The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-03-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFtom our regular correspondent. J

| has taken tue first step towards tn
erection of a suitable memorial, il
Washington, to Gen. u. S. Grant
Without an opposing vote, the Hons
passed bill appropriating $lO,OO'
to be spent in securing designs for
memorial to Gen. Grant. Tile bill
provides that eminent artists shall b.
invited to submit competitive designs
Every distinguished European viSito
to the National Capital comments
upon the absence of any public mon
Eument to Gen. Grant, and the mum
erous monuments to soldiers of lesser
prominence add to their wonder why
there is none to Grant. 'A''
The Senate is to have an oppor.
tunity to vote on the Porto Rico tariff
without outside complications, as
Senator Foraker asked for and OBJ
tanned vote of the Senate recon-
hitting his bill providing civil form
of government for the island, to the
Committee, in order that an attempt
may be made to pass the House bill
levying a duty of 1910 on Porte
Rican products. Whether that can
be done is question upon which
there are two decided opinions. 1t
is understood that the votes to pass
the bill have been pledged, but the
republican Senators who favor free
trade have threatened to filibuster to
prevent vote being reached on the
bill. Conferences are still going on
and some agreement may be reached.
Meanwhile, the money which has
been collected under the DINGHY tariff
is available for public use in Porto
Rico, and Gen. Davis has been direct
ed to freely use it.
A bill authorizing the President to
appoint a commission to visit China
and Japan for the purpose of study
ing commercial conditions and max
ing report as to the best method of
increasing our trade with those
countries, has been passed by the
Senate. During the discussion, Sen
ator Hoar took occasion to reiterate
his opinion, which is shared by many,
that that Senators and Representa-
tives are constitutionally ineligible
for appointment upon any sort of
Federal commission. 1t is expressly
understood that no member of Con-
gress is to be member of this com.
mission.
The House Committee on Foreign
Affairs will this week begin an in
yestigation of the charge made by
Mr.. Macrum, that while he was U.
S. Consul at Pretoria, his official
mail was opened by British Military
officials. MIR. Macrum is in Wash
ington to testify and to produce any
other evidence of the truth of his
charge, which officials of the Depart
ment Of State believe to be entirely
based upon imagination, worked up
by prejudice.
Representative Fitzgerald further
advertised dirty book, by offering
resolution providing for the exclusion
OF ''Sapho" from the mails. Why
this particular publication should be
singled out while thousands equally
as dirty and demoralizing are in cir
eulation. Mr.. Fitzgeald's resolution
fails to point out.
Senator Wolcott, of Colo, is the
hrst member of the Senate to own an
automobile. He uses it every day in
going TO and from the Capitol, the
departments and the White House,
and says he does so for economy, be-
cause it is cheaper and less trouble
than a pair of horses and carriage. |
There are quite a number of Senat-
prs, however, who get along without
carriages. using the street cars to get
about9oD iogalW 40 ilrni,4r.sr
After having served for sixteen |
Fears and ID every important division
II the Y, :, Patent Office. including |
hat Of Commissioner Of Patents,
Mrs A. T, Greeley, who resigned a
ew days ago. leaves it benefited by
Encouragement, his example, and
lis. stern repression of.srapacious |
winding patent attorneys, many of
whom, incluaing John Wedderburn,
we're disbarred through him. There
8 the little inducement FOR men OF !
lr. Greeley's calibre In rema;n N "