North Park union., 1900-02-02
WASHINGTON NEWS.
what Congress Is DoinE.-Notss From shs
white A.uss and the DepartnsatsL

1t is said that ]. s. Clurkson will not
he secretary OF the Senate, there hav-
ing been serious objections made to
his appointment by several senators,
which are based chiefly upon the
ground that he has been and still Is IN
terested In legislation now pending IN
the Senate.
Representative Shafroth said to-day
that there appeared some misunder-
standing Us to the provisions OF the
arid land bill which he has introduced,
Of the passage OF which he is so conn-
dent. 1t does not provide for the ces-
sion of all the arid lands but Il loan OF
1,OO,OO acres to each state.
The secretary of war has returned to
the military committee OF the House.
with favorable Endorsement, bill
recently Introduced by Mr.. Moody OF
Massachusetts. providing that the Offi-
GERS of the army who have served In
two wars with credit may be retired
with. the rank next higher than that
which they now hold.
The House on Thursday passed the
Senate bill to extend the powers of the
director of the census, after striking
out the committee amendment to
uuLAOllLS the " Nohshneh AoA
extra printing with private contractors.
The whole fight was upon that amend
ment. The influence of the public
printer and the labor organizations of
the country were employed against 1t,
and after II lively debate of several
hours 1t was overwhelmingly defeated.
The publication OF the reports of the
twelfth census. therefore, will be made
by the public printer as in the past.
The special committee OF the House Of
Representatives to investigate the case
of Brigham H. Roberts of Utah to-day
reached n final conclusion. On the po-
lygamous status of Mr.. Roberts. the
committee was unanimous, ana agreed
upon formal statement of the facts.
On the question of procedure to be
adopted the committee was divided.
| The majority. consisting Of all the
members except Littleheld of Maine
and DeArmond of Missouri, favored
| exclusion at the outset. Messrs. Lit
| tletield and DeArmond will make a
| minority report favorable to the seat
ing Of Mr.. Roberts on his prima fncie
! rights and then eXpelling him.
1t hiss been decided by the Postofficc
| Department to permit the star route
system in a measure to supplement the
| system of rural free delivery. Second
! Assistant Postmaster General Shnllen-
| berger has found that II Is feasible to
permit carriers on star routes to de-
posit mail In proper receptacles placed
| along their line OF travel. This plan
will be started in South Carolina be-
ginning July LIST, and will be extended
| to other parts ofsthe country rs rapidly
as possible. This innovation makes
| necessary = change in the postal regu-
lation which forbids mail contractors
| and their drivers access TO the mail
, matter or to any mail locks or keys.
Attorney w. B. Harrison, who is
here representing the Denver Chamber
| of Commerce. was heard before the In
! terstate Commerce Commission Fri
day. He appeared in the case of Kin
| del against the railroads for violation
| of the long and short haul clause In
Denver freight charges. Mr.. Harrison
| made an excellent presentation of the
arguments for the recognition of Den
vers claim to fair treatment in trans
| portation. He was nttentivcly listened
| to by the commissioners. Mr.. Harri-
I son saws that he Is confident that the
commissioners will give Denver the re-
| lief sought
There Is no disposition OH the part OF
the Navy Department to make any
| change In the program for new naval
| construction on account OF the intro
! duction of the German bill looking 10
the addition of forty-eight armored
| ships to the German navy. Attention
| is called to the fact that there are now
| alrendy authorized twenty-one ships
for the navy In addition TO the fleet
| utioat. This number Is MS large as II
| Is believed Congress will authorize at
this time. and as the German increase
Is to be divided among eighteen years
| while ours Is continuous TO each Con
gress. 1t is felt that the United States
navy is in no danger of losing the posi-
| tiOn II now commands.
The ways and means subcommittee
recently named to inquire rs to the le
gal meaning Of the United States" as
| applicable to newly acquired islands OF
dependencies in session are discuss
ing the general subject. The members
| feel that the question is a pivotal one, or
which Will depend the adoption OF tar
| in systems for the islands. The only
| decision directly bearing on the point
| is by Chief Justice Marshall, holding
| that the term United States" means
the entire territory over which this
government exercises control. The
| members of the committee, Including
| Mr.. Newlnnds who started the inquiry
are Inclined to view the foregoing opin
ion as n dlctum incidental to the case
and not establishing fixed principle
\ Of law.
The treasury officials say that favor
itism has not been shown in making de
posits of public money with nationa
banks, for such deposits have never
been refused when bonds accompanied
1t us security They further say thai
no complaint or criticism of the pres
ent system of depositing public funds
has ever been received from IL banl
or banker or any other financial ol
commercial association of any sort. be
cause they are familiar with the meth
dds of the Treasury Department ant
approve them The only complaints
and criticisms have appeared in the
newspapers or have been made by pol
! iticians for political effect. There arr
now $50 banks designated MS deposi
tories of public moneys. and on Satur
l day last the amount intrusted to then
| was S96, ,417,OOO. or these nineteen art
In Illinois, thirteen in Indiana, eight II
Michigan, eight In Wisconsin, twelv,
in Iowa, seven In Kansas. six in Ne
braska and twenty-three In Ohio.
The Grand Opera House, the lnrges
auditorium In Washington, was packet
to the doors Sunday night with an en-
. I l,nt ..1 IL.