The Washington herald., 1914-02-24
Under the Capitol Dome.

Clay Tallman. of Nevada, Commission
er General of the Land Ofice. told the
House Public Lands Committee that the
royalty Of 9 cents a ton. PROPOSED
in the administration's Alaska coal lands
leasing bin. might well be remitted. He
testified that the royalty was Of so little
consequence that there was no reason
why 1t should be -equired Of the lessees.
He approved the general terms OF the
bill.
Representative Raker. Of California.
suggested that the pending claims TO
Alaska coal lands should be Temporarily
granted by a special clause In the Dill
the claimants to work the land under
the general regulations Of the bill until
their title should be approved or re-
jected.
DIR. ]. A. Holmes. Director Of the u
reau of Mines. declared before the SEN
ate Committee on Mines and Mining
thai lthe government could produce rad
ium cheaper than II is now being pro-
duced by private companies, and In TINS
connection declared that five years ago
the Bureau of Mines made oid on
cement for use In Panama which was
under the lowest private bid.
Announcement that hearing probably
would be given the Manahan resoi-uoh
calling for investigation OF the Chicago,
Minneapolis and Duluth wheat pits was
made at the Office Of the Rules CohiinIt-
tee of the House. the hearlhs' NV
ever probably will be deferred some
weeks.
Tho webb subcommittee Of the House
judiciary Committee, voted to read care
fully the rs pages of the brief SUD-
mitted by Federal Judge Emory Speer'
OF Georgia. now under investigation on
charges preferred by the Department o,
Jrstice. When the brief has been stuoieu
by the subcommittee an executive session
will be held to decide further steps In
the proceedings.
After completing its part of the trust
legislation program the House Commit
tee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce
will take up the subject OF water power
franchise legislation. IT was announced
by Chairman Adamson.
Before resuming debate ON the urgent
deficiency bill, the House considered bills
on the District calendar.
A bill designed TO assist veteran soldiers
and sailors OF the civil and Spanish
American wars in securing pensions WAS
introduced in the House by Represent
ative ]. NJ. c. Smith, of Michigan II
provides that all such soldiers and sailors
shall by the fact of their enlistment and
enrolment be considered to have been
physically sound at the time of their
entering the service.
Progress in the drafting of the final
administration bill creating an interstate
trade commission and defining its powers
vas reported by Representative Coving-
ton, of Marylan1. chairman of the sub
committee having the work in charge.
He predicted an carly completion Of the
bill.
The Military Academy appropriation
bill, was reported TO the House by the
Military Affairs Committee. The bill is
an economical one. appropriating only
s9S7 900, which is sl07, 900 less than the bill
OF last year and $1,000 less than the
estimate.
A hearing was given Representative
Linthicum. of Maryland. and a delega-
tion of Baltimore manufacturers on a
bill permitting the use OF alcohol recti-
fed in the manufacture Of vanilla eN-
tract without + mt Of the usual in
ternal revenue ts=.
Minority Leader Mann introduced in the
House a resolution declaring vacant the
seat of Representative James Curley, Of
Massachusetts,, recently elected and in
stalled as mayor of Boston. The resolu-
ton was referred without debate to the
judiciary Committee.