The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-13
Senator Fairbanks Booked for the
Chairmanship Of the NewIy-Crea-
ted Committee on Porto Rico.
BYNUM'S ENEMIES AT WORK
SEVERAL SENATORS OPPOSED To
HIS CONFIRMATION.
Proposed Amendments to Interstate
Commerce Act-Porto Rico's Needs
Discussed by the Cabinet.
sc,., % the ,na,ansno,,- Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. l2.-Gold standard
legislation will come sooner than it's friends
Anticipated. Debate in the House will con-
tinue a week and before the holiday re-
cess the caucus bill will have reached the
Senate. Senator Allison says the filling OF
vacancies on committees is progressing so
satisfactorily that they may be announced
in q few days. This means that the finance
committee, reconstructed with gold stand
ard majority. will soon be in trim for
prompt consideration. The policy of the
Democrats has been in doubt until to-day.
1t was thought they might consume months
in prosy speeches for the purpose OF delay.
but Democratic senators will not obstruct
orderly legislation. They are in favor OF
letting Republicans have their way In the
knowledge that factional opposition is use
less. Senator Cockrell says the minority
has no intention Of resorting TO dilatory
methods. The Democrats will confine them
selves to an explicit assertion Of their po-
sition for silver and against gold. After
that no obstacle will be thrown in the way
of the majority. AS soon as all those who
wish to speak have finished a vote Will
be agreed TO.
Enough progress has been made In the
last few days on Senate committee assign
ments to pretty definitely predict that the
large Republican majority in the upper
branch of Congress will be taken care OF
satisfactorily. Three new committees IN
the Senate have been agreed on. answering
to one new committee in the House. that
of insular affairs and they will be named
the committee on the Philippines, OF which
Mr.. Lodge is to be chairman, and the COM
mittee on Cuba, Mr.. Platt, OF Connecticut.
chairman, and the committee on Porto
Rico, with Mr.. Fairbanks in charge. On
this change about Senator Thurston, IL is
believed. will either go to the head Of the
committee on Indian affairs or patents. both
of which are decided advances over his
present committee.
Attorney General Griggs has made rul-
ing holding that the adjustment Of free de-
livery through the reduction Of gross re-
ceipts below the minimum required by law
to entitle a town to free delivery is COM
pulsory and not optional with the post
master general. Letter carriers thrown out
by abolishing free delivery are not, under
the civii-service rules, entitled to reinstate-
ment on restoration of free delivery. The
Civil-service Commission has heretofore
| held that a free delivery office once classi-
fled is always classified. and carriers should
therefore be reinstated re-establishing
the service.
The government Of Great Britain has des-
ignated F. King, the government astron-
omer at Ottawa, as the representative OF
her Majestys government in the delimita-
ton of the provisional boundary line be-
tween Alaska and Canada about the head
of Lynn canal under the terms OF the mo-
dus videndi of Oct. - last, and the gov
ernment of the United States has desig-
mated o. III. Tittman, assistant superin-
tendent of the coast and geodetic survey.
to act in a similar capacity for the gov
ernment of the United States.
The President to-day nominated John J.
| Sullivan. of Ohio. TO be United States at
torney for the Northern district OF Ohio.
and Joseph a. Gill, of Kansas. judge of the
United States Court OF the Northern dis
trict OF the Indian Territory. He also sent
| to the Senate a long list Of army recess ap-
pointments.
The Senate, in executive session to-day.
confirmed the nomination OF Leonard Wood
to be major general Of volunteers.
Patents were issued TO Indianians to-day
as follows: William T. Addison and G.
Wright, New Castle fire escape; John A
L. Anderson, indianapolis, freezer; Brutus
A. Bourie. Fort Wayne. percoIator for tee
and coffee pots; William Butler. Redkey.
mold for glassware: John Z Donaldson.
Montezuma, tile; Hannibal Felt, Hagers-
town. churn: Joseph f. Gent. Indianapolis.
seal press; Joshua a. Hanley and w. J.
Evans. Brazil. pistol: Charles c. King.
Montpelier. animal trap: EugenefO. Koontz
and j. II. Shank. South Bend fastener for
Shoes gloves. etc; George III. Laub. Inde-
pendence, pump; David Myers. Columbia
City. vehicle axle oiler: William II. Newly.
indianapolis, pneumatic straw stacker;
William Ii. Nichols. Two Lake Hin. coup
ling: Herman Priez and J. W. Meyer
Michigan City, car door fastener; John j.
Thomas. Swayzee. window shade curtain
hanger; Paul II. White. indianapolis.
switch for electrical-propelled vehicles;
Henry NJ. Williams. Fort Wayne. rail- and
railway curve; James J. Wood. Fort
Wayne. electric arc lamp.
The condition of Lieutenant Brumby.
who is i'll with typhoid fever. was slightly
improved tonight
To-days statement OF the condition OF
the treasury shows: Available cash bal
ance. $2s7. .2oi. .652: gold reserve So. .0s0 sss
President Mckinley to-day decided 10 ap-
point Frank ]. Thompson. secretary OF the
Lafayette Memorial Commission. a CON-
missioner to present TO President Loubet.
OF France. the first souvenir coin struck
IN accordance with the recent act OF can