The state herald., 1898-12-23
NEWS FROM THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.

nny other man to reconcile the ins,lr-
gents to the plans of the administra-
ton.
Senator Mason has introduced in the
Senate d resolution directing the COM
mittee on agriculture TO inquire into
certain legislation pending before the
German Reichstag calculated to pro-
hibit the importation into Germany Of
American sausage and other meat prod
ucts. and directing the committee;
should the legislation become law, to
report Immediately II bill to require the
inspection of sugars, meat, wines and
other food products which are import
ed into this country from Germany.
In the House similar bill has been
reported from the committee bn agri-
culture.
The secretary of the interior has ,le-
of what is known as the Las Vegas
grant in New Mexico, involving some
thousands of acres of land on which Is
located the town of Las Vegas. The
case has been before the department
In one shape or another since Secre-
tary Noble ordered II resurvey Of the
grant In 1891 Then the contest re-
vcfted on the question as TO WHOM lie
patient should issue. The secretary. in
his decision to-day. says that the pat
cnt for the grant shall issue to lie
town of Las Vegas" and all other tle-
csions OF the department Regarding
this grant are revoked and set dsidc.
1t Is very probable that Secretary
Bliss will tender his resignation V&hin
a short time TO the President. Helms
had the step under consideration for
some time. decming 1t necessary that
he should be free to devote more time
to his large business interests. The
resignation, 1t can be stated. will not
he due in the least to any differences
with the President or his other advis-
ors, but to Mr.. Bliss reluctance for
purely private personal reasons to con-
tinuc longer In office as secretary Of
the interior. II IL presumed official an
nouncemcnt will not be made until the
President has chosen Mr.. Bliss sue
cessor, II is said the President is con-
tcmplnting giving this appointment to
the western section of the country.
President Mckinley has signed an
'Nf'lllNt
tariff for the island of Cuba. to 90 into
effect January LIST next This tariff Is
based upon the report and recommends
tions made by Robert +. Porter, special
commissioner of the United States.
who was sent to Cuba some months ago
for the special purpose of making an
investigation of the subjects OF reve-
nue. and customs of the island. Com.
mcnting upon the schedules. Mr.. rOr.
tor says that he has been guided by the
desire. aside from providing sufficient
revenue for the island to abolish the
eNorbitant rates maintained by Spain
and the encouragement of local indus.
tries. The new tariff il about two.
thirds that IN force under Spanish rule.
The vice president says he is n di.
rect gamer financially by the late war.
and the reason he gives is decidedly n
novel one. From his coming to Wash.
ington up to the outbreak OF the war
0n average Of 100 babies month were
named after him. or NJ least their fond
parents so Informed him by letter.
Other rich officials and senators have
been through the same experience. and
as a rule. rather enjoyed sharing their
names and bestowing small checks un-
I'll the aggregate sum of the latter
obliged them 10 halt. In this partlcu-
lar direction his value has fallen on
considerably. for the youngsters nova
days whose parents want to start
them of under the halo of somebody
clsc's name are christencd Dewey.
Schlcy. Roosevelt. IIobson and all the
rest Of the recent heroes OF land and
SEA.
What may be termed the federal or
lnsular government Of Cuba will he
conducted under the immediate super
vision of experienced officials sent from
the United States. They VIII manage
the customs houses, the internal rcve.
nue service. the treasury. the post
office. and Will lie placed In other 20.
sitions Of trust and responsibility until
the residents Of the island have demon.
sirntcd 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 d few weeks trial
IN Porto Rico the President has decided
that green hands cannot be trusted To
organize government down there. aud
that Il Is n great deal better to select
tried and competent employees from the
various branches OF the government In
this country and Ill their places here
with new men.
The annual report of General Du.
mont supervising inspector OF steam.
boats. shows that G,O,OOu.DDO passrn.
gers We're carried on the water by
steamboats, and steamships sailing un,
der the United States flag during the
last fiscal year. Those carried on sail,
Ing vessels are not included. Of this
number only elghty.four lost their lives
from all causes. which Is nm average
of about one In I.I3s.Ooo. The number
of officers and sailors Of steam vessels
lost during the year was 100. which
makes n total Of 2s3. ar exactly lOp
more Than the casualties In 1897. On
the great lakes thirty were lost. on
all the iivers cighty-spvcn aud
III the ocean l5I. Comparing
this with the reports NJ The
accident Insurance companies IL
seems much safer To gu 10 sea ihnn lo
stay on land or even VT ai home or In
ycur office Last year the Travellers
'hNNi"h'' 'ihl'hhN lNlb llutilHllA 10
LOEB persons for injuries received IN
their residences or In their oiiiccs.
Governor oi"ro has arrived here To
aid cx-n"lcgni" r"rrn nDd ex.Dci.gnIc
cnlron To push NJ" New Mexico nd.
mission bills. These have been lnlru.
duc"d In bath houses. In The Scnnio
III" I'LL i fnihcf"d 10y senator Elkns
nnd IN the House hy ronurpssunu
Brod"rirk. In n Post Interview III.
governor loudly proclnimr the ale.
glnnc" Of New Mexico Republicans io
the gold standard. II. snyr: Free III.
v"r sentiment In New Mexico Is nenrly
u not pult" ns d"funci ns u last years
birds nest. The Republicans won this
year 10y taking the square nnd manly
coiir-" of lniorslng the 81 Louis plni.
form. In lS'1 we hedgrd nnd trimmed
oh silver against my Judgment nnh