The silver star., 1899-12-15
FROM WASHINGTON.
GOSSIP OF THE WHITE hOUoR
AND THE DEPARTMENT..

AND THE DEPARTMENT..
House-George II. White of North Car
olina-
The headquarters and eight COM
panies of infantry now at Santiago
and Puerto Principe province. Cuba,
are ordered home.
Ex-senator Edmunds is to appear be
fore the committee Of privileges and
elections and before the Senate in op-
position TO Mr.. Quay.
Formal orders have been issued from
the War Department to give enect to
the recently announced decision of Sec
retary Root to reduce the force OF
United States troops in Cuba
Richard s. Berlin of Omaha, Nebras-
ka, has been appointed supervisor OF
the second census district OF Nebraska.
This appointment completes the entire
list of census supervisors.
A newspaper correspondent says:
THE present house is tinelooking
body of men. l have looked into the
faces of twelve Congresses and have
never seen one that impressed me more
by its appearance"
The first of the public hearings In the
! Roberts case began at O'Clock Satur-
day. At that hour the committee room
was crowded with mel ~ rs, represent
atives of the press and delegates repre-
senting the Gentle element OF Utah.
Mr. Roberts sat at the end of n long ia
BILE with documents piled up before
him.
Brigham II. Roberts of Utah, who
was not allowed to be sworn in as Il
representative in Congress of that state.
has issued an address to the American
people. 1t contains much that was
said by Mr.. Roberts on the floor of the
House and by Mr.. Richardson, who OPP
posed the resolution of Mr.. Taylor of
Ohio.
Representative Lentz Of Ohio has in
troduced joint resolution reciting the
charges growing out of the presence of
United States troops under Brigadier
General Merriam At the centcrs of min
ing troubles in Idaho, and asking for
an investigation by a special committee
of nine members, to be appointed by
the Speaker.
The Populists and silver men in the
Senate are telegraphing ex-senator AL
len Of Nebraska to accept the appoint
ment of United States senator TO I'LL
the vacancy caused by the death of
Mr.. Hayward, If tie governor offers 1t
to him. They say they need him here
this session, while the new currency
bill is under consideration.
Representative Tawney of Minneso-
tn has been selected as the whip on the
Republican side of the House. His
business will be TO arrange pairs, to
see that his Republican colleagues are
on hand when they are wanted. and
take general oversight of legislation.
1t is position that carries great deal
of labor and anxiety, us well us honor
and glory.
The Department of Agriculture will
begin Its distribution of seeds n little
earlier this year than last. shipping
them south the beginning Of January,
and perhaps sending few shortly be-
fore the first This year the seeds for
distribution TO all parts of the country
will consist of 100000 packets Of
vegetable seeds. 1.5SS.0JO of flower
seeds, besides field and lawn grass
seeds.
The House situation over the cur
rency bill has assumed serious as
pect from the Democratic standpoint.
The six Brooklyn Democrats propose
to vote for the Republican bill. No
amount of persuation has sufiiced to
change their minds. They say they
must vote for the bill. and declare that
the eastern Democracy must put Itself
on record In favor of Sound money"
and the gold standard.
The House Saturday adopted spe-
cial order for the consideration of the
currency bill. beginning Monday The
general debate will continue until Fri
day, on Saturday amendments may he
offered under the iivc-mlnutc rule, and
on the following Monday the vote will
be taken. The Democrats, Popullsts
and Silyerites presented II solid front
against the adoption of the resolution
and every Republican voted for 1t.
The annual report of Secretary Of the
Interior Hitchcock. just made public
while summing up the work In all OF
the bureaus. Is of special interest by
reason of its statements regarding pen
sion policies. At the close OF the fisca
year there were 991 ,519 pensioners. q
decrease of 2. 195 during tne yeax. The
average annual value of all pensions
was S132.1i. The Spanish war prob
ably will increase the pension roll dur
Ing the coming fiscal year
Representative Bailey OF Texas I,
ready to protest against General JO<
Whecler's admission to Congress.
should he return from Manila and pre-
sent himself TO assume his position n,
representative from Alabama. Mr.
Bailey will contend thnt Mr.. Wheeler
cannot hold two positions-maJor gen
cral of volunteers and member OF Con
gress-at the same time. Mr. Bale,
has made u canvnss on the Dcmocrati,
side and received promises OF supper
from nearly 100 members.
Mr.. Roberts IL n handsome man. III,
face ls as fine as his figure. He IL I
feet 2 inches In height md well proper
toned. His head IL lnrge and intcllcc
tunl. His face IL intelligent and show
force OF character. His abundant hni
IN curly and he wears n heavy mus
tachc. His complexion ls clear and nj
most rosy. He has n frnnk. clear eye
n perfect set Of large white teeth. I
nose Of n field marshal and n heav,
chin, denoting firrnness and determine
ton.
Admiral Dewey will walk mt In,
henh of thu nrfnv md nnyv M tt,,