The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-03-10
THE CENSUS S
OF 1900
Preparations Making for Num-
bering the People.
Italy Seizes Slice of China-Over
$I2,OOO.OOO for Public Buildings
-congressmen as Volunteers
The President Going to Georgia.

-Con9ressmen as Volunteers
The President Going to Georgia.
WASHINGTON, March 9-Italy's action
in seizing San Nun Bay, China, after the
Peking government had refused lease,
is the main topic of interest in diplomatic
circles in Washington at this time. 1t
is believed that King Humbert's govern
ment acted only after thorough under
standing with Russia, Germany and
France. Great Britain is believed to be
utterly opposed to Italy's course, but in
the face of the continental powers is help
less to prevent it. 1t is thought Japan
will now seize port in China also. Our
government has protested against ltalys
action, but the protest went unheeded
because it was tacitly understood that
we did not stand ready to make good
our protest by war. The outlook ap-
pears to be just now that we must either
lease or seize port with its accompany
ing sphere of influence" or consent to be
shut out of China and deprived of its
vast trade possibilities altogether.
~
The total appropriations for public
buildings authorized by Congress at the
recent session foot up $12. .425, 900 exclu-
sive of So 600, 900 for new custom house
at New York, for which amount the pre-
sent site on Wall street is to be sold. BY
geographical sections the buildings and
totals are distributed as follows: East,
~ buildings costing So, ,S75, 600; south, 16,
costing 81 ,092 900; middle west, nine,
costing $4, ,447 900; far west, "a, costing
So, ,996 900; and 81 ,025, 600 for new build
ing for the Department of Justice at
Washington There were thirty-five states
represented in this ombination. No won
der it carried things with an irresistible
rush. Besides there was the Admins
tration favoring the building for the Dis
trict of Columbia.
~
Speaker Reed has refused to. sign the
pay warrants of former Representatives
Campbell of Illinois, Colson of Kentucky
and Robbins of Pennsylvania, who went
into the volunteer army as colonies dur
ing the Spanish war, and of Wheeler of
Alabama, who is still a major general of
volunteers Gen. Wheeler did not ex-
pect any pay as a Congressman, he hav-
ing drawn salary as a major general,
which is 50. 500 against So, 900 year for
a Congressman. The three colonies, how
ever, elected to draw pay as members of
Congress, the pay of a colonel being on
ly So 500, 81, 500 year less than that of
a Congressman The three colonies are
all out of military service, SO that their
pay there ceased long time ago, and
Speaker Reed refused to sign their pay
warrants for pay as members of Congress
for the month of December. They will
therefore have to go without salary from
any source during the three months of
the closing session Of the Fifty fifth Con-
gress. There was quite as much policy
as principle involved in the Speakers re-
fusal. Had he signed the warrants and
the three colonels got the money he would
have been held responsible for the
amount, provided it was decided that
they had vacated their seats in the House
by accepting commissions in the temper
ary army. And even the Auditor who
goes over the accounts of Congress could
have given the Speaker lot of trouble
If he in his wisdom had concluded the
money illegally paid. Wheeler has been
elected to the Fifty-sixth Congress, but
whether Clerk Mcdowell, who holds over
until his successor has been elected, and
who certifies to the pay warrants of the
members of the House, there being no
speaker, will sign Wheeler's, remains to
be seen.
President Mckinley will go on vacation
next Monday. He will be accompanied
by Mrs. Mckinley. They will go to
Thomasyille, Ga, where Senator Hanna
has winter residence. and be his guests
for fortnight Vice President and Mrs
Hobart will be of the party, as will for
mer Secretary Bliss. From Thomasville
the distinguished party will go to Jekyll
Island, off the Georgia coast, where Mr.,
Bliss has winter residence, as his
guests.
It is believed the President will again
tender the appointment of Librarian
of Congress to Mr.. Herbert w. Put
nam of Boston and that that gentle
man will now accept. If it turns out
this way it will be decided triumph.
for the professional librarians. Mr.. Bar
rows, the former Massachusetts Repre-
sentative, who was nominated at the in
stance of the delegation from that State,
failed of confirmation, because after his
name had been sent to the Senate he
made consummate ass of himself. He
is absolutely destitute of qualifications,
except that he could read.
~x*
The principal piece of new legislation
is the act providing for the taking next
year of the twelfth census. Director
Merriam is in Washington and is expect
ed to qualify within few days and begin
the work of organization. DR.. Wines,
assistant director, is not here, but is look
ed for shortly.
There will be many preliminary ques-
tons to be settled before the real labors
OF the census burea begin. Patronage
will prove most difficult. The director
is authorized to appoint five staticians at
SO 900 each; chief clerk at So, 300; a
dishursing clerk, 50 800; one geographer,
50 500; five expert chiefs of division,
50 600 each; together with an unlimited
number of clerks of class one, copyists,
messen gers and skilled laborers. The
higher grades OF clerks are limited in
number as follows: Ten of class four,
fifteen of class three and twenty of class