Gilpin observer., 1899-11-30
FROM WASHINGTON,
GOSSIP OF THE WHITE HOUSE
AND THE. COMPARTMENTS.

iHeut fourteen senators nave peeh -
ing vice president by reason of the
death of the duly elected vice president
or his accession to the presidency.
Mr.. Depew has rented the famous
Corcoran mansion at Washington for
six years, his entire senatorial term
and pays 'S5O.O0O for that period. Sen
ator Brice paid $4,000 year upon an
nual leases. Mr.. Depew saves Slo,ooo
by a wholesale transaction.
Certificates of merit for service DUR
ing the Spanish-American war have
been awarded by the war department
to II large number of privates, among
them being three Colorado men: Ser
geant H. l. Clotworthy of Denver, Fri
vate l.. l. Bigelow of Leadville, ana
Private Sam Hickman also of Lead
Vile
a statement issued by the War De
partment shows that the total receipts
from all sources in the island of Cuba
during the month of October were
| 81 .423. .650.11. The total receipts of
the island from all sources during the
last ten months We're SD. los .665.3O;
the average per month being $l.2lO,-
SG6j3.
| 1t is well understood here that real
agreement of some kind has been ar
ranged between Germany England
and America. Nothing official can. be
learned upon the matter, but no denial
is made by those in touch with the ad-
ministration. The threatening note
sent by Mckinley to Kruger is regard
ed as pointing Enthusiastically toward
| the existence of an alliance.
Postmaster General Charles Emory
Smith in Il general order to-day for
mally declared all mail matter passing
between the United States and Puerto
Rico, the Philippine archipelago and
Guam subject to the United States
domestic classification, conditions
and rates of postage. The same system
applies to all mail matter sent by or
addressed to persons in the United
States military. naval or civil service
in Cuba or Hawaii.
Dewcys characteristically frank
statement regarding the transfer of the
gift house had the effect, almost in
simultaneously, of hushing adverse
criticism which had assailed him. In
stead. telegrams began pouring in upon
him from all parts of the country con-
tanning messages of sympathy and con-
graduating him on taking the public
into his confidence as to the motives
which dictated the transfer. The ad
miral is pleased at the turn of events,
and hopes the incident is now closed.
A correspondent says: If Admiral
Dewey had taken the public into his
confidence; if he had consulted the
committee that raised the money and
bought the house: if he had been as
frank and free in discussing the dispo-
sition of his own and his wife's prop
erty as he was i'll describing the details
of his courtship and marriage. he
might have saved his halo. for he can
never make the people believe that the
transfer to his son was not an after
thought. The popular verdict is
against him. The people are as jealous
collectively as individually.
Contracts for the six new 3.5OO-ton
cruisers We're awarded today at the
navy department in accordance with
the recommenda tions of the board of
construction. one to each of the follow
ing firms: William II. Trigg of Rich
mond. Lewis Nixon of EliZabethport,
New Jersey. the Bath Iron Works of
Bath, Maine. the Union Iron Works of
San Francisco. California. the Fore
River Engine Company of Braintree
Massachusetts. and Neafe Il Levy of
Philadelphia. The latter are to build
the cruiser Denver.
The Chinese minister was Il visitor at
the state departme 1t. and it is surInised
attributable to the recent European ca
Diagrams which have disturbed him by
their free expression of purpose to
regulate the affairs of his country on
the part of Europe and America. The
answers of the European governments
to our request touching the "open door"
have not yet been received. so that the
President will be Obliged to make this
matter the subject of n special message
TO congress and to treat II in the most
general manner in his regular message.
Claims have been filed up to date on
account of damages sustained by
American citizens through the Spanish
war to the amount of $25,0OO.O 600. and
the President is expected to submit n
recommendation to Congress in his
message looking to the creation of a
commission to adjudicate these claims
and make provision for the payment of
such as are found to be legitimate. The
treaty of peace excuses Spain from
paying indemnities upon claims that
have arisen since the beginning of the
recent insurrection in Cuba. and re-
quires this government to adjudicate
and settle such of these demands of its
own citizens against Spain as are rclin-
quished in the treaty.
1t is understood that Secretary of
War Root in his annual report and the
President in his message 10 Congress
will recommend that the island of Cuba
be divided into two departments for
the administration of government. If
the suggestion Is carried into effect
General Leonard Wood will become
governor general of the eastern pro.
vince. with Headquarters mt Santiago.
and General Ludlow governor of the
western province. with headquarters
at Havana. Secretary Root who has
given the matter careful consideration.
has reached the conclusion that the re.
construction of the island can be best
accomplished by dividing II into two