The Lamar register., 1900-06-20
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.


Secretary of the Navy Long has
made the last change in the battleship
circular which he will probably issue
to shipbuilders. Five Identical ships
will be called for. The first three
ships have been named the Pennsyl-
vania, New Jersey and Georgia, and
the names Virginia and Washington
are proposed for the others.
Postmaster General Smith went to
the White House Saturday for con-
sultation with the President before
leaving for Philadelphia. The draft
of the platform prepared by him was
submitted to Mr.. Mckinley. The CON
ference lasted almost three-quarters of
an hour. Mr.. Smith then left for
Philadelphia.
The Court OF Land Claims has Off
cially decided that Rear Admiral Samp-
son was In command of the fleet at
Santiago battle and that Admiral
Schley was In command of a division
of the fleet. Also the cruiser New
York, the flagship of the squadron, was
in the fight. This will give Sampson
OF the prize money.
The opening of the Fort Hall reser-
vation In Idaho to settlers is regard
ed by western business men in Wash
ington as the beginning Of new era
for western investors. 1t is believed
that the opening OF this reservation
viii be OF incaIcdlable service to the
states bordering upon Idaho and that
all mining states. Hs well as Colorado,
Utah, Wyoming and Montana, must
reap richly from sthe opening OF this
reservation. which, It Is believed,
marks the beginning Of new legislation
for the arid and semi-arid states.
The Navy Department viii advertise
for proposals for supplying face-har-
dened armOr OF the best type for battle
ships now building. forathc protected
cruisers already authorized and for
the three battle ships provided for in
the new naval appropriation bill. Iav-
Ing been assured that much better
terms could be extended by the armor
companies II the contracts were for
large amounts OF armor, the depart
ment viii test this 10y providing in the
advertisements for the submission Of
bids OF three classes. namely, for sup
plying loco tons OF armOr. then for
2n.uOo tons. and finally for supplying
10000 tons IL Will be for Secretary
Long 90 determine II the figure is rea-
sonRblc. IL not, he must build an ar
NOR plant.
In addition TO changes already an
nouncs-d by the pOstotiice department.
II Is said that a number OF other i'm
proyements viii be- In effect during the
next fiscal year. The increased apprO-
priafiou. IL Is said, VIII enable many
more clerks 10 take the fifteen days
leave OF absence contemplated by law
and an emergency fund viii be placed
at the disposal of tirst-class officers
for extra assistance during the holi-
days and other times when there Is a
large Increase OF business. The post
office officials have strong hopes that
II conditions continue to Improve II
will b.. feasible to limi; working hours
throughout the service to eight hours n
day. beginning with the fiscal year,
July /. 1892.
The remarkable increase In coal i'm
porthtions from the United States.
coupled with the fact that we became
In 1850 the worlds largest producer of
coal. gives special interest TO an elnb-
oratr discussion OF the worlds coal
product, published by tie bureau OF
statistics of the Treasury Department
In the April number OF the Monthly
Summary of Commerce and Finance.
Expectations OF coal from the United
States In the ten months ending with
April Were nearly nifty per cent larger
than those of the corresponding
months OF lsas while our total produc-
tion for ls,sS was not only the largest
in our history but larger than that of
any other country in the world. For
the first time the United States figures
show larger production than the
British figures for the same period.
Lieutenant Commander ]. g. Colwell
Just relieved MS American naval at
tnehe in London. is under investiga-
ton for failure to obey orders OF the
Navy Department. court of III
qulry is sitting for this purpose at
Washington, Lieutenant Commander
Colwell received orders to report on a
certain date In the United States. pre-
llminary TO going to the Philippines
He failed to report, and sent an explain
alton that his condition was such, in
consequence Of an operation, that IL
was inadvisable for him TO travel. 1t
Is alleged that lie subsequently placed
himself under medical treatment in or
der to Justify his explanation. The
department believes Colwell had tried
TO evade his orders, so as to remain
longer in London. The court is ex-
pected to submit Its findings in few
days.
The Navy Department has decided to
establish cOaling station OF the sec
ond class ut San Diego, California.
I-ARu has baan reached ttnnp m