The statesman., 1900-01-27

4
Had he been he would have heard the
most scathing excoriation of the Nor
mons ever delivered upon the floor of
the house. Mr.. Lands of Indiana, the
young orator who distinguished him
self during the last Congress in an ora
! tOrical duel with Mr.. Johnson of his
state, won new laurels. He charged
| that Utah had been admitted to the
Union as q result of a Mormon con-
SpirScy, and reviewed the history of
the apostles of the church, whom he
charged with living in open and flag
rant violation of the state law against
polygamy, to show that they had base
ly broken their solemn pledge to the
government.
Mr.. Tracewell, the comptroller of the
treasury. has rendered decision to the
effect that common carriers which do
an interstate business and give party
rates. to theatrical and other OrganiZa-
tiOns, must give the same rates to the
general public under similar cOndi-
tions, and also to the government in
the transportation of troops. He says:
"A second question involved is whether
these party rates are subject to reduc
ton when the service is rendered to
the government by the free or the fif-
ty per cent. land grant railroads. The
ground upon which | hold that the gov
ernment is entitled to the benefit of
party rates is that said rates are avail
able for the general public and there
fore for the government. As party
rates are charges. the general public
in cases like those now under consider
alton no more than fifty per cent, of
said rates can be charged"
The treasury officials say that favor
itism has not been shown in making de-
posits of public money with national
banks, for such deposits have never
been refused when bonds accompanied
it as security. They further say that
no complaint or criticism of the pres
ent system of depositing public funds
has ever been received from Il bank
or a banker or any other financial or
commercial association of any sort, be-
cause they are familiar with the meth
DDS of the Treasury Department and
approve them. The only complaints
and criticisms have appeared in the
newspapers or have been made by pol
iticians for political effect. There are
now $50 banks designated as deposi-
day last the amount intrusted to them
was 500, 900. OF these nineteen are
in Illinois, thirteen in Indiana, eight in
Michigan, eight in Wisconsin, twelve
in Iowa, seven in Kansas, six in Ne
braska and twenty-three in Ohio.
The War Department has made pub
lie a statement showing the imports
at the port of Manila for the three
months of July. August and Septem-
ber last, being the first official data re-
lating to imports during so long a pc
riOd since American occupation. The
total value of merchandise entered at
the Manila custom house from the
three months named was 5,802, 5S1. In
addition there was $52, $50 in gold coin
and $255, ,294 in silver coin from Brit
ish India, and $500, 7O7 in silver coin
from China, bringing the aggregate of
imports up to Sc. .443, 102, or at the rate
of more than $25,30O,OOO year from
Manila alone. The growing nature Of
the trade is shOWE by comparison
with the amounts for all Philippine
ports fer the fifteen years ending with
1894, during which time the, average
yearly imports of the archipelago only
amounted to 17.039.O44, or approx
mately twO-thirds of the valuation in
d1cated by the trade of three months
ending with September, 1889, for Ma
Mia alone
The case of Brigham III. Roberts, the
Mormon repreSentative-elect from
Utah. which has occupied so much of
the attention of the House since the as
sembling of Congress, was decided
Thursday by the adoption of a resOlu-
ton to exclude him, by vote of 26S
to 80. The exact language of the reso-
luton was as follows: THAT under
the facts and circumstances of the
case, Brigham II. Roberts, representa-
tive-elect from the state of Utah,
ought not to have or hold a seat in the
House of Representatives and that the
seat to which he is elected is hereby
declared vacant" The amendment to
eXpel Mr.. Roberts without seating him,
offered by Mr.. Lacey. was ruled out ON
Il point of order and the House only
voted on the resolutions of the ma
jOrity and minority of the committee
The latter-tO seat and then expel Mr.
RobertS-was defeated. 81 to 244. The
majority resolutions to exclude Mr.
Roberts and declare the seat vacant.
were adopted, 2GS 20 so. The affirma-
tive vote was dir ided as follows: Re
publicanS, 164: Democrats, 80; POpu-
lists, IA, and the negative vote: Dem
Ocrats, Al; Silver Republicans. 2; Pop
uplists 1. There were over a score of
speakers to-day. and the closing
speeches on each side were particu-
larly able. Mr.. Lanham of Texas
closed for the majority and Mr. De Ar
mond of Missouri for the minority.
The sixteenth annual report of the
United States Civi; Service Commits
sion has been submitted to the Presi-
dent. The report, while containing
much information of value concerning
the operations Of the commission dur
ing the year, deals with number of
subjects of general public interest. The
remarks of the commission on the i'm
portance of merit system in our
COLONEL possessions; the need of max
ing some disposition of superannuated
employees; the improvement shown in
the reduction of the percentage of re-
moyals throughout the service. result
ing from the requirements of the law
and the order of the President of July
u, 1897. looking to its enforcement,
and the advantages 20 be gained by
the classification of the force of the
library of Congress and the municipal
cnrVipn of tho District Of ToIu,,,hfa <yo