The Elbert County tribune., 1900-05-10
CONGRESSIONAL GRIST-
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.


House of the army reorganization blu
In nm unamended form, the officials of
tho War Department have been fgur-
ing TO learn what effect the bill viii
have upon the numerical strength OF
the army. II appears that the only
branch of the service that will receive
apy addition is the artillery. and the
number OF men 10 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 AS. The
present enlisted strength of the army
il G5,OOO regulars and $4,000 volun-
teers. or a total Of 10000. The reor-
ganzation bill Will increase that total
TO i05,47S men.
President Gompers of the Fedora
lion Of Labor and his associates have
been working very hard all winter to
secure the passage Of an eight-hour
Law, and while they have not accom-
pllshed all they wanted, they have
won a decided Victory by securing the
approval of bill which embodies the
greater part OF their demands. The
committee on labor thought that they
asked too much. The bill as original
ly f-aroduced prohibited the govern
mem froih 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.
The supreme Court resumed its hear
ing Tuesday in the Kentucky governor
ship cnse. 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
Tnylor's title was as good as that OF
any other man who had ever held the
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 In the case as irregular and
therefore void. When Mr.. Bradley
closed, the court took recess until
May 14th.
A man Of the peculiar name of Pow
dermaker and his associates have ap-
piled to Congress for authority to dig
up the streets of Washington and lay
nm underground system of pipes and
conduits for the purpose of distribut-
Ing cool air among the houses and of
fees of the city. They call their cor
corporation .'The Cooling Company"
and they propose to cool OF for so much
n cubic foot of cold air furnished. The
idea is to have refrigerator plant mt
n convenient location with pipes and
other facilities, and run pipes like
those for gas and water through the
houses and office buildings so that
cold can be turned on in parlor or a
bedroom just like heat from the fur
nnce and the temperature lowered to
any point You please.
A favorable report has been made by
the Senate committee on military af-
fairs on Senator Wolcott's bill to es-
tabllsh n lranch soldiers home at Den
yer. The committee report recites that
the number of men disabled physically
and unable to earn their living by rea-
son OF the Spanish-American war and
the insurrection in the Philippines will
add considerably to the population of
the National Soldiers Home and make
the establishment of branch houses n
Decessity. The location proposed is con-
ddered as geographically a good one.
here being large number OF old sol
iers residing in Colorado and contigu-
,us states, and the nearest national
lome being at Leavenworth. which is
lnable to care for n very large number
II applicants In this area, whose cases
unnot for this reason be acted upon
q this time.
1T is expected by those who have
lpen Investigating the subject that
tie government of Nicaragua will ask
Ipt less than $1,000, 900 gold and a per-
ptual percentage of the profits of the
canal us consideration for the
lase of strip Of territory twelve
niles wide, as called for by the Hep
mrn bill. The Maritime Canal Com
pny, In their contract, agree to give
y. 100000 and a share of the receipts.
AID the Cragin-Eyre concession calls
ftr SS.0O0,000 In stock and one-half of
tbe net receipts after the payment of
SIX per cent dividend upon the stock.
Ifthe canal is built by the government
oflthe United States, as proposed by
peiding legislation, no stock will be
Issued. and 1t is doubtful whether Con
grsss would consider 1t good policy for
our government to go into partnership
with Nicaragua. There have been no
negotiations for 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 it was
tbwn there recently.
Representatives Bell of Colorado.
Dalzell of Pennsylvania, Lacey of
Iowa and Wilson of Arizona called
ipon President Mckinley Tuesday
md urged approval of the bill opening
,art of the Navajo Indian reservation
or mining operations. Mr.. Dalzell
poke in behalf of number of Penn
iylyanians who have organized large
company with the intention of mining
In the reservations, If
,pened. Mr.. Lacey spoke for the pub
ic lands committee, which had recon-
the passage OF the bill, and
Iessrs. Bell and Wilson advocated
he measure for the benefits 1t would
,ring the people Of Colorado and
Arizona. President Mckinley gave
he committee considerate hearing. He
aid the secretary of the interior had
recommended that the bill be disap-
'roved, holding that the lands should
lot be taken from the Indians save
" treaty and upon payment to them
or the lands taken. He suggested
hat the delegation advocating the bill
lie brief, meeting, If possible. the
rguments and objections OF the In
erior Department. This will be done,
nd II is possible that sufficiently
trong case may be made to induce
resident Mckinley to approve the
ill.
A special to the New York Herald
rom Washington says: Secretary
.ong will formally reprlmand Captain
:. f. Chadwick for his recent criticisms
( Rear Admiral w. $. Schley. This
rill probably be the extent of the de
artments action. Captain Chndwick's
xcellent record and the frankness
Nth which he acknowledges the Of
nnSe while at the same time disclaim-