The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-02-15

lease of the jefferson theatre, Portland, tt
| Messrs. Calm d Grant was executed Sat
urday. and the theatre is now in full pos
session and control'of the new proprietors
.....R Rev. VIM. P. Chapman, D. D., o.
Essex, Conn, a graduate of Brown an6
Rochester Universities, and a writer fol
popular magazines, has been unanimously
elected pastor of the First Baptist churcl
| OF Damariscotta.
| WASHINGTON WHIsPERINGs. The fact
| that The period of time allowed for the
ratification of the Argentine reciprocity
treaty expired Feb. 9th, will not, in itself
have any effect upon the fate of that con
venton. 1t was realized some time age
that even with fair sailing the treaty coulC
not be brought through within the allotted
time and the State department arranged
to meet the difficulty by having the Sen
ate, in the event that it should approve
the treaty, amend the clause providing
for the exchange of ratitications by
changing the date to some time in the
spring. This amendment would necessi-
tate the further action of the Argentine
congress in concurrence, but little difficult
ty is expected to be encountered in secur-
ing that. The navy is short on enlisted
| men and also of officers, and it is probable
that Congress will be strongly urged to
act as to the latter deficiency. AS for the
former, although the shortage is about
] 600 men, there is already congressional
authorization for the employment of more,
and all that is lacking is volunteers. But
as for the officers, with the increased
number of ships in commission and the
additions being steadily made to the navy,
it is no longer possible to give them the
terms of shore service to which they are
entitled. 1t is expected that the admins
tration will make an effort to have the
class of cadets at Annapolis increased by
about 100, providing for the distribution
of the new appointments among the mem
bers of the Senate. Mrs. Daniel Manning,
president general of the Daughters of the
Revolution, and Mrs. William P. Frye,
were heard by the House committee on
public buildings Feb. 9th, in advocacy of
the measure for a national building for
this organization on a site to be given by
the government. 1t was stated that S5O,-
900 was already in hand and that the
building would cost $3.50, OOO ... Sec. Long
has issued special circular calling atten-
ton of commanders of ships to the regu-
lations for the care of double bottoms,
pumps, water-ti tight doors and mechanical
devices for the management and safety of
vessels. The secretary's circular states
that it is issued because of the condition
in which these compartments and devices
have been found recently when certain
ships have gone to the navy yards for re-
pairs.... The small speck of trouble that
exists in the relations between the United
States and Nicaragua, owing to the ex-
tortion of double duties from American
merchants in Bluehelds last summer by
Gen. Torres, has been removed. The U.
5. government protested at the time, and
the Nicaraguan government placed the
money collected as excess duties by its
agents in the hands of the British consul
at Bluehelds, pending determination Of
its rights in the matter. 1t is understood
that the Nicaraguan Judiciary, to which
the matter was submitted has now reached
the conclusion that in this particular in
stance the money should be returned to
the merchants. -. President Mckinley has
been notified of his election as an honor
ary member of Columbia lodge of Master
Masons of London. ... The social season of
Washington is at its height, and many
pleasant functions are given almost daily.
Receptions, sat homes" lunches, teas
and dinner parties, follow closely on each
othelAs heels. The ladies of the Maine
delegation, as usual are doing their share
of reasonable entertainment. The Con-
gressional ladies at the Hamilton, includ-
ing Mrs. Littleield, held a reception,
Wednesday afternoon for their friends.
Mrs. Burleigh and Miss Burleigh, wife
and daughter OF the representative from
the third district, held their second re-
IL, ,1+..
They had large number of prominent
callers. Miss Allen, the daughter of Rep
resentative Allen of the first Maine dis
trict, gave beautiful tea, Monday after
noon.....T The Washington correspondent
of the Bangor Commercial writes: There
has been a great deal of satisfaction in
Washington over the recent reports of
Capt. Boutelle's decided improvement,
and the hope is heard from everywhere
that Capt Boutelle may be able to return
to his Congressional labors. There are
friends almost unnumbered here in Wash
ington who have been anxious for his
recovery. .... The Senate has entered upon
the last week of the discussion of the
financial bill. The debate on this ques-
tion has not attracted much attention, as
the opponents of the proposed legisla-
ton have little heart in the contest, ii
being foregone conclusion that the
bill will pass by comfortable margin
when the final vote is taken Thursday.
Some of the Senators place the majority
as high as twenty votes. The bill in its
final form will be adopted in the confer
ence committee of the two Houses and the
report of this committee will be accepted
IA statement prepared at the posi-
office department of the gross postal re-
ceipts for January, 1900, as compared will
the receipts for the same month of the
preceding year, shows an unusually large
percentage of increase. The total re-
ceipts were 81, 037, 919, an increase of $3.50
653 or 10. 6 per cent.
In BRIEF. The New England Intercol
legiate Athletic association at its annual
convention at the Copley Square hotel
Boston, Feb. 10, determined to hold the
annual field day at Worcester, the athletic
events being held there and the bicycle
races at the Charles River Park track
The officers elected were: President. Il