The Elbert County tribune., 1900-02-01
WASHINGTON NEWS.
what Congress is poinE.-Note~ Frsn the
white u. use and tho Departments.

bureau In this city. was fatally injured
Mondny night by being thrown from
his bicycle. His skull was fractured
nnd he died the next day.
The present policy OF the admins
tration and OF the leaders in Congress
is to have the Philippines permanently
retain their own tariff against the I'm
tied Stnfcs and all other countries,
giving all other nations the same trade
advantages that are enjoyed by the
United States In accordance with the
''open-door' principle.
The Hepburn-Sforgan Nicarnguan ca
nal bill Will be passed during the pres
cnt session OF Congress. Speaker Hen
derson lis In favor OF the bill and OF
| prompt action. Senator Frye, presi-
dent pro tcInpore of the Senate. wants
action by the Senate. and expresses the
belief that the bill VIII be passed Mt an
early date. The measure Will receive
the approval OF the President. These
statements are fully warranted by
canvass Of the two houses.
The Senate committee on military af-
fairs has reported favornbly on Sen
ntor Warren's bill directing that q mon
ument be built to mark the site OF the
Fort Phil Kearncy massacre, which
occurred December II. 1865, near
where the city of Buffalo. Wyoming,
is now located. The public lands com
mittee reported favorably Mr.. War.
ren's bill donating 10000 acres OF land
to the Wyoming Soldiers and Sailors
Home at Cheyenne.
The Senate committee has closed The
hearing on the bill to establish form
of government in Puerto Rico ana has
released Governor General Davis, who
has been here to assist with his advice
md Information. Senator Foraker is
preparing the report and revising his
original bill to conform with the views
OF the committee. Speaking generally,
II is proposed to place Puerto Rico on
the some footing as the territories OF
the United States, with free trade In
all respects.
Secretary Gnge was before the House
committee ON coinage, weights and
measures the other day and spoke in
favor of the adoption of the metric
system. Mr.. Gage also referred to the
need OF fractional silver currency. lie
pointed out that at present the demand
for fractional coin was so urgent that
the issue ran considerably beyond the
S5O.OOO,O00 authorized by law, and he
recommended that this legal restric
tion be repealed. leaving the treasury
to determine the proportion of frac-
tional coin necessary.
| The Republican caucus of the Senate
has decided definitely upon the re-or-
gnnizatiOn of the elective officers OF
that body and nominated Hon. Charles
Bennett of New York for secretary, to
succeed Hon. William Il. Cox, and
Hon. Dan NJ. Ransdell of Indiana for
sergeant-nt-arms. to succeed Colonel
X. j. Bright. No selection was made
| for chaplain. which will have the eff
feet OF continuing the blind chaplain,
| William ii. Milburn, In that Office. The
allotment of the minor offices was
placed In the hands Of the caucus COM
mittee.
The record In the open door" matter
Is almost complete. All the nations in
volved except Italy and Japan have
submitted in writing the guaranty re-
questcd by Secretary Hay that the mer-
chants and manufacturers of the Unit
ed States shall have equal rights and
privileges In the Chinese markets. It.
ally and Japan, the only nations to be
heard from. have also responded, nj
though the communications have not
been received. This completes one of
the most notable and important
achievements in the diplomatic history
of the United States.
Senator Clark of Montana is the most
accomplished lingulst in Congress, al
though lie never had the benefit of a
college training. He obtnined all his
education In the common schools at
Mount Pleasant, Iowa. up to the time
he was twcnty-onc years old. He ac-
quired his knowledge of foreign
| tongues since lie became rich. and the
study of French. German. Spanish and
| Italian has been II diversion from the
mental and physical labor of looking
after his vast estates. He speaks, reads
and writes all the languages named,
and is familiar with their literature.
Representative White of North Car
olinn, the only colored representative
In the House has reported bill for
.'the protection of all citizens of the
United States against mob Violence"
etc 1t provides that all persons shall
be protected from being murdered. tor
tured or burned to death by mobs
known as ''lynching bees" whether
spontaneous or premedltatesl. and all
participating. aiding or abetting in
such affairs are made guilty OF trea-
son against the United States govern
ment and subject to prosecution In the
United States courts.
The report of the House committee
on agriculture ON the bill to reorganize
and improve the United States weather
bureau states that this measure Is de-
signed TO inaugurate nm ideal merit
system. ''ro briefly summarize the
salient features of the proposed law,
1t may be said that II npportions ap-
pointments among senators, represent
tatives and delegates without regard
to their political faith. and 1t provides
that candidates shall be nominated
under such conditions MS will render 1t
difficult, II not impossible. to effect
the permanent appointment or the pro-
motion of an unfit person.
The reports of the committee ON priv
ileges and elections in the case of NJ.
8. Quay. who claims seat in the Unit
ed States Senate on the strength of an
appointment from the governor OF
Pennsylvania, We're presented In the
Senate Tuesday. The majority report,
opposing the seating of Mr.. Quay, was
signed by Senators Caifery, Pettus,
Turley, Harris and Burrows, the last
named the only Republican signing II.
The minority report bears the. sigma
lures of Senators Hoar, Chandler,
Pritchard and McComas, all Repub-
licans and advocates of giving the seat
to Mr.. Quay.
All western senators are In receipt OF
petitions from various parts of the
country urging them to use their in
fluence to prevent the cession of pub
lie lands by the states. One resolu-
tion adopted by several subordinate or
ganizations of the Brotherhood of Car
penters and Ioiners has been forward
ed to senator's. reading ns follows: "Be
It resolved, that all the remaining pub
lie lands of the United States should
be held for the benefit of the whole
people and that no grants Of the title
to any of these lands should be made
to any but active settlers and home