Gilpin observer., 1900-02-01
WASHINGTON NEWS.
What Congress Is Doing.-Notes From the
whitesHl ! use md the he:pepertmsntS. ID :


In the Supreme Court on Friday
three attorneys We're admitted to prac-
tice, one from Alaska, one from New
Mexico and one from the Hawaiian Is
lands, which is an evidence of expnn-
sion.
President Mckinley was fifty-seven
years old on the 10Th. having been
born at Niles, Trumbull county, Ohio,
January 20, 1913. He received many
congratulations from visitors and IA
large number of cablegrams and tele-
grams felicitating him upon the Occa-
sion. Many floral remembrances were
sent him.
In answer to Senate resolution,
Secretary Gage has sent to the Senate
Il report upon the coast and geodetic
survey with special reference to the
new island possessions of the United
States. He says the resources of the
surveyor are inadequate to complete
the survey of Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
He says the problems of the Philip
pines are much larger and recommends
the establishment of sub-otiice at Ma
Mia.
The Senate committee has closed the
hearing on the bill to establish IL form
vi utIto hiNo anu
released Governor General Davis, who
has been here to assist with his advice
and information. Senator Foraker is
preparing the report and revising his
original bill to conform with the views
of the committee. Speaking generally,
1t is proposed to place Puerto Rico OH
the some footing as the territories of
the United States, with free trade in
all respects.
Representative Bell is making in
Quiry of all the state treasurers in the
United States regarding the interest
paid upon deposits of state funds and
will use the information in presenting
arguments upon his bill requiring de-
positories of government funds to pay
interest on the same. Mr.. Bell says
the interest on government funds held
by the various banks of the country
under the rates proposed by his bill,
would yield an income of upward of
| S3.OOO,000 per annum to the govern
ment.
The Republican caucus of the Senate
| has decided definitely upon the re-Or-
| ganiZation of the elective officers of
| that body and nominated Hon. Charles
| Bennett of New York for secretary, to
| succeed Hon. William II. Cox, and
| Hon. Dan NJ. RansJlell of Indiana for
| sergeant-at-arms. to succeed Colonel
| X. j. Bright. No selection was made
| for chaplain. which will have the eff
| feet of continuing the blind chaplain,
| William ii. Milburn. in that office. The
allotment of the minor offices was
placed in the hands of the caucus com
| mittee.
The record in the open door matter
t... l..t. Il
| volved except Italy and Japan have
quested by Secretary Hay that the mer-
chants and manufacturers of the Unit
| ed States shall have equal rights and
| privileges in the Chinese markets. It.
ally and Japan. the only nations to be
heard from, have also responded. al
though the communications have not
been received. This completes one of
the most notable and important
achievements in the diplomatic history
of the United States.
Senator Clark of Montana Is the most
accomplished linguist in Congress. al
| though he never had the benefit of Il
college training. He obtained all his
education in the common schools at
| Mount Pleasant. Iowa, up to the time
he was twenty-one years old. He ac-
quired his knowledge of foreign
tongues since he became rich. and the
study of French. German. Spanish ana
Italian has been diversion from the
mental and physical labor of looking
after his vast estates. He speaks. reads
and writes all the languages named,
and is familiar with their literature
The report of the House committee
on agriculture on the bill to reorganize
| q,
bureau, states that this measure is de-
| signed to inaugurate an ideal merit
| system. "To briefly summarize the
salient features of the proposed law,
it may he said that it apportions ap-
| pointments among senators. reprcsen-
| tatives and delegates without regard
| to their political faith. and II provides
| that candidates shall be nominated
under such conditions as will render 1t
difficult. If not impossible. to effect
the permanent appointment or the pro-
motion of an unfit person"
For more than three hours Tuesday
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia occupied the at
tcntion of the Senate with n discussion
of the Philippine question. His argu-
ncnt, which had for its basis his own
resolutions declaratory of the govern
mcnt's policy toward the Philippines.
was listened to carefully by his fellow
senators, and by II large gallery audi
ence. He maintained fiat the United
States owed ms much to the Filipinos
= IT. does to the Cubnns. TO whom by
resolution of Congress elf-govcrnment
had been promised. and he strongly
urged that his resolutions declaring II
to be the intention of this government
TO confer the right of government upon
the Filiplnos bc adopted as II means
not only of terminating the war, but of
extending to Il strugglig people Justice
| and freedom.
Much interest attaches to the np-
proachng investigation by the House
cntnmlttpn IN military affairs I'm Tho