The Springfield herald., 1900-04-27
CONGRESSIONAL GRIST-
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

President Mckinley will send to the
Senate the nomination Of Frank w.
Hackett to be assistant secretary OF
the navy to succeed Charles II. Allen,
appointed governor of Puerto Rico.
The cases involving the Kentucky
governorship We're docketed In the
United States Supreme Court on the
10th. A brief statement, IN which
counsel for both Taylor and Beckham
Joined, was filed at the same time, ask
ing for an early hearing.
Admiral Dewey is receiving lette.s
from all over the country promising
him support. 1t is regarded ns partic-
ularly significant that many are com
ing from the South and the Middle
West. He will not accept the vice
presidential nomination under any con-
sideration.
Some big attorneys fees were paid
in the Clark case. Ex-senator tauik-
ner of West Virginia, who looked after
Mr.. Clark's interests, will receive
handsome check, and ex-senator Ed
munds, who has represented Marcus
DAILY, is understood to have been paid
$4,000 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 joint resolution providing for the
administration of civil affairs in Puer-
to Rico, pending the appointment or
officers under the Puerto Rican govern
ment law recently enacted.
In further response to the Senate
resolution of January IL last the Pres
ident sent to the Senate additional doc
uments bearing upon the insurrect1on
in the Philippines. The papers are all
important. They show that Aguinaldo
tried to form an alliance with the
Spaniards against the Americans.
An exciting controversy occurred at
a session of the COeur d'Alene investi-
CATION committee when the petition Of
the secretary of war 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 as bogus
and fraudulent" declaring that many
of the signatures were forgeries and
that other names had been secured by
intimidation. He asked to introduce
affidavits attacking the petitions, but
after an animated controversy these
were ruled out, the vote being on party
lines.
The Senate committee on agricul-
ture on Monday gave hearing to rep
= fs,r
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 appro-
priation for conducting the Bureau of
Animal Industry, by which the distri-
button Is made, be allowed as provided
by the House bill. This was agreed to
and 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 on express ship
ments, railroad and steamboat ship
complains at 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 commerce 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 at Harpoot and several buildings
belonging to the American missionaries
at Marash during the Armenian massa-
cres In 1905. What action the govern
ment will now take to enforce the Sui
tan's promise is not definitely
known, but as the situation is critical,
1t may result in Secretary Hay send
ing the Turkish minister at Washington
his passports.
The House subcommittee on Ia
bor, in charge of the Gardner eight
hour bill, reached a 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
trncted much attention in labor cir
cles, 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, us the
measure will have the effect of fixing
an eight-hour day on armor and like