The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-05-10

care to consummate the purchas,
without the approval Of the Jasanese
government and that the latter would
not give its approval unless assured
the transaction would be unobjection
able to the United States.
The department of state made n
plain to the American syndicate that
such e transfer Of lands would be in.
terpreted in some quarters In q man.
ner to cause a great outcry and that
such a result would be so obviously
cause OF regret to the government
Of the United States that II would
appear unnecessary further to com.
ment upon the disposition of the fed
eral government In the premises"
The message precipitated q debate
In the senate. Senators Bacon and
Lodge concurred in the opinion that IL
the Monroe doctrine did not cover the
situation . new doctrine covering II
could be created.
Explaining his reasons for calling
for the correspondence, Mr.. Lodge
said II was to prevent the development
OF any embarrassing situation with
reference to Mexico and Japan. He
said the time had come when the
United States should take the posi-.
ton that neither directly nor indirect.
ly could any foreign government OBJ
tain the control of land in this hemi-
sphere that might constitute a menace
to the United States.
Senator Rayner said that II Japan
established base OF supply or coalinx
station In Mexico he would regard the
act as a declaration Of war.
Blow at Commerce Court.
BY falling to report an appropria-
ton for the recently created com.
merce court. the house committee on
appropriations sought TO abolish that
tribunal. The general supply Lii for
the legislative. judicial and executive
branches Of the government IL a
Wholesale attempt at reduction Of gov.
eminent expenses.
The bill proposes a reduction of the
salary Of the secretary to the presi.
dent from $500 to $1,000, and the
abolition In the department Of COM
merce and labor of the bureaus Of
manufacture and statistics.
1t Is further proposed to abolish the
mints at San Francisco, New Orleans
and Carson City, Nevada. and the az.
say offices at Boise, Idaho, Charlotte,
N. c., Deadwood, s. D., Helena, Mont.
Seattle, Wash, and Salt Lake City,
Utah.
San Francisco would get an assay
office In lieu Of its mint.
Washington, ID. C.-The perfected
postofiice appropriation bill as agreed
upon contained several new features
of legislation advocated by the ma
jority.
One was an. abrogstion of the rule
described by Democrats as a gag"
rule, which prevented federal employ.
es in the postal service from COM
planning to congress.
The bill also contains a provision
which would compel newspapers, mag
azines and other periodicals to pub
lish the names of their managing edi-
tors and stockholders who own stock
1T tudu SOJV.
The bill provides that all matter for
which money has been received must
be labeled advertisement"
A compromise on the parcel post
and express provisions occupied most
OF the time Of the debate and was
agreed to after numerous amendments
were voted down. AS the bill was
L. h. -
whole. the parcels post and express
questions are given to q committee
OF three senators and three representa-
tives for study and report to the next
session OF congress.
In the meantime a rural route par
Gel service Is provided. Its rates are
five cents for the first pound and one
cent for each additional pound up to
IL pounds. A general parcel post serv-
Ice OF twelve cents a pound for eleven
pounds Is contained In the bill.
Lakes Steamers to Have Wireless.
Washington, May 8. - Regulations
regarding life saving appliances on
American owned ships would be ex-
tended to foreign owned vessels as
we'll by a bill agreed upon by the
house merchant marine committee.
II would require passengers ships on
the Great Lakes to be equipped with
but would exempt Long Is-
and sound passenger ships from the
ocean going requirements. Auxiliary
wireless equipment and two operators
'or each ship are among other fea-
ures Of the measure.