The Holly chieftain., 1904-02-26
EVENTS In WASHINGTON AND
TRANSACTIONS OF CONGRESS

yer are reported in Washington.
The general land Office has ordered
the TEMPORARY Withdrawal OF 10000
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 bin authorizing the di-
rector OF the census to cooper ate with
The state of Michigan in taking the
census of manufacturers of that state
vas passed by the Senate. The bill
tiso provides for like cooperation III
other states
Announcement has been made at the
Navy Department OF the retirement at
his own request of Rear Admiral
Charles S. Cotton, commander-in-chiet
9f the European station. He will prob
ably be succeeded ~ 4ear Admiral
French E. Chadwick.
The President recently issued an ex-
ecutive order revokin., those OF Presi-
dent Mckinley, allowing gifts from Of
Ulcers 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 of
duty. The privilege had been abused
of late.
The fortiicAtion appropriation bill
was reported to the House on the 10th
irst. from the appropriations commit
tee. II carries a total appropriation al
81 ,l3l 1872, which is less by S44i "a
than was appropriated for fortihcauons
at the last session of Congress. The
estimates on which the bill is based
aggregates s21,573,19T.
The House committee on postoftices
and postroads agreed to the report OF
a subcommittee raising the salaries
of rural free delivery carriers to
maximum of $720 per annum 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 ship
ping trade between ports of the United
| States and ports or places in the Phil
| 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 l, 1904, to July
/, 1909.
The Indian appropriation bill as
agreed on by the House comittee on
| Indian affairs carries total OF S7,6lO,-
S11. based on estimates amounting TO
s7.732.252. The amount of the last bill
was $S,521, ,306 For current expenses
the bill carries $722.400; fulfilling
treaty obligations. $2,077,764: gratui-
ties. s5G6 600; incidental expenses, $780,
300: miscellaneous, $615,S6S; schools,
S3,551 ,S6S.
Vice President Vale of the Denver &
Rio Grande company. was given hear
ing by the House committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce in favor oil
a bill eXempting narrow-gauge roads
from the application of the safety ap-
pliance law, insofar as such law re-
| uuires 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 Goth for the increase
of soldiers and sailors pensions in
case of serious disability. Senator
| Burrows proposed an increase to $75
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 Calm
ger proposed an increase to $50 a
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-
! ;s 81 hp ha ri
nent 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 condition to the
effect that acceptance of the PROPOSE
ton is not to be regarded as excluding
Manchuria from the seat of war.
Delegate Rodey 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
dreds of thousands of acres of mineral
| lands are involved IN the Dill. Inc
Department of the Interior has made
| an adverse report. but Delegate ltodey
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.