Gilpin observer., 1900-05-31
CONGRESSIONAL GRIST-
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

them from showing interest in the poll
tics of the country to which they were
accredited, as Sir Sackville West, whc
! was British minister during the first
Cleveland administration, learned tC
his sorrow; but there is nothing in on.
laws to prevent n party of private citi.
zenS from the South African republics
seeking sympathy and aid against their
enemies or promoting the election or
defeat of any particular candidate for
office.
The use of the horseless carriage is
becoming quite general in Washington.
especially among the pleasure seeking
class. The Chinese minister was one
of the first to adopt the automobile as
L substitute for the carriage and has
used nothing else all winter The Aus
trian minister and his wife. the French
/ ambassador. Colonel Lee. the military
attache of the British embassy, and
other members of the diplomatic corps
are TO be seen every day ON the streets
in automobiles although the German
ambassador still sticks To his horse and
Lord Pauncefote to his tricycle.. Mdlle.
Cassini, daughter of the Russian am
bassador, is the only women in the
diplomatic corps who handles her own
automobile, and she rides mt pace that
causes CONSERVATION among her
| friends She has n costume designed
sspecially|fo mobile riding. 1t has II
skirt of cream-colored cloth with a
white silk waist. and one of the new
Ladysmith hats.
\ special to the Chicago TimoS- Her
aid from this city says: During the G.
a. X. encanpment in Chicago. PreSi-
dent Mckinley may have the pleasure
OF returning to the southern states tie
400 or 800 Confederate battle flags now
in the War Department. Prominent
members of the G. A. X. have in hand
Il plan to secure the authorization of
Congress for the return of these flags
and it is hoped that both houses will
pass the necessary joint resolution be-
fore adjournment During the coming
week it is expected the military com
mittees will take the necessary prelimi-
nary action. If the consent of Con
gresS can he obtained. the flags will be
turned over to the q. \. r.. the repre-
sentatiycS of Confederate military or
ganizationS will be invited to Chicago
and with beautiful ceremonies Presi-
dent Mckinley. assisted by the vcter-
ans of the blue and the gray will hand
the torn and blood-stained banners
btNh " lllt WHICH
carried and defended them
The committee on conference on the
disagreement of the two houses on tie
amendments to the bill extending the
time for proof and payment on lands
of the Colorado COOPERATIVE colony. in
southwestern Colorado. has reached an
agreement which has been adopted by
both houses. The disagreement was
I,, Of IL.
bill proposed by Senator Pettigrew.
providing for second entries of lands
under the homestead law. This amend
ment WAS rejected by the conference
committee. and the substance of the
MOndell bill substituted. This pro-
vides that persons who have made
homestead entries and commuted the
same. shall be entitled to make sec
ond homestead entry: also that persons
who have made homestead entries and
for any cause have lost or forfeited the
same shall be entitled to make second
entries. This is perhaps the most i'm
portant public land legislation which
has been enacted at this session of
Congress. and will enable many per-
sons in all parts of the West. who have
made homestead entries. and for VA
rious reasons failed to complete them
10 secure another opportunity.
From political standpoint the visit
Of the Boer ENJOYS is regarded as n
very serious matter, and presents the
most embarrassing problem the admin
istratiOn has had to meet since the Op-
ening Of the war with Spain. 1t is con
ccded that the people of this country
have Il profound sympathy with the
two little republics in South Africa,
which they would be glad To have eX-
pressed by the government in Il prac-
teal manner. but the diplomatic situa-
tion is directly opposed to the political
situation. and the administration Is
| powerless to carry out the popular will
without involving the country in inter-
national complications. The Boer en-
voys have applied in vain to the Europ-
can powers, both for Intervention
| (Which means active) and mediation
(Which means passive). Every Europ-
can power, even Holland. with which
they claim blood relationship, has de-
MED the appeals which they now make
to the United States: but they have
come here with II confidence that eX-
cites curiosity, and expect before they
leave this country to secure interven.
ton in their behalf. Mr.. Fischer and
! his associates have never concealed
their intention to appeal To the people
of the United States in the event of the
Presidents declining to intervene in
behalf of their cllow-countrymen
They have made this very clear since
their arrival in Washington. and. as
one of them expressed 1t. "lf the Pres.
ident denies our request we shall mp.
peal unto Caesar" They are willing
to relinluish everything else. to pay
any indemnity or accept almost any
conditions. provided the two South Az
rican republics can retain their inde
pcndence. They require that the Unit
ed States shall compel Great Britain tc
conccdc their independence NJ the mo
ment of their submission, and demand
that we shall make war against Eng
land If she refuses to do so. In tn,