Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1900-01-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, JAN, 22D, 1900.

WASHINGTON, JAN, 22D, 1900.
Senators are very leisurely discussing
the Financial bill, which is to be voted
on February 18th, and the speeches 80
far made are notable for their brevlty.
This is not hard to understand, however
as the financial question has been SO
thoroughly talked out that no Senator
can find anything new to say on the
subject.
The inAuynce Ct the administration is
being exerted in behalf Of the Payne
bill, now before the House Ways and
Means committee, providing for an ex-
tension Of the United States laws to
Porto Rico, and the establishment OF
customs and internal revenue collection
districts. If the bill becomes a law,
Porto Rico will have free trade with the
United States.
Representative Roberts, Of Mass, has
introduced a bill approprlating $4,000
for the erection of a statue Of the late
Gen. Lawton, IN Washington. In view
of the ninety odd thousands dollars
contributed by the people of the coun-
try, for the widow and children OF Gen
Lawton it would seem that Congress
would do popular thing to pass this
bill.
The proposed purchase by the gov
erument Of the submarine torpedo boat
Holland, received decided set back
when the Naval Board Of Construction
decided by vote of to /, against rec,
ommendiug the purchase. This decs-
ion was made on the ground that such
vessels are in the experimental stage,
and that their usefulness for war pur-
poses had not been demonstrated. The
department is not opposed to the idea
of submarine boats, as it is now having
one built at the Columbia Iron Works.
of Baltimore.
Talk and investigation consequent
upon the unwilling of handsome
bronze statue of Daniel Wooster, IN
Washington, mas brought out the very
interesting fact that Mr., Webster, who
was for long time one OF the leading
practitioners before the United States
Supreme Court, never was formally ad
mitted to practice befole that Court. In
view of the strctness of that Court, 1t
is difficult to understand the omission
of this form in Mr.. Websters case. The
only theory advanced to account for it
is that Mr. Webster was so we'll known
that it never occurred either to him or
membe of the Court, that he required
to be formally admitted to practice.
The regular pension appropriation
bill never fails to bring ont some lively
talk in the House, and the present bill
Just passed by the House, was no excep
ton to the rule. There was some very
plain talk about the methods of the
pension sharks, just before the amend
ment was adopted giving the Commits
sioners Of Pensions authority 10 refuse
to pay the fee Of pension attorney
when he knows that the attorney fails
to perform his full duty to claimants.
Representatives Ray, of New York and
Mahon, of Pa. asserted that it was a
practice of the pension sharks to file a
case and then leave it for the Congress
man of the claimant to look after know.
ing that the fee would necessarily have
to be paid to them when the case got
allowed.
In view of the fact that the commit
tee was unanimous in its verdict against
the right OF Roberts to sit in the House,
although differing as to whether his
seat should merely be declared vacant
as advocated by the majority report, or
whether he should DO seated and ex-
PEELED as advocated by the minority, it
seems little odd for the House to de-
vote three days to discussing the mat
ter, but that is exactly what will be
N 80 xxn