The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-31
President McKinley's Ability as
the Great Political Straddler.
HIS UNTENABLE POSITION
Mr. Hartman Draws a Few Inferences
From Senator Wolcotts Speech.
Hermann Opposed to Granting
Arid Lands to the States.
Washington Bureau of the Standard, !
No. 1415 q Street y. W.

with the correspondent of the Standard
Congress Charles ;. Hartman says:
The recent speech of Senator Wolcott,
detailing the history OF the actions of
his commission in their fruitless mis-
sion To obtain the consent of the lead
ing commercial nations of the world Tor
the United States to have such financial
policy as its people may desire, was de-
cidedly interesting, if not instructive.
After demonstrating the impossibilty
of getting Great Britain's consent, ne
solemnly announces his nope for inter
national bimetallism. This inconslst-
eney, however. is not marker to an
other which is plainly and logically de-
ducibe from his speech. After severe
~ criticising the financial views OF
Secretary Gage and assuring the SEN
ate of the concurrence of the president
in the efforts of the commission, he
very discreetly declined To tell the
country why the president stu retained
Mr. Gage at the head of the treasury II
he did not agree with MIN. In short,
il is plain from Mr.. Wolcotts speech
that there is an irreconcilape antagon-
ism between his views and those OF
Secretary Gage and that the president
agrees with both of them.
The president, then, Is placed by the
logic of Mr.. Wolcott's speech in the
attitude of being both in favor of and
against the gold standard at the same
time"
The commissioner of the state land
office. ex-Congressman Hermann, has
greatly disappointed the representa-
tiveS from the arid lana states by the
determined stand which he has taken
against the bills to grant the arid lands
To the states in which they are located.
He has prepared a report against the
bills which have been introduced for
this purpose, and is to submit 1t this
week to the house committee ON public
lands. The members from Montana
and all the land states nave been eX-
ceedingly hopeful that Mr.. Hermann,
being from the Western country. would
take their view of this question, ana
that his influence would be OF much
assistance to them in promoting the
cession of the arid lands. a legislative
scheme dear to all their hearts.
Senator Pettigrew has made favor
able report from the senate committee
on public lands on bill introduced by
him which is of particular interest III
the states having mining schools. rms
bill provides that each of the publc
land states shall receive each year 20
per cent. of all the moneys paid the
United States for mineral lands within
the borders of each state. The sum Is
not, however. to exceed $4,000 per year
to each state, and must all be expended
IN MAINTAINING IllHlllE ScHOoiS-
Before any money shall be paid under
the proposed law To any of the states
the secretary of the interior must certify
that each state is maintaining School
of mines within its borders in which
students in attendance are given IN
struction in chemistry. metallurgy. min
eralogy. geology. mining, mining engl-
neering. mathematics. mechanics, and
drawing, and that the students in at
tendance from other states are received
into this school of mines. The board of
trustees of each school of mines snail
make a report each year to the secre-
tary of the interior of the number of
students in attendance. the state OF
which they are inhabitants and the gen.
efal course of studies pursued in the
school, and the amount expended in its
support
In the favorable report on the bill the
committee SAYS: THE lack of scientific
knowledge in the development of our
mining resources has been a great hind
rance to this industry in the past While
the great universities in the East have
taught these allied sciences. nevertheless
1t has been practically impossible for the
youth of the mineral-l land states to en-
joy these advantages, owing to the great
distance these Institutions Of learning
are located from the seat of mining
operations. The advantages of these
schools Will extend to all students, re-
CARELESS of the states they may come
from. who may desire 10 pursue the
study of these sciences. Your commit
tee is of the opinion that it is To the
interest of the entire country that such
institutions be encouraged, to the end
that it may bring about a more intelli-
gent effort in the development of the
vast minteral resources of the United
States,
Senators Cannon and Pettierew have
This ANn0E N n n q
notes relative to their visit To the
Orient last summer. but have not yet
begun the compilation of their report.
This is To be made as an official state
ment to the silver republican national
committee under whose auspices the
trip to Japan and China was made.
The report. when completed. will be
printed as senate document and will
be widely circulated throughout the
United States during the campaign As
a senate document il will he freightable
and the heavy expense of postage will
he saved to the political committees
which circulate 1t.
1t does not seem probable that the
Wolcott bill TO establish the Tenth
judicial circuit embracing the noun
tain states can become law. 1t Ger
tainly mas small chance of being ia
vnrably acted upon at the present SEES
sion of congress. There is a great deal
against increasing the number of fed
eral judges. The argument is made
that at the time the court OF appeals
was established il was claimed that
this would relieve the circuit Judges
for many years from any burdenSome
accumulation of work in their courts
However. although the introduction Of
the bill is of such recent occurrence and
Notwithstanding the fact that it's
chances of adoption are poor. there are
already willing Barkises' in each Of
the states in the proposed new circuit
There will be fine opportunity. i'm the
event of the establishment To test the
relative strength of the pulls Of Car
ter Wolcott and Warren with the adj
ministration.
ministration. HoSFORD.
A FIGHT IN WYOMING