Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-12-24
WISCONSIN,
Late Washington News!

I<aIS " dSniT1StOH news!
A bill restricting immigration, SINH
lar to the one which passed the House
at the last session, passed the Senate
last Thursday. This bill prohibits ad
mission to all emigrants over the age of
sixteen who cannot read and write, ex-
cept such emigrant be the wife, parent,
OF grandparent or minor child ola person
who has been admitted.
The Senate committee on Foreign
Relations has taken favorable action on
the Cameron resolution recognizing the
independence of Cuba. The Senate,
however, will defer action until after
the holidays.
Another question of considerable in
terest considered by the Senate during
the week, was the retrocession of that
part of Virginia which formerly belonged
to the District of Columbia. This Dis
trict was formerly ten miles square, but
the thirty-six square miles on the Nir-
ginia side of the Potomac was ceded
back to Virginia. This tiIirty-six square
miles is what it is desired to have re-
annexed to the District.
In the House, Mr.. Sherman of New
York introduced bill to abolish the
office of Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
and substitute therefor a board Of COM
missioners. Mr.. Boatner of Louisiana
increased from $4,000 to s., 800 per year,
and has put his request in the form of a
bill. This also provides for raise in
the Speakers salary from $4,000 to $40,
600 per year. The legislative, judicial
and executive appropriation bill was
also reported to the House. This bill
provides for the salaries of government
officials and clerks. The amount esti-
mated to pay such salaries during the
next year is S21 ,667 ,S69.S0.
Congress and the Supreme Court re-
alize the fact that Christmas is coming.
The Senate and House have agreed to
adjourn tomorrow until January 9Th,
and Chief Justice Fuller has announced
that the Supreme Court will adjourn to-
day to take a recess until the first
Monday in January.
Mr.. NeaZey Of Vermont, a member Of
the interstate commerce commission,
resigned his position recently. Mr..
Charles A. Prouty of the same state was
appointed by the President to fill the
vacancy, and his appointment con-
frmed by the Senate.
The annual dead letter office sale was
held last week The number of articles
which accumulate at this office during a
year is almost incredible. Three or
more articles are generily tied up in
bundle for purposes of the sale. This
year there we're about four thousand of
these packages besides one thousand
books The miscellaneous articles in
Guiding merchandise Of almost every
sort imaginable, from old shoes to jewel
cry. AS rule, these articles are not
very valuable, but the idea Of buying a
package which might contain some
thing valuable, instigates bidding, and
many of the packages sold for double
what they we're worth.
4 ruling on the pension law was made
by Assistant Secretary Reynolds of
the Interior Department. He holds
that soldier who deserted, and sub
sequently enlisted in the army again,
his last enlistment, is not barred from
receiving Il pension under the law
known as the act of June p, 1890.
On January 18th next the Civil Ser
vice Commission will hold all eXamina-
ton for the position Of mechanic in the
engineer branch of government service.
These examinations will be conducted
ny Ildll oO IIlCIC VIII ill ttilIy UC llO
pense to the applicant connected with
it. There seems to be a scarcity of
desirable candidates for such positions.
Should any reader of this article desire
to take this examination, he should ad
dress the Civil Service Com mission i'll
this city for blanks and instructions
which will be sent him free of cost.
Information has been received by the
State Department from the United
States legation in Brazil and Cuba, that
certain rules for the prevention of
collisions at sea, has been adopted by
those countries. These rules were
framed by d maratime conference held
in this city some time ago. Almost all
of the civilized countries have now
adopted this set of rules.
The beautiful Marquett statue at the