The age-herald., 1899-08-01
RACE QUESTION
 IN WASHINGTON

(Continued From First Page.) with ourselves. We cannot issue any more Sherman notes or silver certificates unless some one deposits silver dollars in the treasury It has been suggested that the northern banks be able to get silver from the south and deposit 1t for silver certifi- cates or may be able to give gold in ex- change for paper money, which trere is abundance.
 Comptroller of the Currency Dawes says that the national banks can increase the paper currency if they wish. "According to the last statements of the national they could increase their holdings of bonds. to issue, according to the capitalization of their institutions, provide s4OO 100000 more to the circulation of the country, provided When you look at their arrangements for circulation, 1t appears that they have deposit to secure circulation only $207, ,04S,- 699 and $35 5000,OO0 of lawful money. On this they have a circulation amounting to $241. 650O00 which shows that they have circulat- ing notes pretty we'll up to the bonds de- posted. They might have some difficulty culation, but they certainly would have culation. but they certainly would have no no trouble in producing the capital with which to buy the bonds.
 Government for Cuba
 As soon as Secretary Root assumes charge of the war department he will begin to devise ways and means to establish an independent form of government in Cuba. The administration deems 1t more impor- tant to settle the affairs in Cuba before talk  more activity. The Cubans are getting in a very restless state under their enforced submission to military rule and are anxious to try the experiment of self-government. The administration enters upon this work with much hesitancy and with anxiety, but the president thinks that he should carry out the will Of congress in the matter.
 This will be Secretary Roots difficult task and 1t will tax all his powers. To se- cure some sort of stable civil government in Cuba which this country can recognize Is what he will bring all his mind to invent To teach them to hold popular elections is the first step in the direction of free gov ernment.
 Matters in the Philippines will be allowed to continue for some time as they are. Con- trary to many reports which have been sent out. General Otis will be kept supreme in command in the Philippines, as the admin istration has confidence in his ability to handle the situation and to conduct the affairs there to the best interests of this country.
 New Marble Structure
 The old Freemans bank, better known in late years as the department of justice, is hain fnrra dnxyF fo alra marble structure. Those who have visited Washington will remember the old brown stone building opposite the treasury depart ment and the vacant lot next to it. Both have been an eye-sore to Washington for a long time, but congress could never be pre- vailed upon to appropriate money for a new department. It was only during the last congress that 1t was seen if something was not done soon there would result an &C., cident equal and perhaps much worse than that which occurred at the old Ford theater.
 The walls had begun to crack and the heavy furniture and library on the top floor made it dangerous to remain in 1t longer.
 The extent of the danger was not fully realized. Now that 1t is being torn down 1t is seen how disastrous 1t might have been to remain in 1t any longer. The clerks used to amuse themselves by pasting papers over the cracks and betting as to how long 1t would take the paper to be torn apart. The usual methods of tearing down buildings cannot be used on this edifice. The building was faulty in many ways. It has been found that while the side walls were held together by iron rods that there was noth- ing to prevent the outer walls from falling Moreover it is discovered that the mortar has no cement in 1t, and instead of getting harder as this substance usually does with years, 1t was crumbling to dust. There Is no necessity to scrape the bricks for the mortar can be rubbed off with the hand. Work will begin on the new structure in seven weeks.