The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-05-15
CONGRESSIONAL GRIST-
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

secure the passage of an eight-hour
law, and while they have not accom-
plished all they wanted. they have
won a decided victory by securing the
approval of n bill which embodies the
greater part of their demands. The
committee on labor thought that they
asked too much. The bill as original
ly introduced prohibited the govern
ment from using or doing anything
contrary to the eight hour principle,
which was considered impracticable,
but the labor men have succeeded in
securing n general recognition of the
principle in all government contracts.
In anticipation of the passage by the
House of the army reorganization bill
in an unamended form, the officials of
the War Department have been figur-
ing to learn what effect the bill will
have upon the numerical strength of
the army. 1t appears that the only
branch of the service that will receive
any addition is the artillery, and the
number of men to be added TO that
branch is only 5.47S at the maximum.
This will make the total strength of
this branch of the service, II ,I4S. The
present enlisted strength of the army
is 5000 regulars and $4,000 volun-
teers, or a total of 100000. The reor-
ganlzation bill will increase that total
10 105,47S men.
The Supreme Court resumed its hear
ing Tuesday in the Kentucky governor.
ship case. Hon. W. O. Bradley, for
mer governor, being the only speaker.
He appeared for Governor Taylor. tax
ing up the first claim of the opposition
that Taylor had never possessed any
title to the office. He concluded that
Taylor's title was as good as that of
any other man who had ever held TIN
office. He Argued that Taylor's title
was complete; that he was not only de
jure governor. but de facto governor
as well, and that every step that he
had taken as governor was legal Mr..
Bradley attacked the finding of the
Legislature ir the case as irregular and
therefore void. When Mr.. Bradley
closed. the court took recess until
May 14th.
1t is expected by those who have
been investigating the subject tha,
the government of Nicaragua will ask
not less than S5,OOO,00O gold and per
petual percentage of the profits of the
proposed canal as consideration for the
lease of n strip of territory twelve
miles wide, as called for by the Hep
burn bill. The Maritime Canal Com.
Sc, 100000 and share OF the receipts.
and the Cragin-Eyre concession calls
for IS 100000 in stock and one-half of
the net receipts after the payment OF
six per cent. dividend upon the stock.
II the canal is built by the government
OF the United States, as proposed by
pending legislation, no stock will be
issued. and 1t is doubtful whether Con
gress would consider 1t good policy for
our government to go into partnership
with Nicaragua. There have been no
negotiations for a new treaty. No pro-
posals have been made and none have
been asked for on either side, although
the canal commission sounded" the
government of Nicaragua when 1t was
down there recently.
Charles Dudley Warner, president of
the American Social Science Associa-
ton. created Il sensation at the annual
meeting here Tuesday by reading n
paper in which he took the ground
that the colored race is going backward
instead of forward under unwise lead
ers and false ideas of education. He
sustained his arguments with stats
teal reports of crime and illiteracy in
the southern states. He shows that the
increase of crime among the negroes
in the southern states has been twen-
tynine per cent. and only eight per
cent. among the whites. In the north
ern states. where slavery never pre-
vailed, crime has increased seven per
cent. among the white population and
thirty-nfne per cent. among the negro
population. He attributes this phc-
nomenon to improper education and
political influences. He declares that
none but illiterate negroes will work ::
that as soon as men or women of that
race get taste of education they in
sist upon living lives of idlcness or
seek official positions and the excite
ment of politics and vice. Mr.. War
ner takes the position that industrial
training. with II knowledge of the ell
emcntal branches. and moral instruc-
ton are the only methods by which
the masses of the negro race can be oX-
pected to improve in character and use
fulness. Negro suffrage, he claims, is
a curse TO the race. and negro colleges
and universities and all institutions for
higher education do more harm than
good.
Those who are interested in the ar
my canteen can obtain a pamphlet copy
of the regulations for their govern
ment by applying to the secretary of
war Those regulations provide that
no officer or private soldier shall be
detailed to sell drinks. and thai moth
ing can be sold except beer. light wines
and soft drinks" The sale of beer is
limited to week days; it must be con
sumed upon the premises, and the
practice known as treating" is pro
hibited. The sale of beer is left to the
discretion of the commanding officer
whenever he is satisfied that givin,
TO the troOpS the oDDOrtuuity of obtain
ing such beverage within the post linn
its will prevent them from resortinc
for strong intoXicants to places with
out such limits, and tends to promote
temperance and discipline amonp
them" The exchange or cauteen il
managed by an officer. assisted by u
stn1yard Mhn mnN hn n nnn-nnnlM1iS