, 1888-12-07
Washington Notes.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The Republi-
can national executive committee at its
session TO day discussed the propriety of
establishing permanent national head
quarters in this city in the building now
occupied by the committee. No decision,
however, has yet been reached. The
questions of the prospective contests in
Yves. Virginia and other states have not
been discussed by the committee. What
ever interests the national committee have
in these disputed districts are being looked
after by Chairman Quay, who thus far
has made no report to the committee.
Assistant Secretary Maynard in q letter
to the collector of customs at San Fran
cisco says that while Chinese merchants
are not affected by the Chinese exclusion
act, the department must decline to issue
instructions in regard to the manner of
Identifying Chinese merchants on their
arrival in the United States. He says
also that in regard to the departments
previous instructions relating to certificates
which may, for convenience be issued to
T Chinese persons other than laborers, that
the collector has full authority to disre.
gard them, especially as In view of his
intlmation that such certificates are fraud
ulently used by Chinese laborers.
The pension appropriation bill was
completed by the sub committee of the
house appropriations committee to-day
and will be reported to the FULL committee
tomorrow, 1t ap~propriates SSl, 767, 900,
or 81 900 less than last years bill.
In the ena to-day Butler introduced
a. joint resolution proposing a constitution
al amendment enlarging the presidential
term to six years. which was tabled.
Senator Blair introduced a bill to day
providing that there shall be established
by the president, on recommendation of
the commissioner of labor, throughout the
United States in geographical sections,
which shall include a population of not
less than 100, coo nor more than 2,000,-
900 inhabitants, bureaus of information
relating to the employment, occupations,
wants, means of livelihood and homes.
Provision is made for publication at least
once a month of an abstract giving the
information collected and for the giving,
free of charge, of n information spe-
Critically asked for by any citizen of the
United States.
1t is also made the duty of the chiefs
Of bureaus to make known throughout
their districts instances of extreme pov-
erty, hardship and distress, without need
less exposure of the names of parties, and
also to report the same to the commission
er of labor. who shall report such infor-
nation briefly to congress with the rec
ommendation of such means of relief as
may seem TO him to be wise and necessary.
1t is made the duty Of bureaus of informa-
ton to make special inquiry in relation to
the condition, wants and necessities of
women and children and to publish the
results Of their investigations with a view
to arousing or directing charitable or
other efforts and thereby securing en-
ployment, homes, education and such
other relief as in each case may be re-
quired.
The president and heads of depart
ments are required to give employment on
public works only to American citizens
and to gi,e preference in employment to
persons resident in the vicinity of the
work to be done.
Another irregularity has been discov-
cred in the treasury department arising
from the mysterious disappearance be-
tween the receiving office and the sealing
division OF ten uncut sheets of legal ten
ders, each containing four notes of the
denomination of So, and representing
5000 in all. While it is possible that the
sheets were mislaid and may be recov-
cred. it is more than possible they
were distracted by someone familiar with
the method of handling them. The notes
will readily pass for money for they lack
only the treasury seal.