The Holly chieftain., 1899-11-24
FROM WASHINGTON.
GOSSIP OF THE WHITE HOUSE
AND THE DEPARTMENTS.

Dy Iucle Sdu ihst year WIS f-ol --uc,-
025. valued at 500. 151 ,659.T1, net in
crease Of 8.56 per cent. In number and
3.25 per cent. in value. More than
81. 800. .00J worth Of stamped envelopes
were sold during the year.
Admiral and Mrs Dewey returned to
Washington from New York Tuesday
night A Navy Department official met
them and escorted them to the ad-
mirars carriage. in which they were
driven to the home on Rhode Island
avenue presented to the admiral by the
American people.
The annual report of General Buf-
fington, chief Of ordnance, shows that
the expenditures for the year ending
June 30, 1899. for the ordnance bu-
reau amounted TO $23, ,I96, 1856. For the
seacoast defenses the number Of guns
completed were SIS S-inch rifles, 100 10
inch rifles and IS Pinch rifles.
The board OF health of the District Of
Columbia has received a curious appli-
cation from Mrs. Thomas +. Ryan Of
New York, who says that she is about
to erect residence in V street In this
city and desires permission TO construct
in the cellar vault for the burial of
tIlt bStlt> VI Ssil hS Ntii as liza hus~
band and two children. who died some
time ago in Baltimore. The applica-
ton was denied.
Tutuila the Samoan island which
falls to the United States in the recent
arrangement completed between Ger
many and England, subject TO raufica-
ton by the United States government,
becomes a valuable addition to the pos
sessions Of the United States in the Pa
cific. With but small area and popu
lation. which. according to the treasury
bureau of statistics are but fifty-four
square miles and 1900 population. it
possesses the most valuable island har-
Dor in the South Pacific.
Director Merriam of the census. in
his annual report, estimates that there
will be required for the census of 1900
more than $1,000 enumerators, over
$500 clerks and over 2.O00 special
agents. on November 10th the entire
office numbered 1S2, mostly women
employed as skilled labOrers in the pre-
liminary work. 1t is recommended that
the permanent office of purchase agent
be created, and that two additional
chiefs of division and nineteen addi-
tional clerks be authorized.
The secretary of the treasury on the
18th made the announcement of his
readiness to buy S25,00O.0O0 of per
cent. United States bonds of 1904, and
As of 1907, at the price at which they
We're offered on the New York stock
market. These figures are net and
holders offours willreceive the accumu-
lated interest since October 1st, and
holders of the fives will receive interest
from NoTc;aber 1st. AT these prices
the bonds would realize TO the investor
.0224 per cent for the fives and .O21S
for the fours.
The annual report of the third as
sistant postmaster general contains
strong testimony in favor of the hon.
esty and efficiency of the postal serv-
ice. During the last fiscal year the
postmasters of the United States and
their assistants handled S196,653,544,
of which 05,021 ,3S4 was receipts from
the sale of stamps, boxes, money or
ders. etc. and the balance was dis
bursed for various expenses. OF that
enormous sum the entire loss to the
government by burglary. fire, bad
debts, embezzlement and all other
forms of carelessness and dishonesty
was only S19.35S.
The President is making efforts to Sc
cure the protection of Spanish prison
ers with the insurgents in the Philip
pines. A cable message has been sent
to General Otis and by him forwarded
TO General Macarthur with instruc-
tions to get it to Aguinaldo if possible,
relating to this subject. The President
requests the kindly and humane treat
ment of the Spanish prisoners and the
message also contains an intimation
that any of the insurgents responsible
for the ill-treatment of such prisoners
will be held to strict account when
they are taken by the United States
forces operating in the islands.
1t is source of qualification to
know that Uncle Sam has S3S6. 2S3, 979
in gold in his strong box, with some
think like $3.50. .09S,S59 available cash
over and above all his outstanding OBJ
legations, and therefore may be con-
sidered what the Yankees call fore
handed" In fact, Uncle Sam is the
richest man in the world. There is no
other government-and there never has
been one-with resources so abundant
and available, and the receipts of the
treasury are unprecedented. During
the current fiscal year thus far they
have been S4,96S,107 in excess of the
expenditures, Notwithstanding the
enormous cost Of the Philippine war.
A correspondent says: Denver is
making the most active campaign for
the Republican convention and Kan
sas City for the Democratic convention.
The two cities appear to have formed
an alliance to help each other and are
working together with considerable
energy. Senator Wolcott is directing
the campaign and has already secured
n number of pledges from members of