The state herald., 1900-02-02
WASHINGTON NEWS.
What Congress Is Doing.-Notea From the
White House and the Departments.

bureau in this city. was fatally injured
Monday night by being thrown IRON
his bicycle. His skull was fractured
and he died the next day.
Kentucky Republicans are trying tt
induce President Mckinley to interfere
In behalf of Governor Taylor OF tina
state. The President refuses on tne
ground that the courts are the proper
means for settling the controversy
The present policy of the admins
tration and of the leaders in Congress
is to have the Philippines permanently
retain their own tariff against the un'
tied States and all other countries
giving all other nations the same trad,
advantages that are enjoyed by the
| United States in accordance with the
"opcn-door" principle.
The Morgan Nicaraguan ca
nal bill will be passed during the pres
cnt session of Congress. Speaker Hen
derson is in favor OF the bill and OF
| prompt action. Senator Frye, presi-
dent pro tempore of the Senate, wants
action by the Senate, and expresses the
| belief that the bill will be passed at an
| early date. The measure VIII receive
the approval of the President. These
statements are fully warranted by !:
| canvass of the two houses.
| The Senate committee has closed the
hearing on the bill to establish II form
! of government in Puerto Rico and has
| released Governor General Davis, WHO
| has been here to assist with his advice
and information. Senator Foraker Is
preparing the report and revising his
original bill to conform with the views
of the committee. Speaking generally,
IL is proposed to place Puerto Rico on
the some footing as the territories oil
the United States, with free trade In
all respects.
Secretary Gage was before the House
committee on coinage, weights ana
measures the other day and spoke in
favor of the adoption of the metric
system. Mr.. Gage also referred to the
need of fractional silver currency. lie
pointed out that at present the demand
for fractional coin was so urgent that
the issue ran considerably beyond the
SJ0,OO0.00O authorized by law. and he
recommended that this legal restric-
tlon he repealed, leaving the treasury
TO determine the proportion of frac-
tional coin necessary.
The Republican caucus Of the Senate
has decided definitely upon the re-or-
ganization of the elective officers of
that body and nominated Hon. Charles
Bennett of New York for secretary, to
succeed Hon. William X. Cox, and
Hon. Dan NJ. Ransdcll of Indiana for
sergeant-at-armS. To succeed Colonel
! Il. ]. Bright. No selection was made
for chaplain, which will have the eff
feet Of continuing the blind chaplain,
William III. Milburn, In that office. The
allotment of the minor offices was
placed in the hands of the caucus com
mlttec
The record in the open door" matter
is almost complete All the nations in
volved except Italy and Japan have
submitted In writing the guaranty re-
qucsted by Secretary Hay that the mer-
chants and manufacturers Of the Unit
ed States shall have equal rights and
privileges in the Chinese markets. It.
ally and Japan, the only nations TO he
Heard from. have also responded, al
though the communications have not
been received. This completes one Of
the most notable and important
achievements In the diplomatic history
OF the United States.
Senator Clark OF Montana Is the most
accomplished llngulst In Congress. al
though he never had the benefit of "A
college training. He obtained all his
education In the common schools at
Mount Pleasant. Iowa. up 10 the time
he was tweniy-one years old. lie ne.
Qulrcd his knowledge of foreign
tongues since he became rich. and the
study OF French. German. Spanish ana
Italian has been diversion from the
mental and physical labor of looking
after his vast estates. lie speaks, reads
and writes all the languages named,
and Is familiar with their literature.
Representative White of North Car.
ollna. the only colored representative
IN the House has reported u bill for
''thc protection of all citizens OF the
United States against mob violence"
etc. IL provides that all persons shall
he protected from being murdered, tor
tured or burned To death by mobs
known as "lypchlng bees" whether
spontaneous or premedl,nted. and all
participating, aiding or abettlng In
such affairs are made guilty OF trcn-
son against the United States govern.
mcnt and subject TO prosecution In the
United States courts.
The report OF the House committee
ON agriculture ON the hill To rcorganize
and improve the United States weather
bureau, states that this measure Is de
signed TO lnaugurntc nm ideal merit
system. ITO briefly summarize the
salient features OF the proposed law,
II may be said that II apportIons np-
polnimcnts among senators, reprcsen.
tatlves and delegates without regard
10 their political faith. mud II provides
that candidates shall be nominated
under such conditions MS Will render IL
difficult, II not impossible. 10 effect
the permanent appointment or the pro.
motion Of an unit person"
The reports of the committee ON prly.
llcgos ana elections In the ease of NJ
;. Quay, who claims n seat In the Unit.
ed States Senate ON the strength OF nm
appointment from the governor of
Pennsylvania. were presented In the
Senate Tuesday. The majority report,
opposing the seating Of Mr.. Quay, was
signed by Senators Gallery, pcitus.
Tnrlcy. Harris and Burrows. the last.
named the only Republican signing II.
| The minority report bears the sigma.
/ lures OF Senators lloar, Chandler.
/ prltchnrd and McComas. all ,opub.
llcans and advocates Of giving the seat
TO Mr.. Quay.
All western senators ARE In rccclpt of
| petitions from various parts OF the
country urging them To use their In.
fncnce 10 prevent the ccsslon OF pub.
| lie lands 10y the states. one rcsolu.
/ tlon adopted by several subordinate or
! gnnlzntlons of the brotherhood OF Car.
/ ponictH ana Jnlnors has been forward.
! oil IA ~