The leader., 1900-03-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
/ From the Newspaper Correspondence Division
/ Of 4. G.. Sggers.l
Nar,h rnDA

WASHINGTON LETTER.
From the Newspaper Correspondence Division
Of 4. G.. Siggers.l
WASHINGTON. March Ii, 1900
When the Paris exposition opens on
Easter Sunday next, the American sec
ton will remain closed and dark. thus
announcing 10 the world that, though
far from home, Americans carry their
reverence for the Sabbath with them
and that on that day they intend to
carry out the Biblical injunction
against all labor throughout the entire
life of the Fair. Orders to this effect
have been issued to Commissioner
General Peck by the President, at the
request of the American Sabbath I'm
ion, delegation from that body call
ing on him few days ago and drawing
his attention to the matter. The
President replied that he was very
glad that his attention had been called
to the subject, which he might other
wise have overlooked in the press of
business. He at once sent instructions
to Mr.. Peck to prohibit all labor by
clerks and workmen and to close the
American exhibits on Sundays
throughout the fair. Secretary Hay
later received the following letter on
the subject from the general secretary
of the Sabbath Union:
PITTSBURG. Pa, March S.
The Hon. John Hay, Secretary of
State, Washington, d. C.,-My Dear
Sir: had pleasant chat with the
President yesterday with reference to
the subject matter of our interview. l
told him of the conference Bishop
Hurst and myself had with you and of
our entire satisfaction with the in
structions that have already been sent
to Commissioner General Peck and
Ambassador Porter. The President
inquired if had suggested to you the
ACCESSIBILITY of sending a word of extra
caution concerning the opening day,
Easter Sunday. | replied that | had,
and that you had the matter under ad-
visement. The President spoke of
your conversation with him relative to
this matter, and said that he would
advise with you further concerning it,
Allow me to assure you, Mr.. Secretary,
of our confidence in your wisdom in
dealing with this question. and we shall
allow it to rest in your hands without
further suggestion.
am very sincerely yours,
J. w. HATHAWAY,
Gen'l Secretary of Sabbath Union.
A short while ago, sensational charges
were brought that the Charleston had
been wrecked in the Philippines
through the carelessneSS of the officer
of the deck who was said to have been
drunk while on duty. The charges
were Indignantly denied by the Navy
Department, but it now seems that
official information has been received
showing that there is at least some
foundation for them. This informa-
ton sustains in many particulars the
charges alleging that intOXication pre-
vailed among certain of the officers.
There is still doubt whether this stu
alton resulted in the wrecking of the
ship, but if it shall appear that such a
state of affairs existed at the time of
the disaster, the offenders will be court
martialed and dismissed from service
The present reports are understood to
be from naval officers on the Asiatic
station, and render the situation very
grave.
Representative Hepburn, of Iowa,
has sprung into the reform arena with
bill prohibiting the transmission
through the mails or by any inter.
state common carrier of any picture or
description of prize fight or any pro
posal for betting on a fight, whether
III newspaper or periodical or in
any other form. Naturally. such
a bill, if passed, will seriously in
terfere with the newspaper business of
the country. Any person sending
such matter or knowingly receiving
the same for transmission by mail, is
to be punishable by Imprisonment for
not more than one year or fine not
exceeding $1,000. Mr.. Hepburn's idea
is that prize fights depend on public
ity for their very existence and that if
they can be deprived of this they will
soon go out of existence
On Friday last the method of deal |
ing with special pension legislation in
the House of Representative was
changed. and instead of the usual
night session, the afternoon was de- |
voted to that class of work Hereafter
every alternate Friday will he so de.
voted. The old rule was changed be- |
cause of the impossibility of getting a
quorum at night sessions and because
the Democrats, led by Representative
Talbert of South Carolina, refused to
permit legislation to be enacted with |
out the presence OF one. During the |
discussion of one of the bills on Fri |
day last, Mr.. Loud, of California Ire |
publican), said that 95 per cent of the
special bills passed 10y Congress should |
never have been favorably considered, |
and pointed out that of the million and |
a quarter old soldiers and widows of |
old soldiers who survived the war. al |
most one million were on the pension |
roll. Mr.. Sulloway, of New Hampshire
Republican,, chairman of the com
mittee on invalid pensions, replied that
he gloried in the fact that his country
paid more than any other for the care
of those who defended the flag. While |