the loss of both legs or
deafness in both ears. Senator Hoar
proposed an increase to 500 month
for total blindness and Senator Gallin-
ger proposed an increase to $40 a
month for all survivors of the Mexican
war.
Senator Hansbrough has introduced
a bill providing that in case OF unper-
fected claims being included in a for
est reserve, the owner may relinquish
and be entitled to receive payment in
money of sum to be agreed upon by
the Interior Department and posses.
sion relinquished, after examination
and appraisement by officers of the
department 1t provides also that
hereafter forest reserves created shall
not include land grants and that ex.
changes of land shall only be for land
of like character.
There will be no navy general staff
legislation during the present session
of congress. This much is now appar-
ent even to the advocates of the gen.
eral staff idea, says the Army and
Navy Journal There is an indisposi-
tion on the part of a majority OF the
members of the House and Senate COM
mittees on naval affairs to taking this
question up for final consideration this
session, although it is possible that
some hearing will be had by the house
committee Hence the army expert
ment will stand alone for time.
Secretary Hay received. by cable
from Ambassador Mccormick. the re-
ply of the Russian government to the
proposition relating to Chinese neu-
trality. 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. 1t is said
that Russia attaches condition to the
effect that acceptance of the PROPOSE
ton is not to be regarded as excluding
Manchuria from the seat of war.
II 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 62.254.96 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 1883. then
studied forestry in France, Germany,
Switzerland and Austria. He worked
as a practical forester on the Wander.
bilt estate at Biltmore, North Carolina,
and became forester in the Depart
ment of Agriculture in 1888.
The House on the 18th instant
passed the Notifications appropria-
ton bill. The Philippine question was
the subject of brief but spirited dis
cussion while the bill was under con-
sideration. An item in the bill pro-
yided for Notifications in the insular
possessions. Mr.. Smith (Dem., Ken
tucky), proposed an amendment to
preclude the use of any part of the ap-
propriations for fortifications in the
Philippines, holding that an eXpendi-
ture of the sum necessary properly to
fortify the islands was not warranted
until the future of the archipelago
shall have been determined. A party
alignment on the proposition imme-
diately followed. Mr.. Williams of Mis-
sissippi, the minority leader. taking up
the fight for the amendment. By a
strict party vote of so to 50 the Smith
amendment was lost The general de-
bate on the bill developed into polit-
ical discussion. When the system of
coast Notifications now under way is
completed, at cost of s140.000, 900.
said Mr.. Littauer. an annual charge of
$4,000. 900 to maintain and man the
defenses will be required. Mr.. Robin
son Qnd.) asked if the bill should not
be amended so as to prohibit further
experiments with the Langley aero
drome. Mr.. Littauer said Congress
should have confidence in the govern
ment's board of experts in the expen-
diture Of the sum appropriated for ex-
perimental purposes.