The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1899-02-10
FROr THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Things Seen and Reported by Our
Washington Correspondent.
(From Our Special Correspondent. }

Not since the exciting days before
the capture of Santiago has Washing
ton been so excited as it has since
last Sunday when the news of the
fighting in the Philippines reached
here. Trouble with the Insurgents
had been expected and provided for,
but, nevertheless, the breaking out
OF war afresh created sensation.
One of its immediate results was the
ratification of the treaty of peace,
which occurred promptly Monday
afternoon. The treaty lacked only
two votes of the number necessary
for its ratification and these we're
promptly secured as soon as the news
of the battle with the Insurgents was
made public. Both the North Caro-
lima senator's voted for the ratifca-
ton of the treaty. But two Repub-
licans voted against it-Hoar, of
Massachusetts,, and Hale, of Maine
Every influence was brought to bear
to make them vote for it, but they
held out to the end.
1t will be gratifying news to many
North Carolinians to know that the
House committee has adopted re
port recommending public buildings
for Elizabeth City, Durham and Win
ston. The cost is fixed at $50, 900
each, and very creditable structures
will be erected There is little doubt
that the bills providing for these
buildings will pass,
The Comptroller of the Treasury
has authorized the Murchson Ma
tional Bank, of Wilmington, to begin
business. 1t has capital of $780,
600.
Gen. Miles has approved the sem
tence in the court martial of James
Ellis, Co. |, Third North Carolina
Regiment, who was sentenced to dis
charge from the army and imprison-
ment for life. He will be sent to the
penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas.
c. H. j, Taylor, the negro who was
Recorder of Deeds of the District of
Columbia under Cleveland, has gone
to North Carolina to attend a negro
convention at Raleigh.
A bill has been introduced in the
Honse to reduce the number of rep
resentatives in Congress from the
South. Representative Crumpacker
is the author, and he claims that the
South is not entitled to the same
proportion of representation as the
North because large proportion of
the negroes are not allowed to vote.
This bill stands no prospect Of inn
mediate passage but it seems to have
been aimed particularly at North
Carolina, which State is now dealing
with the question of restricting the
suffrage. Manly, the negro editor
who was run out of Wilmington,
made a very incendiary speech to
the negroes here some days ago. aud
the local negroes have been trying to
again stir up sentiment against North
Carolina.
Senator Butler continues to present
numerous petitions in favor of the
establishment of postal savings banks
Already North Carolina petitions
from five places, signed by seven or
eight hundred persons, have been
presented.
There is good deal OF talk re-
garding Judge Ewart's successor, as
it is taken for granted that he will
not be confirmed. Senator Pritchard
is frequently mentioned, but it is
pointed out that the President would
not consent to Pritchard's retirement
from the Senate, as he would almost
Aertainly>be succeeded by Il Demo-
CrGt.
Former Congressman Tom Settle
and wife have been here ia the past
week, the guests of Mrs. Vance.
The North Carolina Society is in a
ilourishing condition. The new off
GERS recently elected are~ President,
DR.. w. c. Murphy; ~Vice-President,
Jas. b. Lloyd; Secretary, F. w. Little;
Treasurer, David Anderson. The
annual reception of the-SSociety,
which is an event with North Caro-
linians in Washington, will be held
sometime this month. -
The Secretary of Agriculture, Mr..
Wilson is to make tour OF the South
soon, looking at it from an agricul-
tural standpoint. He will visit North
Carolina among other States, and
investigate the soil, methods OF farm
ing, etc.
A number Of petitions from North
Carolina W. c. 7. US protesting
against the sale of liquor in govern
ment buildings, etc, have been pre-
sented.
President Mckinley has received
a genuine North Carolina rabbits
foot, presented by an admirer of his
at Kernersville, who writes that it is
the left hind foot of rabbit killed in
a Moravian graveyard. Mr.. Nc
Kinley says he will carry it "just for
fun"