The morning call., 1891-12-17

leo, Central and South America and the
West Indies. This exhibit, it is proposed at
the close of the exposition, will be perma-
nently established either in Washington or
New York.
COMMITTEE ON RULES.
The appointment of the House Committee
on Rules Is regarded by members of the
House as return to the former policy Of
appointing members of this committee with
out reference to their other committee as
slgnments. McAllllln, one OF the new men,
bers of the Rules Committee. is promi nent
as tariff reformer, and was one OF the most
active members of the Ways and Means
Committee. He says, however, that he is
IN favor of the appointment OF Mills as
Chairman of the last-named committee.
NcMlllin'S selection as a member of the
Rules Committee Is ascribed to his parlia-
mentary ability, his effectiveness as a de-
batter. and the fact that he is personally very
well liked by the members on the Democratic
side, and will, therefore, be Of great assist
ance IN securing harmonious adjustment
OF any differences which NAV arise as to
party policy. Catchings of Mississippi is
firm personal friend of the new Speaker,
and one of the active men of his canvass.
He is also popular with the members of the
House; he is an experienced member of the
House, an active worker, and clear and
t0rclble speaker.
RECIPROCITY WITH THE WEST INDIES.
The Secretary of State announces the con-
clusion OF the commercial reciprocity agree
mcnt between the United States and all the
British West Indies and British Guiana,
and on January 1St next the President will
issue proclamation announcing the details
of the convention. The agreement in cludes
special arrangements with Jamaica. Barba-
does and Trinidad. and the Leeward Islands.
The following is brief statement of the
value of imports and exports of these cOun-
tries during the past year: Imports from
British West Indies, S14. 500, 900; from Brit
lsh Guiana, 81. 800, 600; total, S19, 10000.
Exports to British West Indies, S. loo, 600;
British Guiana, 50, 100, 600; total, $40 900, 900.
For the past three or four weeks negota-
tlons have been in progress which have re-
suited in the agreement that, in return for
the continued free entry Of sugar and cof-
fee into the United States 1t has been agreed
by the colonies not only to greatly enlarge
the free list of their tariff but also to make
a very considerable reduction IN the duty on
leading agricultural and other products of
the United States.
WEATHER BUREAU CHANGES.
The Department of Agriculture proposes
to adopt an improvement of the Weather
Bureau Service. The predictions heretofore
made were made on observations at o'clnck
in the morning and were made for the twen-
ty-four hours from the time the observation
was taken. The proposed improvement con-
sists In having the predictions In each case
cover the time until midnight the next day.
W
1st of January next the predictions print
ed in the morning papers will be made early
in the day to which they apply while those
in the evening papers Will be for the day
after The public will be informed on the
evening before of the expected weather and
will be given the improved forecast the next
morning, if an Improvement is needed. By
this plan the needs of the public will be more
fully met
AMENDING THE TIMBER CULTURE ACT.
Senator Villas of Wisconsin introduced
bill amendatory to the act repeating the
timber culture laws, the first amendment
striking out the requirement that a person
must be an actual resident TO be allowed to
make final proof, and the second striking
out the provision that no person shall be
entitled to make an entry of desert land ex-
cept he be resident of the State or Terri
tory in which the land is located.
DEMOCRATIC ASSIGNMENTS.
The Democratic Caucus Committee to-day
completed its labors in the assignment OF
the minority representations upon the Sem
ate committees and will submit its list for
approval t. the caucus tomorrow. 1t is
impossible to learn definitely the places
assigned to any of the new Senators. but it
Is understood they have been well cared
for. Kyle and Irby, Alliance Senators, are
treated as Democrats, while PETER is left to
the Republicans to care for in arranging
their lSr.
CUBBERTsoN DECLINES.
Representative Culbertson has a second
time declined the position of Interstate
Commerce Commissioner. He was offered
tie com mmlsslonerShip early last summer,
but declined it. A few days ago, yielding to
pressure, he informed the President that if
his name was sent in he would accept. As
his name has not been sent in. Culbertson
yesterday took occasion to revert to his for
mer decision.
OCEAN NAIL SERVICE.
The Postmaster General has executed
contracts with the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company for mail service on the routes be-
tween New Y 0rk and Colon, San Francisco
and Panama, San Francisco and Hong
Kong. to begin February l, 1892, and with
the Red sd" line for service between
New Y ork and La Guayra, Venezuela, to
begin March l, 1892.
MORE CLERKS NEEDED.
Congressman Hermann of Oregon will in
few days introduce bill providing for an
additional clerical force for the Court of
Claims. AS matters stand the docket could
not be cleared for years to come. There is
an immense amount of clerical work neces-
to expedite the work.
PREVENTING AN INFLUX OF CHINESE.
Acting on the Information that 1900 Chi
neSe, discharged by tue Tehuantepec Rail-
road Company. were on their way to the
United States, Acting Secretary Spauldng
tU-udS INSTRUCTED iil6 cuStUulS OFFICIALS alODR
the Mexican frontier to use extra vigilance
to prevent any of them from crossing the
border line.
PENSIONS GRANTED.
Pensions have been granted to the follow
ing Californians: David Fitzgerald, Frank
H. Powell, Abraham B; Serene (deeeased).
Asa Smit (deceased), Edwin d. Preston.
Clara Nj. Mcdonald, Mary l.. j. Smith,
Harriet r. Serene, Rufus r. Fimple, Will
lam Conway, Frederick Frickman.
PROHIBITION IN ALASKA.
Senator Dolph is inclined to believe that
total prohibition in the District of Alaska
would be impractcabe, but he introduced a
bill in the Senate to-day providing for a
high license, and he thinks that it wills at
least have the effect of diminishing the sale
of liquors to the Indians.
LARGE PURCHASES OF SILVER.
OF 1,06S.000 ounces of silver offered for
sale to the Treasury Department to-day
100000 ounces at $780, $4,000 ounces at
1926, 55S 900 ounces at .9570.
WILL ANNOUNCE THE COMMITTEES.
Speaker Crisp said this afternoon that he
hoped to announce the House committees
by Wednesday, December 23d, and expected
that the usual Christmas recess would not
begin until that day.
PAYMENT ON THE OREGON.
The Secretary of the Navy to-day made
Oregon, amounting to SOC. .6S4 80, to the
Union Iron Works of San Francisco
THE ROUND VALLEY RESERVATION.
The Interior Department has decided to
pay the Round Valley settlers whose land
was taken for use as an Indian reservation
about $50, 000 in the aggregate.
THE SICK LIST.
Representative Nils condition is slightly
better to-day.
Secretary Foster is still improving in
health.
THE CHARLEsToN's DESTINATION.
The United States cruiser Charleston will
await orders at Honolulu, and it is expected
that her next move will be to Chile.
POSTMASTER APPOINTED.
Rev. Christ S. Luce has been appointed
Postmaster at Merton, San Diego County.
Cal.
A Farmer Charged With BURGLARY.