The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-04
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5 Chat Of the Capital.
Washington Gossip, Political and
Otherwise, for the Readers
OF the Globe.

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WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-(Special)-
Secretary Root has become a very i'm
portant factor in the Mckinley cabinet.
When he first assumed his office it was
doubted whether or not he would meet
all requirements. Everything now points
to Secretary's Roots advancement in a
political way because of the Judgment
he has everywhere displayed since his
correction with the war department as
its secretary. 1t is now the intention of
President Mckinley and Chairman
Hanna, of the Republican national cam
paign committee, to have Mr.. Root NOM
mated for the vice presidency next year.
1t is believed by many shrewd politicians
that if Root will consent to make the
race with Mai Mckinley in 1900 he
will be of great assistance, and the presi-
dent may need it. 1t Is believed by friends
of Maj. Mckinley that Secretary Root
will accept the vice presidential nomina-
ton if it Is rendered to him, as it is
pretty certain to be, by the next national
Republican convention. Root will be ex-
pected to carry New FORK for the Re-
publican ticket. This is why President
Mckinley and Mark Hanna are using
every endeavor to secure the consent of
Mr.. Root to accept the nomination for
the vice presidency.
The Republican leaders in the house
and senate realize that the Silver Re
publicans, the Democrats and the Popu-
lists are in a position to give them any
amount Of worry this winter Senator
Teller, of Colorado, the recognized leader
of the silver forces of the United States,
will come to Washington prepared to
meet all emergencies, and this means a
bitter fight against the single gold stand
ard advocates in the senate and house.
| The silver question will not down. The
purpose of the single gold standard Re-
publtcanS is to rush through the bill
drafted at Atlantic City early in the year,
with the expectation tnar political gain
can be secured by quick legislative work.
The friends of the single gold standard
are by no means certain of accomplishing
| what they desire to do within the limit
of time now laid down by the leaders.
There IS a possibility that the Henderson
| bill may be pushed through the house
| before the holiday recess, but those in
opposition do not believe that their op-
ponents will be successful. In the senate
another story can be told. Under the
sible for the Republican single gold stand
ard men to hurry through a measure of
this kind. 1t is known to be the purpose
of Senator Teller to fight any PROPOSE
ton detrimental to the white metal.
While President Mckinley and his as
sOciates, who favor the house measure
drafted by Henderson, hope to secure its
early passage they are likely to be dis
appointed, because the opposition to the
enforcement of the single gold standard
is apparently in the majority. This is
at least true so far as the senate is con-
cerned.
The friends Of former Senator Quay, of
Pennsylvania, now seem confident that he
will be able to secure his seat, though they
admit that vigorous contest will be
waged against him. The Pennsylvania
has made most determined fight to have
the senate early in the session ratify
his appointment by Gov. Stone of the
keystone state II Quay is successful,
~ Gage, of California, will make an
appointment to fill the vacancy caused
by the retirement of Stephen M. White.
His choice. as stated by Californians here,
will be Daniel Burns. Burns already has
agents here, not only to advance Quay S
| success, butte BRING about-the ratifica-
ton Of his own appointment, if Quay is
seated.
(Which I wish to remark,
And my language is plain,
That for ways that are dark
And tricks that are vain,
The heather Chinee is peculiar,
And the same [ am free to maintain -
This apt diagnosis of the Chinese char
acter by Bret Harte just at present re-
ours to the minds of the treasury officials
who have charge of the administration
of the Chinese exclusion act. Under this
act Chinese laborers are not permitted to
enter the United States. 1t appears, how
ever, that the act of exclusion has been
somewhat loosely drawn and so-caIled
| clerks, merchants and others who declare
that their avocation is not that of COM
| mon laborer are permitted under certain
! restrictions to come and go at will
The revenue agents have been busily
engaged during the past year in inVesti-
eating violations of the Chinese eXclu-
sion act. Their attention was first called
to the fact that large number Of
Chinese were pouring into Boston and
New York. They could not account for
this large influx through legiuma e means
of the Chinese. They naturally thought
there was something wrong. An investi-
cation was started and it was discovered
that the United States officials at Malone
n. Y, We're passing Chinese over the
they were countersgning their papers for
a consideration paid in good hard cash.
These officials at Malone were brought
up with a very round turn and are now
under Indictment and will soon be tried
and the government will endeavor to in
fiict punishment to fit the crime The
discovery of the malfeasance Of the OFF,
Gals at Malone led to a general investiga-
ton of all ports of entry where a China
man could by any possibility enter the
United States under any sort Of pretext.
In the East the investigation as to the
large number of Chinese who gained en-
trance to the United States as merchants
resulted, among other things, in discover
ing that in the city Of Boston there was
an establishment which had as its stock
in trade something like $40 Or $50 worth
of meats and it was maintained simply
as a blind. Cinnamon to the extent of
score gained entry by being able to Ger
tify that they were merchants and part
ners in this particular concern. There
were other similar devices to evade the
law of the country relative to the entry
of the Chinese.
The investigation which started at Ma
lone, n. Y. swung around the circle, so
to speak, and landed at San Francisco
There it was found that fragrant abuses
existed. and the special agent in charge
was dismissed from the service. Just at
present the treasury department is en-
forcing the law strictly and thoroughly
A smaller number of Chinese have en-
tered the country during the past year