The state herald., 1900-04-06
WASHINGTON NEWS.
What Congress Is Doing.-Notes From the
White House and the Departments

Chairman Brosius of the House com
mittee on banking and currency ha'
submitted the report on the bill 10 gV'
greater safety to national banks, U!
restricting the making OF loahs hne
Overdrafts to bank officers.
Senator Davis of Minnesota has IN
troduced substitute for the puerto
Rican bill which provides for fret
trade between the United States anG
Puerto Rico, and extends the lnternu
revenue laws with amendments over
the island. The act is declared proVls
ional and shall not continue longer thal
March /, 1902.
In the Coeur d'Alene investigator
Wednesday sensational scene Was
enacted when Attorney Cheney for the
state, practically charged Congressman
Lentz with being liar and Chairman
Hull was scored by Mr., Lentz. There
was much talk about fighting, Dut tht
| incident passed without resort to
violence.
Secretary Root had three hours
conference Thursday with the Phlllp-
pine commission, during which ne
discussed the Instructions they should
follow after their arrival at Mania.
Written Instructions will be given the
commission. 1t is expected the secre-
tary will submit preliminary draft
to the Cabinet. The instrument con-
templates primarily the establishment
of civil government in the Philippines.
Chief Willis l.. Moore of the Weath'
er Bureau has issued an order prohip-
iting persons connected with the SER
vice from smoking cigarettes during
office hours, and stating further that
those who smoked cigarettes at any
time would be mentioned in the conh-
dental reports which are made quar-,
terly to him by chiefs Of the several
offices and divisions throughout the en-
tire service. He doesn't object to
cigars and tobacco, but says that Gig
arettes unfit n man for work In that
line.
The speech that Senator Beveridge
was to have delivered before the
United States Senate on his free trade
amendment to the Puerto Rican tariff
bill will be used as n Democratic cam
paign document in Indiana and other
states. In some mysterious way the
Indiana Democratic committee has Sc
cured printed copy of the speech. Inc
Republicans are much concerned as 10
how the copy fell into the hands OF the
enemy. The Democrats intend care
fully to analyZe the speech before tney
send 1t out for general distribution.
One hundred ladies' Of this city have
subscribed $25 each to purchase n SOU
venir to be presented to Lady Paunce-
fote, wife OF the British ambassador.
Although Lord Pauncefote's term or
service expired two years ago, 1t has
been extended by command or the
Queen because of his great usefulness,
but this is probably his last season In
Washington, and Lady Pauncefote's
friends In this city have selected dia-
mond sunburst costing $1,000 which
they will hand her before she leaves in
the spring. to remind her Of their re-
gard and affection.
CONSERVATION has been caused by
the discovery that Charles II. Magoon,
law officer of the division OF insular
affairs, upon whose opinion the secre-
tary of war and the opponents Of free
trade with Puerto Rico have been rely
ing for arguments, had previously writ
ten another opinion, In which he main
tained position exactly contrary to
that assumed In the second document
His first opinion declared the constitu-
ton was extended to Puerto Rico when
the peace convention was ratified. His
latest production insists that Puerto
Rico Is not part of the United States
After several conferences Monday be-
tween General Wheeler and officers of
the administration, II was announced
that the War Department had tempo
rarily disposed OF Its case by placing
him on waiting orders. This action
retains General Wheeler In the service
OF the United States until opportunity
Is had to determine whether he shall
be given an active command, made the
subject of a special retirement act, or
mustered out OF the military service
II Is stated that he would not be OBJ
liged to retire under the rules OF the
regular establishment until next fall
so there is still opportunity for the gen
eral to see service again IL he desires.
A direct vote was taken by the SEN
ate Thursday ON the proposition so
strike from the Puerto Rico measure
the provision levylng fifteen per cent.
OF the Dlngley law duties on Puerto
Rico products. The proposition was
defeated by vote OF 10 TO GO. While
the vote Is regarded ms prcsaging the
passage OF the pending measure. II is
not regarded as indicating the final
vote on the bill. The feature OF the
debate was the speech OF Mr. Bever.
idge. While he advocated reciprocity
between the United States and Puerto
Rico, he announced that II all efforts
60 secure free trade should fail, he
would support the pending bill. The
bill was under discussion throughout
the session, several important amend.
menis being agreed TO.
General Solicitor Henderson OF the
Burlington system stated to-day thnt,
In all probability, the secretary OF the
Interior Will send special agent OF the
| government In n few days to treat with
the Crow and Cheyenne Indians reln.
/ tive to the amount To be paid for their
tribal lands through which the new
Burlington line VIII pass TO reach the
big Horn basin region of Wyoming,
The route OF the new line N from To-
lucn. MONTANA, u station In the Grow
reservation near Billings, southwestern.
ly for n distance of iiO miles TO the
ccntcr OF the Blg Horn basin, The re.
gion which VIII be opened by the new
line IN one Of the richest In nnturni rc.
sources In Wyoming. and General Man.
dcrson states that with railway faclll.
ties II VIII soon become as prosperous
nS any part Of the West
A visitor at the white House, refer.
ring TO the lnclS OF chaplnlns with the
volunteer regiments In the Philippines
and elsewhere. says that Miss Helen
Gould Of New York Is maintaining
nine or ten chnplnins In the army al
her own expense. These mon nre no,