The Springfield herald., 1899-12-15
FROM WASHINGTON.
GOSSIP OF THE WHITE HOO0E
AND THE DEPARTMENTS.

olina.
The headquarters and eight COM
panies of infantry now at Santiago
and Puerto Principe province. Cuba,
are ordered home
Ex-senator Edmunds is to appear be-
fore the committee of privileges and
elections and before the Senate in OPP
position to Mr.. Quay.
Formal orders have been issued from
the War Department to give effect to
the recently announced decision of Sec
retary Root to reduce the force of
United States troops in Cuba
Richard S Berlin of Omaha. Nebras-
ka. has been appointed supervisor of
the second census district of Nebraska
This appointment completes the entire
list of census supervisors.
A newspaper correspondent says;
The present house is a fine-looking
body of men. have looked into the
faces of twelve Congresses and have
never seen one that impressed me more
by its appearance"
The first of the public hearings in the
Roberts case began at O'Clock Satur-
day At that hour the committee room
was crowded with mel - rs, represent
arives of the press and delegates repre-
SslI4ue me "a .'.-'-
Mr.. Roberts sat AT the end of long ia
BILE with documents piled up before
him.
Brigham II. Roberts of Utah, who
was not allowed TO be sworn in as
representative in Congress of that state,
has issued an address to the American
people 1t contains much that was
said by Mr. Roberts on the floor of the
House and by Mr.. Richardson, who op-
posed the resolution of Mr.. Taylor OF
Ohio
Representative Lentz of Ohio has in
troduced joint resolution recitinS the
charges growing out of the presence OF
United States troops under Brigadler
General Merriam at the centers of min
ing troubles in Idaho. and asking for
an investigation by a special committee
of nine members, to be appointed by
the Speaker.
The Populists and silver men in the
Senate are telegraphing ex-senator Al
len Of Nebraska to accept the appoint
ment of United States senator to ill
the vacancy caused by the death of
Mr. Hayward, If tSe governor offers 1t
to him. They say they need him here
this session, while the new currency
bill is under consideration
Representative Tawney of Minneso-
ia has been selected as the whip on the
Republican side of the House. His
business will be to arrange pairs, TO
see that his Republican colleagues are
on hand when they are wanted, and
take a general oversight of legislation.
1t is position that carries great deal
of labor and anxiety, as well as honor
and glory.
The Department of Agriculture Will
begin Its distribution of seeds little
earlier this year than last. shipping
them south the beginning of January,
and perhaps sending n few shortly be-
fore the first. This year the seeds for
distribution to all parts of the country
will consist of 100000 packets of
vegetable seeds, 1,5SS.0O0 of flower
seeds, besides field and lawn grass
seeds.
The House situation over the cur
rency bill has assumed serious as
pect from the Democratic standpoint.
The six Brooklyn Democrats propose
to vote for the Republican bill. NO
amount of persuation has sufiiced to
change their minds. They say they
must vote for the bill, and declare that
the eastern Democracy must put Itself
on record in favor of Sound money
and the gold standard.
lie HOUSE Al Si''
cial order for the consideration of the
currency bill, beginning Monday. The
general debate will continue until Fri
day, on Saturday amendments may be
| offered under the tive-minute rule, and
on the following Monday the vote will
| be taken The Democrats, Populists
| and Silverites presented Il solid front
against the adoption of the resolution,
| and every Republican voted for it.
The annual report of Secretary of the
Interior Hitchcock. just made public.
while summing up the work in all OF
the bureaus, is of special interest by
reason of its statements regarding pen
sion policies. At the close of the fiscal
year there We're 991, 1,519 pensioners, n
decrease of 2,195 during the yeas. The
average annual value Of all pensions
was S13274 The Spanish war prob
ably will increase the pension roll dur
ing the coming fiscal year.
| Representative Bailey of Texas is
ready to protest against General Joe
| Wheeler's admission to Congress
should he return from Manila and pre-
sent himself to assume his position as
representative from Alabama. Mr..
Bailey will contend that Mr.. Wheeler
cannot hold two positions-major gen
eral of volunteers and member of Con-
gress-at the same time. Mr.. Bailey
has made canvass on the Democratic
side and received promises of support
from nearly 100 members.
Mr.. Roberts is n handsome man. His
face is as fine rs his figure. He is q
feet . inches in height and well proper
toned. His head is large and intellec-
tual. His face is intelligent and shows
force of character. His abundant hair
is curly and he wears heavy mus
tache. His complexion is clear and al
most rosy. He has frank. clear eye.