Evening star., 1899-03-04
President Spent Part of the Day at
the Capitol.
GOING TO TAKE A VACATION
Many Bills Signed During the Last
Hours Of Congress.
FEW CALLERS TODAY

President Mckinley left the White House
at $40 o'clock this morning for the Capitol
to remain there during the closing hours of
Congress He was accompanied by Attor-
ney- General Griggs. Assistant Secretary
Pruden and Executive Clerk Young also
went to the Capitol to record the bills
signed and to attend to any business de-
sired by the President. At the Capitol the
President was in easy communication with
the legislators and could consult them on
any measure which might at first seam OBJ
jectionable to him.
Despite the absence of the President from
the White House, there were many official
callers to inquire after bills. Congress smen
interested in any bill follow it closely to
keep it from getting lost in the last few
minutes. Should the bill be lost and not
be put before the President it would fail
of becoming law.
President Mckinley returned to the White
House from the Capitol at 1920 o'clock
He received few visitors after his return.
Going Ola Il Vacation.
So soon as the President can put execu-
tive affairs in shape he viii leave for the
south for rest. He may not get away
for more than a week. Ii is expected that
he will remain away for two weeks He
will keep in touch with public affairs while
absent and will return to Washington if
matters of sufficient Importance demand it.
While the matter has not been definitely
decided it is thought the President will be-
come the guest of Senator Hanna at Thorn
aSville, Ga.
Local Bills Signed.
The President signed many bills in the
closing hours at the Capitol. Among the
District measures signed were: Making ap-
preparations for the expenses of the gov
ernment of the District of Columbia; for
the extension of Pennsylvania avenue
southeast and for other purposes; to quiet
land titles in the District; to distinctiVely
designate parcels of land in the District of
Columbia for the purposes of assessment
and taxation and for other purposes; to
authorize the Washington and Gettysburg
Railway Company of Maryland to extend
it's line of road into and within the District
of Columbia: to provide a site for a build
ing for the Washington Public Library; to
redeem certain outstanding certificates is
saes by the board of audit and the board
of public works of the District; relative to
the control of wharf property and certain
public spaces in the District; for the relief
of B. F. Parlett, collector of internal rev.
enue for the district of Maryland.
District bills signed last night by the
President were: To punish the impersona-
ton of weighmasters in the District; to ex-
tend S street: to amend the act for the IN
COrDOratlOn
sity Railroad Company; for the erection of
a new building for the Department of JUS
tiae.
The Omnibus Bill.
What is known as the omnibus bill, allow
ing claims under what is known as the
Bowman act, was signed by the President
about II o'clock. 1t is said that the Pres
ident hesitated about signing the bill yes
terday and would not do so today until he
had looked into it more fully.
The bills of general interest signed were:
Appropriations for the navy; appropria-
tions for the support of the regular and
volunteer army; appropriations to supply
deficiencies; appropriations for rivers and
harbors; appropriations for sundry civil ex-
penses; for the appointment of a clerk of
the district court of the eastern district of
Virginia; to define and punish crimes in the
district of Alaska.
Gen. Wheeler Profers His Services.
Gen. Wheeler of Alabama called on the
President last evening and again today,
and in view of the question raised to his
status in Congress and on the army Gen.
Wheeler stated TO the President that he
would perform any military service to
which the President desired to assign him,
or would continue his work in Congress if
his services were not desired elsewhere.
Without making any requests Gen. Wheeler
conveyed to the President the purpose to
defer to his wishes in the matter.