The silver star., 1898-12-22
NEWS FROM THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.

sa,ote of the next Congress. Mr. 81
n,on the new senator from Oregon,
was sworn in on Monday. Mr.. Julius
Kahn OF San Francisco was elected to
tho scat now occupied by Representa-
tive Mcguire, making gain OF 11,OOO
votes for the Republican party. Mr.
Kahn Is a lawyer Of conspicuous abil.
ity and promises to be an innuentiai
man In the House.
Goyernor-elect Thomas was the re-
cipient of handsome compliment
from the Senate last Tuesday. Under
the rules of the body, governors OF
states are entitled to admission to the
floor, but the privilege does not extend
to governors. elect. This afternoon Sen
ator Hoar, in Il few gracious words
moved that the vice president be au
thorized to extend the privileges Of the
floor to Governor-elect Thomas during
his stay in the city, and the resolution
was carried.
The War Department has ordered
the following regiments to Manila: Ths
Twentieth, at Fort Leavenworth, Kan;
the Third, mt Fort Smelling, Minn.; the
Twelfth. mt Jefferson barracks, Nilsson.
ri. and Fort Riley, Kan: the Seven
tecnth. at Columbus barracks, Ohio;
the Fourth. at Fort Sheridan, and the
Twenty-second. at Fort Crook, Neb.
They will go forward to Manila as soon
as transportation can be provided. II
may be that the two regiments still
held in reserve. the Twenty-fourth and
the Twenty-fifth infantry, Will join the
others before they sail
Representative Mcclellan of New
York has introduced in the House a
bill for the reorganization Of the
army. 1t was drawn after consulta-
ton with many army officers, and Is
supposed to represent the ideas of the
younger element of the army. 1t makes
some very radical changes in the stan
and has some novel features. 1t con-
solidates the adjutant generals depart
ment in the general staff, absorbs the
ordnance department into the artillery
corps, and abolishes the signal corps.
transferring the duties Of that corps to
the engineer corps and the officers to
the infantry.
Regarding the Nicaragua canal bill,
correspondent writes: "The President
does not insist upon the Morgan bill,
but is extremely anxious to secure
some legislation during the present ses-
sion which will allow work to be COM
menced Immediately before the con-
tract of the Maritime company expires.
The chief objection to the Morgan bill
is based upon the provision that allows
that company the sum of $5.OOO,OOO rs
indemnity for the money 1t has already
expended. That amount is believed by
many people to be excessive and there
is n natural objection TO paying for a
lot of dead horses.
Delegate-elect Perea of New Mexico,
and ex-Delegate CatrOn are here work
ing to secure the passage Of an admis-
sion bill at this session. They VIII be
Joined later on by Governor Otero, who
will labor to the same end. They are
making the argument among Republi-
can leaders that New Mexico, II now
admitted, will surely send two Repub-
lican senators and thus reinforce the
party in the new Senate. Delegate
Ferguson is cooperating with them,
at their request. While he does not
believe there is any hope that a Re-
publican Congress will admit New
Mexico. he promises the solid Demo-
cratic vote for such n measure, as 1t
has been cast many times before.
What may be termed the federal or
insular government Of Cuba will he
conducted under the immediate super
vision OF experienced officials sent from
the United States. They will manage
the customs houses. the internal reve-
nue. service. the treasury, the post
office. and will be placed In other pO.
sitions of trust and responsibility until
the residents of the island have demon.
strated their honesty and ability. Large
numbers of men are leaving here daily
for Cuba and Porto Rico to undertake
this work, and they are all men Of
experience. After few weeks trial
In Porto Rico the President has decided
that green hands cannot be trusted to
organize government down there, and
that 1t is n great deal better to select
| tried and competent employees from the
various branches Of the government In
this country and fill their places here
with new men.
The annual report Of General Du.
mont, supervising inspector Of steam.
boats, shows that GJ0,0OO.O 900 passen.
gers were carried on the water by
| steamboats, and steamships sailing I'm.
der the United Statcs flag during the
last fiscal year. Those carried on sail
Ing vessels are not included. or this
number only eiglty-fOur lost their livet
from all causes. which IL an average
OF about one In 7.73S,0OO. The number
of officers and sailors Of steam vesseis
lost during the year was 100, which
makes n total Of 2S3. or exactly 1O(
more than the casualties In 1897. Or
the great lakes thirty-nIne were lost, or
all the rivers cighty-sevcn nnt
on the ocean 157. Comparing
this with the reports OF thu
Incident insurance companies 4
seems much safer TO go to sen than Il
stny on land or even sit mt home or II
your Office. Last yenr the Travellers
Insurance Company paid indemnity Il
1,O23 persons for injuries received Il
their residences or In their Offices.
II IL not intended by the President I,