, 1900-04-26
CONGRESSIONAL GRIST-
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

Hackett to be assistant secretary of
the navy to succeed Charles II. Allen,
appointed governor of Puerto Rico.
The cases involving the Kentucky
"governorshlp were docketed in the
United States Supreme Court on the
10th. A brief statement. in which
counsel for 10Th Taylor and Beckham
Joined, vas filed mt the same time, ask
ing for an early hearing.
Admiral Dewey is receiving letters
from NIL over the country promising
him support. 1t is regarded as partic-
ulnrly significant that many are com
ing from the South and the Middle
West. He will not accept the vice
presidential nomination unde any con-
sideration.
Some big attorneys fees were paid
in the Clark case. Ex-senator Fnulk-
ner of West Virginia, who looked after
Mr.. Clark's interests, will receive n
handsome check, and ex-senator Ed
munds, who has represented Marcus
DAILY, is understood to have been paid
$1,000 already.
The Supreme Court has decided the
cases involving the stamp tax as 1t ap-
plies to express packages, the question
involved being whether the shipper or
the carrier shall pay the stamp charge
on packages. The opinion was handed
down by Justice White and was favor
able to the express companies.
In accordance with the recommended
ton of the President in his message
sent to Congress, the SENATE has pass
ed n joint resolution providing for the
administration of civil affairs in Puer-
TO Rico. pending the appointment of
officers under the Puerto Rican govern
ment law recently enacted.
In further response to the Senate
resolution of January II last the Pres
ident sent to the enate additional doc
uments bearing upon Ii insurrection
in the Philippines. The papers are all
important. They show that Aguinaldo
tried to form IN alliance with the
Spaniards against the Americans.
An exciting controversy occurred at
n session of the Occur d'Alene investi-
CATION committee when the petition of
the secretary of wal from several hun
dred citizens of the Occur d'Alene dis
trict, asking for the retention of fed
eral troops, was presented. Mr.. Sal
ger denounced the petition rs bogus
and fraudulent" declaring that many
of the signatures We're fOrgeries and
that other names had been secured by
intimidation. He asked TO introduce
attidavits attacking the petitions. but
after an animated controversy these
We're ruled out, the vote being on party
lines.
The Senate committee on agricul-
ture on Monday gave II hearing to rep
resentatives of drug manufacturers
who are opposing free distribution of
black-leg vaccine by the Department of
Agriculture. The western members of
the committee, Messrs. Heitfeld. Hans
brough, Allen. Foster and Warren.
urged that the department be sustained
in its action and that the full npprO-
priation for conducting the Bureau of
Animal Industry, by which the distri-
button is made, be allowed as provided
by the House bill. This wns agreed to
IL free distribution of black-leg vac
cine to stOckmen of the western states
will be continued.
Chairman Payne of the House COM
mittee of ways and means, has receiv-
ed from the Merchants association of
New York an appeal for the abolition
of the stamp taxes Oh express ship
ments, railroad and steamboat ship.
ments and kilograms. The memorial
complains mt considerable length of
the oppressive charges" eXacted by
express companies, speaking of them
IN strong terms AS 'monopolies of
quasi-public function. beyond the
reach of competition or the control of
the Interstate commission. to
which other common carriers are sub
jected."
There is no longer any question that
the diplomatic relations between the
United States and Turkey are in n
critical state. growing out of the Sui
tan's bad faith. He promised to pay
the indemnity claims of the American
missionaries for the destruction of
eight buildings of the Euphrates col
leges ut Harpoot and several buildings
belonging TO the American missionaries
mt Marash during the Armenian massa-
cres in 1895. What action the govern
ment VIII now take to enforce the Sui
tan's promise is not definitely
known, but ms the situation is critical.
1t may result in Secretary Hay send
Ing the Turkish minister ut Washington
his passports.
The House subcommittee on la
Dor, in charge of the Gardner eight
hour bill, reached n decision Wednes-
day on the final form of the bill and
on several amendments, all of which
Will be reported to the full committee
on labor, when 1t is expected that final
action will be taken. The bill has at
tracted much attention in labor cir
Giles, being actively urged by the
American Federation Of Labor, and
has been energetIcally opposed by
many large steel, armor. ship-building
and ammunition concerns doing bust
ness with the government. as the
measure will have the effect of fixing
an e%ight-hour day ON armor and like
commodities and in the building of
warshlps.
The Republican program Includes
the passage of the shipping bill by the
Senate and the passage of the Near
ngun Canal bill by the House of Repre-
sentatives during the present session
in order to comply with the platform
of the last Republican convention.
which pledged the party to that legisla.
ton. II is not expected. however. that
either of these bills will pass the other
house before mex session. MIR. Hep
burn Is watching every opportunity TO
bring up the canal bill, and is deter
HNtnnI -. .s -. 40 800. t. -