Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-12-02
THE WORLD AT LARGE.
Summary Of the Daily News,
WASHINGTON NOTES.

WASHINGTON NOTES.
A WASHINGTON special to the Chicago
Post on the Esd said that the president
had completed his message and it was
in type with the plate locked up at the
government printing office and proofs
locked up at the white house. The
message con tains about 10000 words,
which is above the average. being. in
fact, fully twice as long as usual.
CAPT. CRowNINsHIELD, chief of the
bureau of navigation, has made a re-
port to the secretary of the navy of
the work of his department. He says
the experience of the recent war has
demonstrated the Importance to the
nation OF sea power. High praise is
given to the ability of the gunners on
our ships. An increase of the naval
force to 90. 600 men and 1000 appren-
tices is recommended and a system of
rewards by medals of honor, instead
of promotion to the detriment of others,
is favored.
SECRETARY BLISS, of the interior de-
partment, made public on the Path
his annual report reviewing in detail
pension, Indian land, patent, educa-
tional and territorial affairs. The In
dams are declared to have made sub
stantial progress during the past year.
The workings of the Curtis act in the
Indian territory are praised. The Sec
rotary reports 637, 900 pension claims
pending and recommends a commission
to revise pension laws. Early legisla-
tive enactment for taking the twelfth
census is urged.
The first assistant postmaster gem
= to ~
ness of the department shows an in
crease of Sc, 600, 600 during the fiscal
year. There were %. 79s, O7S domestic
money orders issued for the year,
amounting to SOL, 354, 121. Mr.. Heath
recommends that post office clerks be
classified and placed upon a fixed scale
of salaries; that small post Offices be
consolidated; that clerk hire appro-
priation be made to apply to third
class post offices; that another form of
money order be issued, and that $780,
900 be set aside for extending rural
free delivery.
WASHINGTON dispatch stated tina
Ia of the principal peanut concerns in
the country have agreed to a combine
or consolidation. There are about 20
cleaning houses for peanuts. These
handle a crop which is valued at about
5000. 900 a year. They. represent an
investment of So, 900, 900. It is through
the combination Of the cleaning houses
that the attempt will be made to
handle the crop hereafter, maintain
prices and prevent ruinous compe til
ton.
The annual report of the secretary
of the navy was made public on the
25th. It says that our navy is unex-
celled, tells the story of Dewey's9 VIC
tory at Manila and the blockade of
Santiago de Cuba, awards high praise
to the marines and makes many rec
concentrations for bettering the serv-
ice.
THE postmaster general makes an
interesting report on his department
in establishing post offices in our new
territorial acquisitions and calls at
tention to the amazing growth of the
postal business in all it's branches.
SENATOR CoCKRELL does not look for
any sweeping legislation in congress
this winter. He does not think that
any special financial or tariff ,legisla-
tion will be attempted. The senator
from Missouri thinks we ought to as
sist the Filipinos to establish a repu b.
lie and help them to maintain It.
NAVAL officials at Washington dis
cussed seriously the reported combina-
tion among American shipbuilders to
divide the construction of vessels for
the navy which congress is expected
to authorize in order to secure large
profits. A tentative pool was said to
have been formed by the shipbuilders
to pool bids
ADvICEs were received by President
Mckinley on the 27th from Judge Day,
president of the American peace COM
mission at Paris, stating positively
that the Spanish commissioners would
accept the United States terms of
peace and that a treaty would be
signed in few days.