Gilpin observer., 1899-12-28
FROM WASHINGTON.
GOSSIP OF, THE WHITE HOUSE
AND THE DEPARTMENTS.

We're making out n commission for
General Lawton as brigadier general
| in the regular army when the news
of his death was received
a number of prominent army officers
| have undertaken to pay off Il mort
gage upon the home of General Law
ton in California. 1t is the only prop
erty left by the general.
The urgeHt deficiency appropriation
bill. the first of the important supply
bills for the government expenses, is
practically made up. and the total Will
amount to about S71, 100000.
Mrs. McIiinley's health is SO poor
this winter that the hospitality of the
White House will have to be limited to
official functions and the entertainment
of the members of her family and
friends
Senator Fairbanks has introduced Il
bill granting pension of 81. 600 year
to the widow of General Lawton.
Representative Landis of Indianapolis
has introduced Il similar bill in the
House. Mr.. Lands represents the
district from which Lawton's first
regiment was recruited.
In accordance with the recommended
tion of the secretary of the interior. In
dian Commissioner Jones has deter
mined TO stop the employment of In
dians in Wild West shows. He has
written several letters recently to
would-be contractors for Indians. in
which he has clearly stated the posi-
tion of the bureau.
Adiutant General Corbin'S list of sub
scriptions to the Lawton home fund
aggregated $4,000 at noon on Tues
day. The committee announces that
the subscription lists will be kept opeE
until January 9th next, when the
money will he banked and placed To-
Mrs. Lawton's credit. The amount
now in the hands of General Corbiu
probably is less than half of that act
ually subscribed. many subscriptions
not yet having reached him.
The government has finally adopted
puerto Rico" as the official spelling
of the name of that island. and here
after all official documents will ad
here to that form. The board on geo
graphic names decided in favor of this
some years ago. but the usage has not
been uniform. The board requested
from President Mckinley an express
sion of his views and in making the
decision he says the name should be
Puerto Rico in accordance with the
custom of the people of the island.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. in an opinion prepared by Com
missioner PrOuty in the matter of ap-
plications of carriers for extension of
time beyond January 1. 1900. within
which to comply with the requirements
of the safety appliance law in using
automatic couplers and power or train
brakes on freight cars. has extended
the time TO August 1. 1900. 1t was ad-
way employees that some additional
time should be granted. and the COM
mission upon full consideration, ar
rived ut the conclusion that an eXten-
sion of seven months would be proper.
The other day somebody went out to
st. Paufs Catholic church, unscrewed
n silver plate that bore the name "Ha-
zen from the arm of one of the pews
and substituted another little plate
which was inscribed with the name
dewey" This created Il good deal of
talk. and people inferred that Admiral
Dewey was going to follow his wife
into the Catholic church, but yesterday
he rented for another year the pew in
st. Johns Episcopal church he has oc-
cupied whenever he has been II resi-
dent of Washington, and of which he
used to be II vestryman. and was re
elected to the board of trustees in
charge of the Episcopal missions in the
city.
Liliuokalani, cy-queen of the Ha-
waiian islands. still lives in n modest
house in Fifteenth street in Washing
ton. but expects to return to her native
country very soon. She has made no
attempt to break into society. She
never entertains. and accepts the hos
pitality of few intimate friends only
She is suffering from a cancerous
growth in her throat and has been
living in Washington for the purpose
of obtaining treatment from special
list instead of for political reasons. She
expects to return to Honolulu in Feb
rrlary and make her permanent home
among her own people. She has be-
come reconciled to the loss of her
crown.
President Kruger's government has
formally protested to Secretary Hay
against the sale of munitions of war
by American manufacturers and mer-
chants to the British government. This
protest was designed to prevent the
British government from obtaining
much needed war supplies. but II has
proved of no avail. 1t Is said Sccre-
tary Hay has sent II reply to the Bocr
government rcitcrating the neutrality
of the United States in the present war
ana declaring that American citizens
In trading with both belligerents vio-
late no neutrality obligation. II Is also
said that the authorities have informa-
ton showing that the Boer government
has purchased supplies in the United
States.
They are still fighting the war with
| Spain N the Metropolitan club of this
city. Senor Gonzales Quesada. who
was AT the head of the Cuban Junta
| here prior to the war and Is now en-
ployed in the bureau In charge OF Gu
ban affairs at the War Department
was proposed ms II member by Sccrc-
| tary Hay ana seconded by VIM. W.
| Enn, hll nN.nnSlslnnI Snnrnlnlu nf