Gilpin observer., 1899-06-29
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
AND DEPARTMENT NEWS.


Mckinley says: 1.-The position which
some temperance people take on the
question is simply absurd. The attor.
ney general must interpret the law as
he finds 1t, but" he added, II should
be very glad to see prohibition of the
canteen."
special agent of the pension depart
ment is ut Worcester, Massachusetts
investigating Il novel pension claim
John j. Hulinger, n helpless veteran
has been receiving $I2 per month. Re.
Gently he wrote the department that he
was receiving too large Il pension and
that $50 would be sufficient. He is en-
tirely helpless and requires an attend
ant.
Owing to the advance in the price of
iron and copper it has been found that
the plans for several projected public
buildings, which We're made year or
more ago, will have to be modified. In
Montana there are three buildings, for
the construction of which the lowest
bids Were considerably above the ap-
preparations, and hence plans for low
er priced buildings will have to be re-
advertised.
Secretary of State Hay has received
n brief official dispatch from Bartlett
Tripp, commissioner at Samoa, saying
that peace had been restored on the
islands: that the commission had sus-
tained the decision of Chief Justice
Chambers in the contested case of the
election Of a king; that Malietoa Tanus
had resigned; that the kingship was to
be abolished and provisional govern
ment established.
The work of the fish commission is
practically completed for this year.
According to the officials of the COM
mission. when the reports are sent in
July 1st. they will show that it has
been the most successful year in the
history of the commission. The great
bulk of the work has been in the col
lection and distribution of the eggs and
fry of commercial food fish. and this
year more cod, white fish, pike. perch.
bass. fiat fish and lobster have been
planted than ever before
Acting on the suggestion of General
Miles that the availability of the auto
mobile be tested for army use. several
machines have been ordered, with the
request that three be furnished at the
earliest possible date. The signal
corps intends to test the automobile,
carrying weight. over such roads as cN-
lloDl tnlS W II VI I N.Sl. VII
ginia. If the tests are in favor of the
machine its use will be extended to
Cuba. Porto Rico and to the scene of
actual hostilities in the Philippines.
There has been much quiet discus
sion going on concerning the eXpira
ton of Admiral SIMPSONS term of sea
duty. Secretary Long has not re-
ceived any communication from Admi-
c., So, .,I,-
and it is not likely that he will in the
been on sea duty only two years.
which is n year short of the regular
term. 1t is seldom that an officer Of
SIMPSONS rank is given command of
n squadron for shorter period than
three years. and as it is advantageous
for Admiral Sampson to continue on
sea duty as long as possible it is not
probable that he will apply to be re-
lieved until he is compelled to do so.
The Due d'Arcos and his assistants
are gratified at the reception they have
received in Washington and express
with deep feeling their appreciation
of the courtesy of the nation with
which their government was so recent
ly at war. 1t Is true that special eff
forts have been made to convince the
Due d'ArcOs that there is no resent
ment or prejudice on the part of the
United States against any Spaniard in
this country. and everybody is glad
that the war is over. The duke has
communicated this sentiment both to
his government and to his personal
friends in Spain, and it will certainly
be to the advantage of both couIi-
tries.
While no decision has vet been
reached as to the number of men to lie
raised for the provisional army, the
President has authorized a continual
ton of enlistment beyond the num-
ber required for the regular army. This
means that the President proposes to
have enough soldiers ready for service
should further consideration show the
necessity of providing General Otis
with additional troops. 1t seems to
be the impression in army circles that
nine regiments. sufficient to form three
brigades of total of H. 100 men, will
be organized and put in condition to
be sent to the Philippines in time to as
sist in the operations in the fall.
The Industrial commission has some
what changed its plan for the work of
the commissions during the sum-
mer months by revoking its order for
the appointment of special commits
sions to investigate the elevator trust
and the mining industry west of the
Mississippi river, and instead author
izlng all the regular suO-commissions
to sit during July and August. Under
this arrangement the agricultural COM
mission will take up the elevator ques-
ton, going to the northwestern states
for this purpose, and the mining com,
mission will go west for the purpose
of looking into the conditions affecting
mining in that region. The latter com
mission will hold its first meeting in
Denver on the 10Th of July. The sub
commission on manufacturers will
make n tour of New England during
the summer