Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-03-16
Washington News.

Senator Hepburn has been
notified by the navy depart
ment that "a vacancy exists at
the naval academy due to the
graduation of Robert l..
GhOrmley. which he is entitled
to fill. He has decided to nOmi-
nate Herbert DuntOn of Boise
as principal, and VIM. +. Rob
ertson OF Glenn's Ferry, as first
alternate. The positions of
second and third alternate are
still vacant, but Senator Hey
burn will complete his selections
within a short time. The ex-
animation will be held at Boise
and Moscow on the third Tues
day in April under the supervis-
ion of the civil service commits
sion, and at the naval academy
at Annapolis on the third Tues
day in June under the supervis-
ion OF the superintendent of the
naval academy. Mr.. Dunton
who has been designated as
principal is reported to be d fine
specimen OF physical manhood.
He is not 10 years OF age but
weighs 1875 pounds. DuntOn
and Robertson are both attend
ing the state university at Mos
COW, and both played in the
foot ball team.
The committee on public lands
OF the house of representatives,
of which Congressman French is a
member, a few days ago, defeat
ed the bill providing for the re-
peal of the stone and timber
act. The defeat of this measure
in the committee is due princi-
pally to Congressman French
and Congressman MOndelI of
Wyoming. At the beginning of
the present session of congress
it was thought that the stone
and timber act would be repeal
ed without much opposition, and
as stated the change in the SEN
timent of the committee is due
principally to Mondell and
french. The principal argument
OF those favOring the repeal is
that the law has resulted in the
great land frauds that have
been so prevalent in the west for
the last few years. Those Oppos-
ing the repeal claim it is a good
law and especially beneficial to
settlers. Another fact that had
great weight With the committee
was that OF the twenty seven
millions of dollars now COM
prising the irrigation fund, it is
claimed that twelve million Of
this came to the irrigation fund
from the sales under the stone
and timber law. This fact is
doubtless the cause of the hard
work done by french and Mon
dell as they represent states
largely benefited by irrigation
and a permanently large irriga-
ton fund.
Senator Hepburn engaged in !
an argument in the senate last
week on the question of coal
lands being acquired and con-
trolled by railroads. AS a re-
suit he won a high place in the
estimation of members of the
senate on account of his demon
stration 'of his ability to cope
with the leading lawyers in the
senate on a question of law
rhe debate in full can be found
n the congressional record of {
March second. Senator La
'ollette had introduced an
amendment to the Indian bill
md had been speaking on it for :
time when Senator Hev-
urn challenged the constitu-
lonality OF the proposed amend {
lent and proceeded to show v
lr. LaFOllette the error of his /
osition. LaFollette finally fl
penly acknowledged that he
as not in a position to answer p
enator Heyhurn's argument. r
he result of the amendment h
as that it only received seven =
otes in the senate and conse- =
lently overwhelmingly defeated.