Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-03-27
AT WASHINGTON.
A Few Facts Concerning
Uncle SANS Land Policy
Swell People on the Bicycle Senator
PaImer's -0Iney's Advice.
Spanish Minister and the Cuban Question
Adjournment Of Congress.

of Iowa who has made q special study of
the land policy of the government, declared
that upon territory bought by the govern
ment at various times in the past there
now lived population which would be
represented in the next electoral college
by 1853 votes, or u trifle more than one
third Of the whole number The Louisi.
ana purchase cost 3 80 cents per acre. The
purchase from Spain in 1919 cost Ill
cents per acre. In 1S4S the Mexican pur-
chase cost ~ cents per acre. The Gads-
den purchase Of 1853 cost "a. 3 cents per
acre. Alaska cost 10 cents per acre. The
Georgia cession cost 10.1 cents per acre.
The average cost of these entire purchases
amounted TO ~ cents per acre. The total
amount expended in the purchase of lands
up to 1880 was SSS, 157, 1895 The actual
net cost up to 1850 of all the public lands,
after deducting what had been received
from the same, was 1921 346, 746. SO, which
includes balance of expense of administra-
tion. The net cost, therefore, per acre is
II 2-5 cents.
Mr.. Lacey also presented figures which
had been compiled at his special request
by the government commissioner of lands,
showing that from 1862 down to the begin
ming of the present year 4SS, S37 homestead
entries had been made on the public lands
OF these entries 100, go have been com
muted by the government-tha is, their
possessors have been permitted to dispose
of them on account Of their own inability
to carry on the contest for homes against
crop failures and hard times.
The Bicycle Craze.
Fashionable Washington is bicycle mad
For several days we have had in progress
cycle show prepared in aid of IA worthy
local charity, and all the swell people in
town have honored the affair with their
presence. Perhaps no other city in the
country has had the wheeling craze quite
as acutely as the national capital. The
managers of this show found no difficulty
in getting society young men and women
to ride in races, and somo OF these events
have been the cause of more Or less sport
on the part OF the fast set. For instance.
young Mr.. Cana Of the Chilean legation
was mado a marked favorite by the fash
ionablo folk in lis amateur race against
another well known young man IN
Washington alnosl everybody rides a
wheel. Government officials society dew
otoes, senators, representatives members
of the diplomatic corps, even justice of
the supreme court, may be seen spinning
about on the smooth asphalt paFements
which make this city the paradise CT
wheelmen.
Speaker Reed still insists upon having
congress adjourn early in June. The big
speaker has an idea that an early adjourn
ment will help his chances as presiden-
tial candidate. He believes the people OF
the country are tired of having congress in
session and that the national legislature is
looked upon by business men as disturb
ing influence. Consequently Mr. Reed
hopes to be given credit for rushing
through with the business of congress as
fast as possible. He insists that all the
appropriation bills can be passed in time
to permit of adjournment not later than
the first of June, and he even cherishes the
hope that everything may be got out Of the
way by the middle Of May. If the speaker
succeeds in his plans, he will make record.
The Weather Map.
Senator Palmer of Illinois has "a fad. 1t
Is watching the big maps which the
weather bureau spreads out in the marble
room, just behind the senate chamber.
Those maps show graphically the state OF
the weather in all parts of the United
States and are corrected up Ito the hour
of going to press" as it We're, by tele-
graph. Senator Palmer goes to the marble
room every morning of his life to sec what
sort of weather they are having in Illinois,
and particularly at his home town OF
Springfield Ho loves to add in letters tc
his friends, II see you are having snow
todayf" or "How did you like todays colo
snap?' There are other senators who
take great deal of interest in watching
this weather map every day, and in writ
ing about 1t pleasantly to their friends al
home. 1t Is good way to vary the bur
den of their usual communications about
pensions and claims.
Two senators who appear to be unfor
tunate in their treatment by the news
papers are Cullom and Wolcott of Illinois
and Colorado respectively. Perhaps ther
are few men in congress better known O
more talked about than these two. On
is u candidate for the presidential nomina
tion of his party and the other is note'
far and near as perhaps the most eloquen
orator Of the senate. Yet Mr.. Cullom'
name Is printed "Collum' or "Collom'
quite as often as it is printed correctly
while Mr.. Wolcott finds himself in prin
as "Walcott" with provoking regularity
The Cuban Question.
Though Mr.. Morgan and other senator
have sharply criticised Senior Depuy d
LONE, the Spanish minister, for resortin
to the public press as a means OF arguin
the Spanish side of the Cuban question bt
fore the American people, there is 10 prol
ability that NJ de LONE will get into an
trouble over the matter. 1t is well know
here that ho took the precaution befor
making public his article of which th
senators complain to 80 to the state dS
partment and consult with Secretary o
ney. The secretary OF state advised hil
to have the argument used in the new,
papers, saying shat it was digni6ud an
respectful statement, and ho did not Sc
that there could be any reasonable objot
tions to it, While it is true that accort
ing to the strict lettcr,of the rule of diDls
matte intercourse, the minister viQlate
the propreties or usages there is little di
position here to hold him accountable fc
1t. The American people love fair pla
and are NOS afraid Of free speech. and ,
long as the Spanish minister makes all u
printed articles moderate aud respect,
and tries simply to tell what the facts ar
without criticising any American official
1T 10 not likely that he will be in any da,
ger OF losing his job 1t is the presider
and ndf congress, .wSlo has tho power