Gilpin observer., 1900-05-03
CONGRESSIONAL GRIST-
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

| rails flag in blue and white enamel In
place of the figures upon the dial are
the letters G-E-O-R-G-E-D-E-W
! and upon the lid of the case is an in
scription: presented TO Admiral
George Dewey by $4,000 school chill
dren of Minnesota and the Northwest,
no one of whom contributed more than
a penny"
| Representatives Bell of Colorado,
Dalzell of Pennsylvania, Lacey of
| Iowa and Wilson of Arizona called
upon President Mckinley Tuesday
and urged approval of the bill opening
part of the Navajo Indian reservation
for mining operations. Mr.. Dalzell
spoke in behalf of a number of Penn
sylvanians who have organized large
company with the intention of mining
extensively in the reservations, ifS
opened. Mr.. Lacey spoke for the pub
| lie lands committee. which had recon-
| mended the passage Of the hill, and
Messrs. Bell and Wilson advocated
the measure for the benefits it would
bring the people of Colorado and
Arizona. President Mckinley gave
| the committee considerate hearing. He
said the secretary of the interior had
recommended that the bill be disap-
proved, holding that the lands should
by treaty and upon payment to them
for the lands taken. He suggested
that the delegation advocating the bill
file brief, meeting, if possible, the
| arguments and objections of the In
| terror Department This will be done,
and it is possible that sufficiently
| strong case may be made to induce
President Mckinley to approve the
bill.
The report of the commissioner of
| internal revenue looks very much as If
we We're becoming Il nation of beer
| drinkers, the increased consumption of
malt liquors having been so rapid dur
ing the last forty years. In 1860, when
the population of the country was 31,-
OO0,0 900. we consumed only about g.
600, 900 barrels of beer, or an average
of one barrel to every sixteen people.
In 1870, with. poulatlon of 3s, 900,
we consumed 6,574617 barrels of beer,
or an average of about one barrel to
every six people. In 1880 the popula-
ton had increased thirty per cent, but
| the consumption of beer was doubled,
and 80. 155. 1873 people consumed 1884,,
Ill barrels of beer. In 1890 the con-
sumption of beer had doubled again,
| reaching total of 2I,561 .9A barrels,
while the population had increased on
ly twenty-four per cent. to 1862, 25O.
In 1895, when. according to the eSti-
mates Of the bureau of statistics, we
had "a. .OOO, 900 people, we consumed 3d.
561.411 barrels Of beer. or about one
barrel for every two persons in the
whole community, and in 1899, with
| IO.OOO,OOO people, we consumed 36,bS1,
ia barrels of beer. Thus the popula
tion has increased 125 per cent and the
consumption Of beer 1,SOO per cent
The increase in the manufacture Of
whisky has not been SO rapid. In fact,
more whisky was produced In the
United States in 1864 than In 1899, the
total in the former year being S5.295,-
1903 gallons, and in 1899 So. 125 ,532 gal
Ions.
The House committee on labor at a
special meeting Thursday directed
favorable report on the Gardner eight
hour bill, which has attracted
much attention in labor circles
and among contractors for government
work. The vote was unanimous in its
favor. In its amended form the bill is
as follows: THAT each and every con-
tract hereafter made to which the
United States. any territory, or the Dis
trct of Columbia is a party. and every
such contract made for or on behalf OF
the United States or any territory, or
|
volve the employment of laborers, or
mechanics. shall contain provision
that no laborer or mechanic doing any
part of the work contemplated by the
contract, in the employ of the cOntrac
| tor or any sub-contractOr contracting
for any part of said work. shall be re-
quired or permitted to work more than
| eight hours in any one calendar day;
and each and every contract shall stip-
ulate n penalty for each violation OF
the provision directed by this act, Of
$500 for each laborer or mechanic, for
each and every calendar day in which
he shall labor more than eight hours;
and any officer designated as inspector
of the work to he performed under any
such contract. or to aid In enforcing
the fulfillnent thereof, shall, upon oh
servation or investigation. report TO
the proper officer of the United States
or any territory. or the District OF Co
lumbia. all violations of the provisions
Of this act directed to be made in each
and every such contract. and the
amount of the penalties stipulated in
any such contract shall be withheld by
the officer or person whose duty 1t
shall be to pay the moneys due under
such contract. whether the violation Of
the provisions Of such contract Is by
the contractor. his agents or employees,
or any sub-contractor. his agents. or
employees. No person on behalf OF the
United States or any territory, or the
District OF Columbia. shall rebate or
remit any penalty imposed under any
provision or stipulation herein pro
vided for. unless upon n finding which
he shall make up and certify that such
penalty was imposed by reason of an
error In fact. Nothing In this act shall
| N RECONSIDERATION
by land or water. or so much of any
contract as Is to he performed by way
of transportation. or for such materials
ns mnY uSIInllY be hOmghi In Omen mnr.