The Washington herald., 1907-01-15

While the fo-tifcati6as bin was before
the House yesterday. Ar. Hepburn. Of
Iowa, directed attention 20 "a pamphlet
which had been placed upoa the desks Of
members.
The writer, he said, charged that officers
.of the army and navy, IN the course Of
their duties. had made certain discoveries
lin connection with the manufacture Of
powder which they had had patented per-
sonally and sold to the powder makers.
who, in turn. combined to charge the gov
ernment 100 per cent in excess Of o fair
compensation for such powder.
He wanted to know what Mr. Smith, or
Iowa, in charge Of the bill. knew about
the charges
Mr. Smith said it was the practice Of
such officers % procure "a patent which
they disposed Of to manufacturers with
the provision that the United States could
procure the article in unlimited quantities
without The payment OF royalties.
Where the article was sold 20 any other
purchaser than the government. he
thought the officers were entitled 10 roy
atty the same as any other citizen. This
was the case. he said, wish regard to
smokeless powder. He favored a provision
IN the bin to build an experimental pow
der plant 20 enable the United States 10
find out what IL costs 20 produce powder.
and If It is demonstrated that the price
charged by the Duponts is extoruonate.
he would favor building more powder
plants by the government
Replying 10 a question 10y Mr.. Clark. OF
! Missouri. Mt Smith said Gen Crozier,
/ Chief Of Ordnance. had told the Commit
tee on Appropriations that the govern
ment was paying 25 per cent more for
powder than it ought 20 Dee required 70
( pay.
During the discussion of the fortifca-
( tions bill, Mr. Eeifer. Of Ohio. spoke IN
I favor Of "a generous policy in fortifying
/ the ilsular possessions. and advocated the
: fortifcation Of the mouth Of the Chesa-
peake Bay, In accordance with the plans
Of the Taft board. 2ir Maynard. Of Vir-
giuia. also favored the plan. and Mr..
Fitzgerald, Of New York. opposed il.
In ordsr to secure ii greater degree OF
/ protection against errors in the enroll
ment Of bills enacted into law. the House
/ yesterday increased the annual salary Of
+ the enrolling clerk from $3.50 TO 801a,
ard gave him an assistant at the rate Of
/ s., so a year.
Small Bills Passed.
BY unanimous consent. the following
bills were considered and passed:
Authorizing the holding of term Of the
I Federal Court for the Southern district
Of Iowa at Ottumwa-
Amending the navigation law so as 10
give the board of steamboat inspectors
power to make regulations to prevent W.
necessary whistiing by steamboats,. This
is intended 20 deal with the nuisance Of
/ excessive whistling on North River
Senate bin giving the adhesion Of the
United States u Article " Of the agree
/ uent made by the international Maritime
Conference, regulating the lights 10 be-
displayed by fishing boats at sea.
/ Providing for the creation of the cent
judicial district in Ohi0-the third for the
State
/ The Presidents message regarding the
protection of the Imperial Valley from the
tencroachmeHt Of the Salton Sea wGs read
and referred TO the Committee on Public
Lands.
/ a bill was passed at the suggestion Of
+ Mr. James. of Kentucky, giving 90 a
| local chapter Of the Daughters of the
American Revolution the right 20 con
struCt drinking fountain on the lawn of
I the custom-house at PadUcah, Ky.
The presentation Of the bill led Mr.
Payne, the Republican floor leader, 10 in
Quire:
What is the need Of a drinking foun-
tain in Kentucky
/ To which Mr.. James responded;
L understand II is for the use OF the
/ ladies'
a session Of the House was ordered for
Sunday, February i. for the delivery Of
eulogies upon the late Representative
Hitt Of Illinois
At O'Clock the House adjourned till
to-day.