The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-11

ing to circulate the speech OF Represen-
tative Littlefield, of Maine, the successor
Of Nelson Dingley, against the tariff on
Porto Rican imports, by the million. They
point to the condition in Indiana. where
Representative Crumpacker. who voted
against the Ways and Means Commit
tees BILL is being popularly advocated
for the sovernorship, as foreshadoWlnS
the trend of sentiment in all other parts
of the country. AT Republican headquarters
while the Indiana situation at the pres
sent time is admitted to be feverish, the
confident belief is expressed that condl-5
tons will soon settle down to normal
basis. This belief is based upon the
fact that reports from such States as
Iowa and Wisconsin indicate complete
aco11iescence of the! Republicans in the
wisdom Of the action of the House.
Moreover. they say, none of the leaolnS
questions at issue have as yet been den-s
nitely enough settled to Indicate the pre-
else lines on which the campaign will be
conducted. Such issues as have. been
formally made have touched the popular
chord, and are bound to tell In favor OF,
their party
IA HISTORIC DESK.
President Mckinley opens his mail and
transacts his routine office business on q
desk of historic interest and remarAaoie
workmanship, which was presented 10
the Government by Queen Victoria 1t
is large, flat desk of dark OAK, bearing
the following inscription:
Her sAIajesty's ship Resolute forming
part of the expedition sent in search OF
Sir John Franklin in 1852. was aband-
oned in latitude IA degrees, IL minutes,
north, longitude III degrees, q minutes west
on the 18th of May, 1854. She was dis
covered and extricated in September. 1900.
in latitude 81 degrees, north, by Captain
sBuddington, of the United States SWhaler
George Henry. The ship was purchased.
fitted out, and sent to England ASA GIT
for Her Majesty Queen Victoria, by the
President and people Of the United
States, as a token of good will and
friendship. This table was made from
her climbers, when she was broken up
and lis presented by the Queen of Great
Britain and Ireland to the President of
the, United States, as a memorial of the
courtesy and loving kindness which die
%tated the offer of the gift Resolute
Speaker Henderson has received an
other gavel which strongly appeals to
his affection. This particular sgavel pos
sesses an interest all its own.
It was made from the limb of a burr
oak tree now growing and which. was
growing on Speaker Henderson's old
homestead when he was a boy.
Tho exact place sis known as sHender-z
sons Prairie, out in Iowa, where the
present Speaker passed his early youth.
on his fathers farm. The savel vas
made Of a well-seasoned limb OF the old
tree by order of a female cousin Of the
Speaker, who is the donor. Mr.. slaender-S
son remembers the tree well, and is es-i
pecially happy over the thought ul act
which prompted its giver. The Speaker;
now has cabinet collection OF gayels.s
nearly every one of which is expressive
OF a sentiment Of special regard on the
part of friends and not few Of those
who are personally entire strangers to
him. *
SOME GRUAIBLNG. y
A. good deal of grumplIng has been oc--..
casioned among Western members OF
Congress soversa1recen order of Director
Merriam, of the Census Bureau, in regard
to the ointment OF the clerical force
to mployed in the great work which
VIII have Its beginning on the first OF
sIune#aD Director Merriam sets forth that
the temporary force of clerks to be ems
ptoyed. n1lrnbe ring y hundreds will have
to undergo the civil service 5examination.S
but Wal no be assured Of work for more
than one Ito five months. This means
that mos or nea ly all the appointments
viii ito nearby Observation-Disclosures M ary-
land. Vest Virginiaa and the Ddstrfct OF
Columbia. and the members OF Congress
fromSI Iowa Aissuori. 81 lansas.. Nebraska,
win have; barely IAN, Opportunity edo any
thing fer thefrss const Il an Sppr-
cantl UY3nR5atzNEE