The silver star., 1900-02-02
WASHINGTON NEWS.
What Congress Is uoinx.-Notea From the
white II. use and the DepartmsatA

What Congress is uoing g.--Notes Fron tn
white Ii. use and the Departments
Henry A. Hazen, professor OF meteor
ology and a forecaster at the weather
bureau in this city, was fatally injured
Monday night by being thrown from
his bicycle His skull was fractured
and he died the next day.
Kentucky Republicans are trying te
induce President Mckinley to interfere
in behalf of Governor Taylor OF thai
state. The President refuses on the
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 I'm
tied States and all other countries
giving all other nations the same trade
advantages that are enjoyed by the
United States in accordance with the
"open-door" principle.
The Senate committee on military af-
fairs has reported favorably on Sen
ator Warren's bill directing that mon
ument be built to mark the site of the
Fort Phil Kearney massacre, which
occurred December 21, 1866, near
where the city of Buffalo, Wyoming
is now located. The public lands COM
mittee reported favorably Mr.. War.
rens bill donating $1,000 acres of land
to the Wyoming soldiers and Sailors
Home at Cheyenne.
The Hepburn 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 will receive
\ the approval of the President. These
I statements are fully warranted by a
canvass of the two houses.
The Senate committee has closed the
I hearing ON the bill to establish form
/ of government in Puerto Rico and has
released Governor General Davis, VINO
has been here to assist with his advice
and information. Senator Foraker Is
/ preparing the report and revising MS
original bill to conform with the views
of the committee. Speaking generally,
it is proposed to place Puerto Rico on
the some footing as the territories OF
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. He
pointed ont that at present the demand
/ for fractional coin was so urgent that
the issue ran considerably beyond the
SJo.0o0,0oo authorized by law, and he
recommended that this legal restric-
ton be repealed. leaving the treasury
10 determine the proportion of frac-
/ 'ional 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 Il. Cox, and
Hon. Dan NJ. Ransdcll of Indiana fol
scrgeant-at-arins. to succeed Colonel
Il. ]. Bright. No selection WAS made
for chaplain. which will have the eff
feet of continuing the blind chaplain
William ii. Milburn. in that office. Tn,
allotment of the minor offices was
placed in the hands of the caucus com
mittee.
The record in the ''open door mattel
is almost complete. All the nations in
volved except Italy and Japan hav,
submitted in writing the guaranty re
quested by Secretary Hay that the mer
chants and manufacturers of the Unit
ed States shall have equal rights ant
privileges in the Chinese markets. II
ally and Japan, the only nations to b,
heard from. have also responded. al
though the communications have no
been received. This completes one O
the most notable and importan
achievements in the diplomatic histor,
of the United States.
Senator Clark of Montana Is the mos
accomplished lingust in Congress. al
though he never had the benefit of
college training. He obtained all hi
education in the common schools a
Mount Pleasant, Iowa. up to the tim
he was tweniy-One years old. lie nc
quircd his knowledge of foreigl
tongues since he became rich, and tn
study OF French, German. Spanish an,
Italian has been n diversion from tn
mental and physical labor of loOkin
after his vast estates. lie speaks. read
and writes all the languages named
and is familiar with their literature.
Representative White of North Cal
olina. the only colored represcntativ
In the House has reported II bill 10
'the protection Of all citizens of til
United States against mob violence.
etc. II provides that all persons slial
be protected from being murdered. toi
tured or burned TO death by mob
known ms "lynching bees whethe
spontaneous or prcmediiated. and al
participating. aiding or nbctting 4
such affairs are made guilty OF trca
son against the United States govern
ment and subject to prosecution In til
United States courts.
The report of the House committc
on agriculture ON the bill to reorganiz
md improve the United States wcnlhc
bureau. states that this measure Is ds
signed to inaugurntc mn ideal merI
system. "To briefly summarize III
salient features OF the proposed law
II mny be said that II npportions ~
poiDincnts among senators. reprcsei
iativcs and delegates without rcgnr
TO their political faith. and II provide
that candidates shall Ike nominate
under such conditions ns will render
difficult. II not impossible. TO cfret
the permanent appointment or the pr
motion OF mn unit person.