The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-12-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
iProm onr regular certespondent.l

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.--Few Of the
old-stagers who attended the open
ing session OF either the House or
Senate---there are many persons in
Washington who could not be paid
to miss an opening day ofCongress--
regretted that the Presidents mes
sage was not sent in, for it is wear
isome task at the best to sit through
the sing-song reading Of message
by the reading clerks, which few
ever perform to the extent Of follow
ing intelligently all the way through
lit is so much more convenient to
read II in the newspapers-and the
message to be read tomorrow, in both
House and Senate, is unusually long
more that 10000 words-and al
though it is very important docu-
ment, will contain little that has not
been outlined through the Presidents
speeches and the remarks of his ad-
visers in and out Of the Cabinet, by
the ever-vigilant newspapers Of the
country.
With the exception of the skirm
ish in the House, which for a time
threatened to become a pitched po-
litical battle, over referring the case
of Roberts to a Committee before al
lowing him to be sworn in, there was
nothing exciting in the opening SEES
sion of either branch of Congress.
The session of the Senate, which had
no organization to perfect, was very
short, adjournment followed the an
nouncement Of Vicc-President Ho-
bart's death. The House, after
electing Speaker Henderson, and the
officers of the last House, with the
exception of Mr.. Henry Casson, of
Wise, who was elected Sergeant-at-
Arms, in place of Mr.. B. f. Russell,
of Mo-, who held that office in the
last Congress, and swearing in its
members, also adjourned after the an
nouncement of NJ. Hobart's death.
Representative Richardson, of Tenn,
received the minority nomination for
the Speakership.
Senators Gallinger and Hans
brough, sitting as subcommittee of
the Committee on Pensions, under
the resolution adopted by the Senate
at the last session of Congress, d.
recting an investigation and report
on the advisability of revision of
the Pension laws, have heard Secre-
tary Hitchcock, and Assistant Secre-
tary Davis, of the Interior Depart
ment. and Commissioner Evans and
Assistant Commissioner Davenport
of the Pension Bureau, and the views
Of the Commander-in Chief of the G.
A. X. are to be submitted in writing.
The officials named were unanimous
in saying that the pension laws ought
to be thoroughly revised by a nom
partisan commission.
The eminent legal counsel retained
by the League for Social Service,
with which Miss Helen Gould is con-
nected-she is also said to be furn-
ishing most Of the money used to pay
its billS-found when they arrived in
Washington, that arrangements had
already been made by members of the
House, which would make their fight
to keep Roberts, of Utah, out of the
seat in the House to which he had
been elected, an easy one. The al
most unanimous sentiment of the
women of the country against allow
ing polygamist to sit in the House
had done its work, and the able
lawyers of the House had dug up all
the law and precedents needed to
handle the case. Mr. Roberts will
never actually become a member of |
the House, although he has been
drawing salary and allowances, as
such, since last March. His case is
now in the hands of committee, and |
the verdict of that committee is
foregone cOnclusion-Roberts will be
declared ineligible to membership in
the House.
Hon. Webster F. Davis, Assistant
Secretary of the Interior left Wash
lngton today, oStensibly to visit his
friend, j. G. Stowe. U. s. Consul at
Cape town, South Africa. but in
reality upon what may turn out to be
very important diplomatic mission.
The State Department has not
been at all satisfied since the war
over there began, with its represen-
.atives in South Africa, the highest
If which is a Consul General, and
Mr.. Davis is said to carry in his in
tide pocket, credentials which will, if
necessary, make him our diplomatic
representative over there. Whether
hose: Credentials are used being lett
entirely to his discretion.