Gilpin observer., 1899-11-16
FROM WASHINGTON.
GOSSIP OF THE WHITE HOUSE
AND THE DEPARTMENTS.

| Ex-Governor Joseph w. Fifer of H.
iinois has been appointed by the Presi-
| dent a member of the Interstate Com
merce Commission, to succeed w. J.
Calhoun of Illinois, who recently ten
dered his resignation.
Mrs. JOY, the wife of the Missouri
| representative, has mailed circular
and petition to the wife of each men,
ber of Congress, asking them to use
their influence with their husbands to
have Brigham II. Roberts, the men,
ber-elect from Utah, expelled from
| Congress.
Admiral and Mrs. Dewey returned to
Washington from New York Tuesday
night. a Navy Department official met
them and escorted them to the ad-
mirals carriage. in which they We're
driven to the home on Rhode Island
avenue presented to the admiral by the
American people.
The urgent necessity of adequate
coaling stations for our warships is
dwelt upon by Rear Admiral Bradford,
chief of the naval bureau of equip
ment, in his report to the secretary of
the navy. He rela1>s the difficulties
encountered during the war with Spain
in securing coal, transporting it and
getting it aboard the ships.
The annual report of the commits
sioner of immigration shows that Ella
immigrants, who came to this country
last year, signified their intention of
locating in Colorado. Wyoming re-
ceived 2S1 and New Mexico received
134. Among the immigrants to Colo
RADIO 800 are Greeks and Slavonians,
GA are Italians and 262 are Scandina-
vianS.
According to reports the Presidents
program with regard to Cuba contem-
plates the retirement of Gen. Brooke
from the military governorship and the
substitution of civil government, with
General Leonard Wood at its head.
On January 1, if the President can
carry out the plans he has now in mind,
the existing military government in
the island will give way to civil gov
ernment.
Tutuila, the Samoan island which
falls to the United States in the recent
arrangement completed between Ger
many and England. subject to ratitica-
ton by the United States government.
becomes Il valuable addition to the pos
sessions of the United States in the Pa
citic. With but small area and popu-
lation. which. according to the treasury
bureau of statistics are but tifty-four
square miles and 1000 population. it
possesses the most valuable island har-
bor in the South Pacific.
Horrio Garfield and Jesus Antonio
MOya, Indians from the Santa Ana
agency, New Mexico, have appeared
before Indian Commissioner Jones
with n protest against trespass on their
reservation by the Albuquerque Land
and Irrigation Company. The Indians
allege that the company intends build
ing canal through the reservation.
The protest is signed by every Indian
of the reservation. Commissioner Jones
stated that an investigation would at
once be made, and the company would
be forced to abandon the work if the
Indians allegations are correct.
The President is giving careful atten-
ton to the selection of civil governors
for Porto Rico. Cuba and the Philip
pines. AS communicative of the
army. 1t is within his authority to des-
ignate civil governors to act under the
direction of the secretary Of war. In
arranging to Supersede Generals
Brooke, Davis and Otis. he is actuated
by the conviction that it will be possi-
BILE to find civilians who have had
more experience in civil affairs and are
better prepared to assist in establish
ing governments. The army officers
named have given satisfaction. but
not as well qualified to assist the Pres
ident in reconstructing the govern
ments of the islands along the line of
American ideas.
The four cases of court martial death
sentence of soldiers in the Philippines
which reached the War Department
by Wednesdays Manila mail, are
waiting transmission to the secretary
of war. The men under sentence are
Private Otto Conine. Corporal George
Damphoffer and Private Peter Bennett,
all Company i. Sixteenth infantry.
and Private William Il. Scarborough
Company b. Third infantry. These
cases will have to 20 to the secretary
of war and thence to the President for
approval 1t WAS officially stated last
night that President Mckinley will
commute the sentence of the prisoners
The men We're convicted by court mar
tial at Manila. the charge against them
being criminal assault upon native wo-
men.
his officers and men. Messrs. Herbert
4 Micou and Charles and William Il.
King. attorneys. have asked the Court
Of Claims to find that the amount of
bounty money due them Is S3S2. 500.
The decision of the court will estab-
lish n precedent. which will affect the
amount of bounty to he distributed
among the officers and men of the
North Atlantic fleet. which destroyed
the squadron of Admiral Ccrvera. II
the finding of the court Is in accord
nnce with this request. the admirals
share of the bounty will he S19.10i.
The attorneys base their case upon the
claim that the defeated Spanish force
was superior To the American squad
ron. II Is not contcndcd that the
pncmy's fleet was superior. but that
taking into consideration the guns at