The Lamar register., 1900-04-04
WASHINGTON NEWS.
What Congress is Doing.-Notes From ths
White house and the departments

greater safety to national banks, by
restricting the making of loans ana
| oyerdrafts TO bank officers.
Senator Davis of Minnesota has In
| troduced a substitute for the Puerto
Rican bill which provides for free
trade between the United States and
Puerto Rico, and extends the Internal
| revenue laws with amendments over
the island. The act is declared provis-
ional and shall not continue longer than
March /, 1902.
In the Occur d'Alene investigation
Wednesday sensational scene was
| enacted when Attorney Cheney for the
state, practically charged Congressman
Lentz with being a liar aud Chairman
Hull was scored by Mr.. Lentz. There
was much talk about fighting, but the
incident passed without resort 10
violence.
Secretary Root had a three hours
conference Thursday with the Philip
pine commission, during which he
/ discussed the instructions they should
follow after their arrival az Manila.
Written instructions win be given the
commission. II Is expected the secre-
tary will submit n preliminary draft
to the Cabinet The instrument con
| templates primarily the establishment
OF civil government in the philippines.
Chief Willis l.. Moore of the Wealth
er Bureau has issued an order prohib-
iting persons connected with the ser
vice from smoking cigarettes during
office hours, and stating further that
those who smoked cigarettes at any
time would be mentioned In the conf
Dental reports which are made quar-
terly to him by chiefs of the several
/ offices and divisions throughout the en-
tire service He doesn't object to
cigars and tobacco, but says that Gig
arettes unfit n man for work IN that
] line.
The speech that Senator Beyeridge
was to have delivered before the
. United States Senate on his free trade
{ amendment to the Puerto Rican tarlH
[ bill will be used us IL Democratic cam
I paIgn document in Indiana and other
7 states. In some mysterious way the
. Indiana Democratic committee has Sc
I cured printed copy of the speech Ibe
I Republicans are much concerned as 90
how the copy fell into the hands OF the
Z enemy. The Democrats intend care
Z fully to analyZe the speech beforb they
I send 1t out for general distribution
one hundred ladies' Of this city have
s subscribed S25 each to purchase SOU
I yenir to be presented to Lady Paunce-
/ fote. wife Of the British ambassador:
Although Lord Pauncefote's term OF
service expired two years ago, II has
been extended by command or the
Queen because OF his great usefulness,
but this Is probably his last season IN
Washington and Lady Pauncefote
/ friends in this city have selected a dia-
/ moud sunburst costing $500 which
( they VIII hand her before she leaves In
the spring. TO remind her of their re-
gard and affection
Consideration has been caused by
the discovery that Charles z. Magoon.
law officer OF the division Of insular
affairs, upon whose opinion the secre-
tary Of war and the opponents Of free
trade with Puerto Rico have been rely
ing for arguments, had previously writ
ten another opinion. In which he main
I tanned position exactly contrary to
that assumed In the second document
His first opinion declared the constitu'
ton was extended to Puerto Rico when
[ the peace convention was ratified. His
latest production insists that Puerto
Rico Is not a part OF the United States,
I After several conferences Monday be
tween General Wheeler aud officers of
the administration, II was announced
that the War Department had tempo
rarity disposed of It's case by placing
4 him on waiting orders. This acton
, retains tTeneFuI " nteleT III Ilit seENlNt
of the United States until opportunity
is had TO determine whether he shall
J be given an active command. made the
subject of a special retirement act, OF
mustered out OF the military service
, II Is stated that he would not be OBJ
I Iigcd to retire under the rules Of the
regular establishment until next fall
so there Is still opportunity for the gen
eral to see service again IL he desires
A direct vote was taken by the Sen
l ate Thursday on the proposition 80
strike from the Puerto Rico measure
the provision levyiug fifteen per cent
OF the Dincley law duties on Puerto
+! Rico products. The proposition was
/ defeated by u vote OF 16 to &c. While
the vote is regarded as presaging the
passage of the pending measure, 1t is
I not regarded as indicating the final
vote ON the bill. The feature of the
debate was the speech of Mr.. Bever.
idge. While he advocated reciprocity
/ between the United States and Puerto
Rico. he announced that If all efforts
! 90 secure free trade should fall, he
| would support the pending bill. The
bill was under discussion throughout
the session. several Important amend.
ments being agreed to.
! General solicitor Henderson of the
Burlington system stated to-day that
/ in all probability, the secretary of the
7 yp+arin,. will send n Sppcial agent of the