The National tribune., 1899-11-30
CHAT OF THE CORRIDORS.

tles snow tnstl Ine mem DefSfllp OF the House
is now complete, saving only the vacancy
in the Seventh Kentucky District, caused by
the death of Representative Settle. Tenn
porarilly the Republicans will have a
majority of IA or Is, if Gen. Wheeler, OF
Ala bama, does not pair with Republi-
can, although warrants have been issued
for a special election in the Seventh Dis
trict on Dec. IS. When successor to Mr.
Settle has been chosen, the House will
have 357 members, That may last for
only short time, for MIR. John Walter
Smith, of Maryland, will become Governor
OF that State Jan. /. 1t is very rare that
death or resignation does not leave the menl-
bership one or two short:
| There is some difficulty in classifying
the opposition members who are not Demo
Gratis. There are eight of these: Popu.
llsts-Representatives John C. Bell, of
colorado; Edwin K. Ridgeley, OF Kansas,
and VIM. l.. Stark, Roderick ID. Suther-
land, and VIM. Neville, of Nebraska;
tes-Representatives John +. Shat
roth, OF Colorado; Edgar Wilson, of Idaho;
and Francis G. Newlands, Of Nevada.
| This leaves at present, and counting
Gen. Wheeler, 167 straight Democrats and
1s9 straight Republicans.
The President will ask the incoming
Congress to pass an act retiring Gen.
Shafter with the rank of Major-General
IN the Regular Army. He has already
been retired with the rank of Brigadier-
General, but retained on the volunteer
rolls until Congress can act.
There is now one vacancy in the list of
| Brigadier-Generals of the Regular A rmy,
and another will be created in January by
the statutory retirement of Brig. Gen.
Thomas Nj. Anderson. The existing va
cancy has been left open to enable the
President to advance one or more officers of
the army in recognition of specially meri-
torious services during the Spanish war
and the Filipino instruction. 1t is be-
lieved to be the Presidents intention to
appoint in succession Brig.-Gens. j. F.
Wilson, FItZ-Hugh Lee, and Joe Wheeler
letting each retire to make way for the
other. This will give each life pension
oil S4,125 per annum. Then he will appoint
Gems. Lawton and Macarthur permanent
BrigadierS.
The select foreign circle at the Geological
Park was Increased last week by the birth
OF 62 boa-constrictors, varying in thickness
from an inch TO an inch and a half, and
from 13 to IS inches in length They
showed their good condition by soon at
tacking the mice which yentured in the
house, and crushing and swallowing
them. The mother, splendid, finely
mottled reptile. about 20 feet long, was
present from the Governor of Para, and
was brought here by the Wilmington.
with number of other specimens of the
tropical life on the upper waters of the
Amazon, where She had been exploring.
II is supposed that the Republicans will
at once proceed to reorganize the corps
of Senate employees, and that the first
step will be the displacement OF Richard
j. Bright, of Indiana, son of Senator Jesse
d. Bright who was expelled in 1861 for
frnn I,rt,f r.
Arms for number al years, and rules the
employees magisteriaEy. A prominent can
didate for his place is Capt Governor A.
Custice, OF Coritocook, n. H. He served
through the war in the veteran 9TH n. H..
and Is well-known merchant and manu-
iacturer and man of large executive
ability. He was warmly supported in the
caucus held in February, 1896, receiving
a considerable plurality OF the votes cast
on the first ballot
The President has decided that it will be
Impossible for him to go to Nashville,
Tenn, to greet the Tennessee volunteers
upon their arrival from the phiiippines
Claims have been filed up to date on ac-
count OF damages sustained by American
citizens through the Spanish war TO the
amount OF S25,O0O,000, and the President is
expected to submit a recommendation To
Congress in his message looking to the
creation of a commission to adiudicate
these claims and make provision for the
payment of such as are found legitimate.
Under the treaty of peace we released
Spain from all liability, and bound our
selves to settle these claims.
Capt. Benz. F. Russell, Sergeant-at- |
Arms of the last two Houses, is making |
a fight against being shelved in favor OF
Henry Carson, Of Wisconsin. He has
been an efficient and popular officer. For |
30 years he has been an active party worker
in Missouri, and it is pointed out in his
behalf that although the States Republi-
can representation in Congress has fallen
off materially. Missouri nevertheless cast
100000 Republican votes, more than sew
eral of the Republican strongholds of the
Northwest.
Secretary Long will recommend that
one Of the 13,500-ton armored cruisers be
named Virginia"
Uncle Joe" Cannon, of Illinois, who
.arries under his slouch hat as much of
he management and motive power of the
House as any man i'm it, says that the ap-
will steer middle course
neither be extravagant nor parsimonius
The revenues are coming in satisfactorily.
IN ere is prosperity everywhere the Tagal
'eDeillon Is virtually crushed, peace will be
will be put an gold basis, and Mr. Roberts
Will have a hard row to hoe.
-
The gavel which the State Of Iowa will
present to Gen. ID. b. Henderson, in honor
# his being the first Speaker from west of
he mississippi, will be a gorgeous affair.
The wood came from Admiral Monton's Z,
iagship, "Reina Maria Christina" which
Admiral Dewey sank. In the handle are
o he inlaid 45 gold stars. There will be |
hree solid gold plates on the gavel, one
)earing Mr.. Henderson's monogram, an I
,ther the seal of Iowa, and another the I
zeal of the United States. There are also ,
Ilates bearing the wild rose, Iowa's flower, {
md a row Of ears of corn will run around
he ferrule. Other figures will appear i
llso. All this work is to be engraved on ;
olid gold.
1t is now decided, on account of the
narrow ma jority in the House and on ac.
ount of feeling that the hand of the s
speaker should be strengthened as much {
rs possible, to readopt the Reed rules in /
heir entirety.
There are 122 new men in the House :
70 Republicans and 66 Democrats. If
80
Representative David A. De Almond. of s
dissouri, arrived In the city last week. and c
pened his headquarters for a canvass for t
he leadership Of tile Democrats in the
iouse. He announces himself in favor of | I
n aggressive policy against Expansion, | q
gainst Imperialism, trusts, a large stand g
ng army. the gold standard, and eXtrava- t
ance in public expenditures. He would a
It Cuba and the Philippines go. If