The silver star., 1900-06-22
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

propfiatinG x5.WntU TOT tne AVui0s-
ana purchase exposition at St Louis
Postmaster General Smith went 70
the White House Saturday for a con-
sultation with the President before
leaving for Philadelphia. The dralt
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 Tor
Philadelphia.
The Court of Land Claims has OIL
cially decided that Rear Admiral Samp-
! son was in command of the fleet at
! Santiago battle and that Admiral
| Schley was in command of division
| of the fieet. Also the cruiser New
| York. the flagship of the squadron. was
| in the fight This will give Sampson
and the crew of the New York share
of The prize money.
The following dispatch was received
at the State Department Tuesday:
chin Kiang, June 12.-Secretary OF
| Stale: Large numbers natives organ
lied secret society. halted here. People
very apprehensive. No protection.
| Want cruiser Martin" Mr.. Martin Is
| the consul at Chin Kiang. and his tel
egram is the first news received mere
[ to indicate the spread of the Boxer ag-
/ itation in that section of China. chm
! Eiang is one of the most important
treaty ports in China. II is about 10
/ miles from Shanghai.
! Director Merriam of the census Is OF
I the opinion that the first information OF
the census will be about the city OF
Washington. He expressed the BELIEF
that the population of this city will be
about 100000. The work of the enum-
orators has proceeded satisfactorily.
AS soon as the returns are in condi-
ton to be made public, Director Mer-
riam will announce daily bulletins.
Big cities will be heard from first. The
counting of people in these populous To-
calities should be ready for announce
nent in about two weeks.
| 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 n new era
for western investors. II is believed
that the opening of this reservation
will be of incalculable service to the
states bordering upon Idaho and that
I all mining states. as well as Colorado.
Utah. Wyoming and Montana. must
reap richly from the opening Of this
reservation. which. it is believed,
for the arid and semi-arid states.
| The Navy Department will advertise
| for proposals for supplying face-har-
! dened armor of the best type for battle
ships now building, for the protected
cruisers already authorized and for
the three battle ships provided for in
the new naval appropriation bill. Hav
ing been assured that much better
terms could be extended by the armor
companies II the contracts We're for
large amounts of armor, the depart
ment will test this by providing in the
advertisements for the submission of
bids of three classes. namely, for sup
plying 10000 tons OF armor; then for
10000 tons, and finally for supplying
10000 tons. 1t will be for Secretary
Long to determine IL the figure is rea-
sonable. II not, he must build an ar
NOR plant.
In addition TO changes already an
nounced by the postofiice department,
Ii is said that number of other i'm
provements will be IN effect during the
next fiscal year. The increased appro-
priation, it is said. will enable many
more clerks to take the fifteen days
leave Of absence contemplated by law
and an emergency fund will be placed
at the disposal of first-class officers
for extra assistance during the holi-
| days and other times when there Is n
large increase of business. The post
Office officials have strong hopes that
| II conditions continue to improve IL
will be feasible to limit working hours
throughout the service to eight hours a
| day. beginning with the fiscal year,
July l, 1902.
vI~x rl- hi. Tn
| pOrtatiOns from the United States.
coupled with the fact that we became
| In 1880 the worlds largest producer of
! coal. gives special interest to an elab-
/ crate discussion of the worlds coal
product. published by the 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 fifty per cent larger
than those of the corresponding
months Of ls9S, while our total produc-
ton for 1898 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 n larger production than the
British figures for the same period.
I Lieutenant Commander J. G. CoIwell
just relieved as American naval at.
tachc In London. IL under investlga-
tlon for failure to obey orders of the
Navy Department. A court of in
quiry is sitting for this purpose at
Washington. Lieutenant Commander
Colwell received orders to report on a
certain date In the United States. pre-
liminnry 10 going 10 the Philippines.
He failed TO report, and sent an explain.
alton that his condition was such, In
consequence Of an operation. that II
was inadvisable for him to travel. II
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, NO as TO remain
longer In London. The court IN OK.
pccted to submit Its findings In few
days.
The Navy Department hns decided 10
establish coalIng station of tho sec.
ond class mt San Diego. California.
This decision hns been reached upou n
/ 80