North Park union., 1900-05-11
CONGRESSIONAL GRIsT-
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

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Admiral Dewey likes the watch pre-
sented him by the school children Of
the Northwest better than any other
present he has yet received.
The House committee on public lands
has favorably reported on shafroth's
bill for the protection and preservation
OF prehistoric ruins In mountain states.
The House committee on military af-
fairs has directed favorable reports on
the bill establishing four permanent
camps in the four main sections Of the
country, for use by federal troops and
the national guard; also Representative
Marsh's bill giving rank to contract
army surgeons, and the Senate bill
providing additional officers in the COM
missary department.
II can be stated on authority that
the negotiations respecting the Amer
lean missionary claims are progressing
in the most satisfactory manner In the
view Of the government. The depart
ment has received from Mr.. Griscom,
the United States charge, a cablegram
announcing that the porte has under
taken to meet all of the engagements
made with the United States minister
regarding the payment of the claims
set up on account Of the destruction
of the American mission property in
Turkey.
In the House Tuesday, Mr.. Hin Of
Conencticut objecting, adopted the For
aker emergency resolution to continue
the present officers in Puerto Rico in
Office until the appointments are made
under civil government act MS amended
by the committee on insular AFFAIRS.
The amendments require that all fran
chises shall be approved by the Presi-
ident before they become operative,
and place certain restrictions upon
chartered corporations, such as the is
suing of stock or bonds except for cash
and inhibiting real estate corporations
or the holding of real estate by corpor-
ations except such as is necessary to
carry out the purposes for which they
are created.
The House subcommittee on Ia
Dor, in charge of the Gardner eight
hour bill, reached decision Wednes-
day on the final form of the bill and
on several amendments, all of which
will be reported to the full committee
on labor, when 1t is expected that final
action will be taken. The bill has at
tracted much attention in labor cir
cles, being actively urged by the
American Federation of Labor. and
has been energetically opposed by
many large steel, armor, ship-building
and ammunition concerns doing busi-
ness with the government. as the
measure will have the effect of fixing
an eight-hour day on armor and like
commodities and In the building Of
warships.
The Senate committee on claims has
authorized Senator Warren to report
favorably the bill to provide for the
payment of overtime claims of letter
carriers excluded from judgment as
barred by Limitation. These claims are
for time worked by letter carriers in
excess of eight hours per day between
the years 1880 and 1894 and not paid
under the various deficiency appropri-
alton bills passed for this purpose. The
aggregate amount of these claims Is
500, 1000. which will be distributed
among letter carriers In nearly every
free delivery office In the country. In
Colorado the amounts to be distributed
are: Aspen $22, Colorado Springs
$112, Denver 1927, Leadville &85, Pu-
eblo 1928, Trinidad $287.
Out of $1,000 civil employees Of the
government of the United States whose
names appear In the blue book, 2,5S2
bear the name Of Smith, and 474 the
name Of John Smith. The Joneses are
next in number, 1923 being on the pay
roll, with ], ,102 Browns and 1904 John
sons. Eighteen people Of the name Of
George Washington are serving their
country In official positions and Atty
two ordinary WashingtOns. Two per-
SONS Of the name Of William McKin-
ley are on Uncle Sans pay roll. One
draws a salary of "a, ,160 a month as
President and the other 500 a mouth
Us engineer in the Louisville custom
house. There are forty-eight Bryans,
and three Of them were christened
William. We used to have two Grover
Clevelands In the public service, but
only one now, who is assistant farmer
at Fort Peck Indian agency and re
ceives a salary of $50 a month.
The Senate military committee has
materially amended the Root bill for
army reorganization and decided to
make Miles lieutenant general and Cor
bin major general. The committee In
its amendments was influenced by the
protests which have reached the COM
mittee from army officers who repre-
Seuteu IuuI tue Dlil ub Ut IQe
War Department contained pernicious
provisions which would demoralize the
army and introduce politics and infiu-
ence In the administration of military
affairs. The new bill provides that the
present officers shall continue to be
promoted according to seniority, but
that hereafter any vacancy except that
Of chief Of corps shall be filled by de-
tail from the line, and there shall be no
more permanent appointments in the
star. The details are to last for four
years, and the officers are then re-
turned to the line, and, in the case of
those below the rank Of lieutenant col
onel, they must serve In the line for
two years before further stan duty.
Representative McCleary Of Mime
sofa has presented Admiral Dewey
one of the most beautiful and unique
of the many gifts he has received. It
is a watch, paid for by penny contribu-
tions from $1,000 school children in
Minnesota and the Dakotas, collected
by the Minneapolis Journal and 1856
country dailies and weekly newspa-
pers. The idea was suggested and the
fund was started by Archie Cadsow, a
lad Of sixteen living at Rosemont, Min
nesota, who has brought the watch to
Washington and assisted at the presen-
tatfon. The watch, chain and seal are
made of gold mined In the PhilfDpines