Gilpin observer., 1900-01-04
FROM WASHINGTON.
GOSSIP OF THE WHITE HOUSE
AND THE DEPARTMENTS.

Attorney General GrlggS has return
ed to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission the transcript of the evidence
taken at II hearing before the commits
sion last week in the matter of the new
freight classification, with view to
action by the attorney general under
the antitrust law, If his Judgment
should warrant the same. He states in
reply that he does not believe that an
action would result in conviction un-
der the law.
Senator Hoar is drawing the report
of the majority of the committee on
privileges and elections in favor of
seating Mr.. Quay as Il senator from
Pennsylvania upon the certificate of
Governor Stone on the ground that ev-
cry state is entitled to two senators.
and that if its Legislature does not fill
vacancies rs they occur the governor
has the power to do so. He takes very
broad grounds that the failure of the
Legislature to elect should not deprive
state of representation.
The secretary of war has modified
the requirements as to physical proper
tionS of candidates for enlistment in
the army. In an order just issued he
says: 1T is not necessary that the ap-
plicant should conform exactly to the
variation not exceeding ten pounds in
weight or two inches in chest measure
ment (at eXpiration) below the stand
ard given in the table is admissible
when the applicant for enlistment is
active, has firm muscles and is evident
ly vigorous and healthy"
The session of the Cabinet Tuesday
was brief. but it was the occasion of
the important announcement by Secre-
tary of State Hay that the negotiations
with the great powers of Europe and
Japan to secure IL common understand
ing for IL continued open door pol
icy throughout China had been emf
nently successful. and that favorable
responses had been received from
Great Britain. Germany. France, Rus
Sia and Japan. The only country ad
dressed which has not yet responded
is Italy. and a favorable answer is also
expected from her.
The naval board which conducted
the trial of the Miller coaling system
has submitted its report to Admiral
Bradford, chief of the equipment bu-
reau. In weather as heavy us it was
practicable to coal ship under any con-
ditions, the device transported about
twenty tons an hour safely. Altogeth-
er the board concludes that the appar
atus VIII be of value during war time,
and consequently the plant with which
the experiments have been conducted
will be paid for by the government un-
der the terms of the contract made last
summer.
Ex-senator Faulkner of West Vir-
ginia. who is looking after the inter
ests of Senator Clark of Montana be-
fore thp cDnmittpa nf nriyilaU and
elections, has determined to subpoena
every member of the Montana Legisla-
ture and make him testify under oath
whether he received money or conSid
Grafton of any sort for his vote for
United States senator at the recent
election. Mr.. Faulkner contends that
this is the only way to ascertain the
truth or falsehood of the charges
against Senator Clark. and he expects
TO disclose the fact that other caudi-
dates than his client are liable to the
same accusation under which he is
resting. He also expects to produce
confessions from witnesses who testi-
fled against John Il. Welcome.
The State Department has received
from Ambassador Choate at London by
cable Il statement of the facts he had
developed in connection with the seiz-
goods on the three merchant vessels.
Beatrice. Mashona and Maria. The
goods comprised not only flour. but
miscellaneous articles of common
trade. They We're shipped for Lourenzo
Marques in British and German ships.
but our officials contend that they We're
not subject to seizure. They could not.
however, lodge representations on the
subject until they Were possessed of a
knowledge of the facts. and as soon as
Mr.. Choate's statement came to hand
an instruction was cabled to him to in
form the British government that we
could not admit the right of the seizure
in these cases.
Notwithstanding the efforts of the
Treasury Department to get rid of its
money, the surplus has been piling up
with great rapidity during December.
and the available cash Is nearly S13,-
100000 more than it was at the begin
ming of the month. the balance stand
ing yesterday at S291 .50O.3GS. The ac-
tual excess of receipts over eXpendi-
lures for December was nearly $751;
WOUo. although 1t appears on the
books as only about $1,000. 900, he
cause nearly S11.0OO0OO was paid out
as interest on the public debt that was
not due until January. The excess of
receipts over expenditures for the last
six months has been over S25. .OO0, 900.
and the treasury officials predict that it
Will exceed SG0O00.OOo during the cur
rent fiscal year Notwithstanding the
extraordinary expenditures in the Phil
ippines.
The monthly statement of the public
debt shows that AT the close of bust
ness December 30. 1899. the debt. less
cash In the treasury, amounted to ST.
l3i3OO.OOT. u decrease for the month
of S5,T91 .S24. This decrease is largely
accounted for by the purchase of
bonds during the month. The debt Is
rocapitulatcd ms follows: Interest-bear-