Gilpin observer., 1900-06-14

During Temporary lull in the ex-
citement which marked the closing
hours of Congress. the members of
the House from the Rocky Mountain
states, by concerted and prompt ac-
ton, succeeded in getting Congress
man Lentz of Ohio to agree to unan-
imous consent for the passage of the
bill granting travel pay to certain
members of the Torrey cavalry, and
the bill was passed and received the
approval of the president.
Director Merriam of the census is Of
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 Il 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
ment in about two weeks.
Adelbert Hay has done good work in
Pretoria and has justified his appoint
ment. He is only twenty-three years
old, but has shown that wise heads
sometimes rest on young shoulders.
AS consul of the United States he has
had most delicate and perpleXing
position to fill, and he has filled it to
the satisfaction of the Beers and the
English, whose interests he has looked
after, the American citizens in the
Transvaal, the officials of our govern
ment and all others concerned.
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. 1t is believed
that the opening of this reservation
will be of incalculable service to the
states bordering upon Idaho and that
all mining states, us well as Colorado,
Utah, Wyoming and Montana, must
reap richly from the opening of this
reservation, which, it is believed,
marks the beginning of new legislation
for the arid and semi-arid states.
General Wheeler is again, after an
interval of thirty-nine years, an Off
Ger in the United States army and Il
brigadier general at that. He gradu-
ated at West Point in 1859. and in 1861
resigned his commission in the Second
cavalry to enter the Confederate army.
lie is the first man with that record to
be restored to the regular army, and it
is supposed that he will be placed on
the retired list very soon, for he will be
siXty-four years old next September.
Having received this appointment,
General Wheeler expects to retire from
political life and will not be candi-
date for Congress.
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. Hay-
ing been assured that much better
terms could be extended by the armor
companies if 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 if the figure is rea-
sonable. If not, he must build an ar
NOR plant.
This Congress will go into history as
one of the most industrious on record,
and this session as the shortest ''long
session on record. In 1877 working
days both houses have passed 1,215
bills, of which 2S3 are public acts of
general Importance and 932 are private
acts granting pensions, paying claims
and giving relief to people who have
been injured or suffered damage in
some way or other through the govern
ment. a large number of the private
acts We're pensions growing out of the
war with Spain. The best previous
record was 723 bills in 175 days. Dur
ing the session 1152 bills have been
introduced, so that ten per cent. of
them have been enacted into laws,
which is another remarkable record.
The bulk of the business exceeds the
record of the four previous Congresses
combined during their long sessions"
OF course, so many bills could not be
passed without Il great deal of debate,
and the Congressional Record for this
session will make ten big volumes of
700 large pages, with two columns of
fine type to the page.
Congress adjourned sine die at ;
o'clock Thursday afternoon. For the
Senate it was II day of waiting. The
naval appropriation bill the stun
bling block TO final adjournment
could not be agreed to by the confer
rces of the two houses, and the dis
agreement was reported to the Senate
early in the day. The report was ac-
cepted by the Senate, which refused TO
request another conference, although
Mr.. Hale expressed the belief that an
agreement might be reached. Later on
the House agreed to the Senate amend
ments. Soon aftcrward the House res
olution providing for final adjourn
ment was passed, an amendment fix
Ing the hour mt > o'clock. June 9TH. 1t
was not until $40 that the President
pro TEN affixed his signature to the
naval bill. With other measures, 1t
was hurried to the President. and was
signed by him n few minutes later.