The silver star., 1898-12-29
NEWS FROM THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
NEWS

trip.
Congress adjourned for the holiday
session on the 2lst. 1t will meet again
on January 4th.
Richard LIE Bert of Denver has been
appointed consul to Ghent, Belgium.
He has been surveyor general OF Coio-
rado.
General Miles. in interviews. contin-
ues to make overt charges of fraud III
the furnishing of meat supplies for the
army.
Ex-Queen Lilioukalani of Hawaii has
4 filed with the Senate claim 10 the
crown lands of Hawaii, amounting 10
I 100000 acres.
Recent interviews with leading SEN
I ators show disposition to oppose the
| suggestion that England and the TINT.
| ed States build the Nicaragua canal
I jointly.
! Last Monday George Dewey Went TO
/ the head of the list of the admirals OF
\ the United States navy. Admiral
4 Bunce. who ranked him, was retired
| on that day.
Representative Rixey Of virginia mas
| introduced a bill for the admission oi
| Confederate as well as Union soldiers
10 all soldiers homes and government
/ institutions maintained by the govern
ment.
Senator Teller and Colonel William
7 J. Bryan had long conference at ,he
( capitol Monday afternoon. Chairman
Jones of the Democratic national com
mittee also enjoyed an extended Visit
! with him.
General Wheeler is coming 30 Wash
1 ington 10 work among his Democratic
associates of the House in support oil
the expansion policy of the administra,,
ton He thinks that at least one-hall
| of the minority will 90 with him.
/ Mr.. Corlss of Michigan has intro
I duced bill to facilitate the consruc
ton and maintenance of telegraph ca
/ bles in the Pacific Ocean between the
/ United States and Hawaii Philippine
| Islands, Japan and other countries.
The bill to extend the customs ana
revenue laws of the United States over
the Hawaiian islands has passed the
! House without opposition. The Dill
carries with it the civil service laws
relating 10 appointments in the Gus
toms and revenue service in Hawai-.
Secretary Hay was obliged to leave
l the State Department at noon Tues
day by an attack of Ia grippe which
he had been fighting off for some days.
| The disease is undoubtedly epidemic
in the department. As number OF
other officials are similarly afflicted.
Mr.. Shafroth to-day introduced bill
/ which was referred 10 the ways and
means committee. to amend the war
revenue law so that when power of at
torney 10 sell stock Is endorsed on the
back no stamp will be required. The
bill has been recommended by the
Denver Mining Exchange.
1t is accepted as little short of certain
in the best informed official and diplo-
| matte circles that negotiations will be
opened at an early day toward SO modi-
flying the Clayton-Bulwer treaty as to
meet the conditions of the present day
concerning American construction and
control of the Nicaraguan canal.
Several Western senators, including
Wolcott of Colorado and Spooner of
Wisconsin. have urged Secretary Bliss
90 remain in the Cabinet, but the sec
retary replied that he would not recon
slider his determination, and that the
| President would determine upon his
successor very soon. as he hoped to re-
tire on January LIST.
General weyler. finding himself
hopelessly unpopular with the Repub-
licans and beyond redemption in the
minds of honest folk generally, has de-
cided 10 go over 10 the monarchy. He
has made declaration to the effect
that he and Romero Robledo will en-
ter the Liberal party and will have
portfolios I'm the new Sagasta ministry.
The secretary OF the treasury has is.
sued n circular letter Of instruction 10
collectors Of customs, assessing coun-
teryailing duties on sugars imported
from or the product OF countries paying
export bounties thereon. This action
IS taken under section , of the act OF
1897. which fixes n discriminating duty
In such cases equal to the amount ot
the bounty paid.
In the Senate last Monday Senator
Plat Of Connecticut made an extended
argument against the Vest resolution
He said that the power of nation tt
acquire territory was as inherent M
its sovereignty. The United States hat
the right 10 govern such territory II
the best possible manner until the peo
pie Of the acquired lands We're capabl,
OF self-government.
WI Nl-llfu
of Representatives Friday. and wa,
given most cordial reception by his
former colleagues In Congress. Earlier
in the day Representative Bailey OF
Texas. the Democratic floor leader
brcakfasted with Mr.. Bryan at the lat
ters room, and 1t Is understood. dis
cussed in general way questions oi
public and party policy.
The House last Thursday surpassed
all previous records In the expedition
with which II passed the pension ap
preparation bill. This bill in days gon,
by has been one Of the most fruitful
themes OF acrimonious partisan de
bate but this one. although carryin,
100000 more than the act for the
current ycnr. was passed In twenty
minutes without word OF criticism.
An order concerning the constint
trade OF Cuba issued by the War DE
partment Is a temporary solution Of
the problem arising from the anomalou
situation OF Cuba. This order provide