The silver star., 1900-04-27
CONGR ESSI0NAL GRIST-
WASHINGTON GOSSIP

fISbluCut NAC4AAnAGy WAAh oGnu ~ t00
enate tho nomination of Frank W.
aackett to be assistant secretary of
he navy to succeed Charles HI. Allen,
ppointed governor Of Puerto Rico.
The cases involving the Kentucky
overnorship were docketed in the
United States Supreme Court on the
10Th. A brief statement, In which
ounsel for both Taylor and Beckham
bined, was filed ut the same time, ask
bg for an early hearing.
Admiral Dewey is receiving letters
rom all over the country promising
linn support. 1t Is regarded as partic-
|larly significant that many are COM
ng from the South and the Middle
Nest. He will not accept the vice
Presidential nomination under any con-
liberation.
Some big attorneys fees were paid
n the Clark case. Ex-senator Faulk-
her of West Virginia, who looked after
lir. Clark's interests, will receive a
handsome check, and ex-senator Ed
munds, who has represented Marcus
baly, is understood to have been paid
k1OOOO already.
The Supreme Court has decided the
Eases involving the stamp tax as 1t ap-
plies to express packages. the question
involved being whether the shipper or
The carrier shall pay the stamp charge
iOwn by Justice White and was favor
hble to the express companies.
In accordance with the recommenda-
tion Of the President in his message
sent to Congress, the Senate has pass
ed joint resolution providing for the
administration Of civil affairs In Puer-
to Rico. pending the appointment Of
officers under the Puerto Rlcan govern
ment law recently enacted.
In further response to the Senate
resolution Of January II last the Pres
ident sent to the Senate additionaldoc-
uments bearing upon the insurrecti0n
In the Philippines. The papers are all
Important. They show that Aguinaldo
tried to form an alliance with the
Spaniards against the Americans.
An exciting controversy occurred at
session Of the COeur d'Alene investi-
CATION committee when the petition Of
the secretary Of war from several hum
dred citizens Of the COeur d'Alene dis
trict, asking for the retention OF fed
eral troops, was presented. Mr.. Sal
ger denounced the petition as "bOgus
and fraudulent" declaring that many
of the signatures were fOrgeries and
that other names had been secured by
intimidation. He asked to Introduce
affidavits attacking the petitions, but
after an animated controversy these
were ruled out, the vote being on party
lines.
The Senate committee on agricul-
ture on Monday gave n hearing to rep
resentatives Of drug manufacturers
who are opposing free distribution Of
black-leg vaccine by the Department Of
Agriculture. The western members of
the committee. Messrs. Heltfeld, Hans
brough, Allen, Foster and Warren.
urged that the department be sustained
in Its action and that the full appro-
priation for conducting the Bureau OF
Animal Industry, by which the distri-
button Ii made, be allowed ~ provided
by the House bill. This was agreed to
and free distribution Of black-leg vac
will he continued.
Chairman Payne Of the House COM
mittee Of ways and means, has recciv-
ed from the Merchants association Of
New York an appeal for the abolition
Of the stamp taxes on express ship
ments, railroad and steamboat ship.
mcnts and kilograms. The memorial
complains at considerable length Of
the Oppressive charges" exacted by
express companies. speaking Of them
In strong terms as "m0nOpolies Of
quasi-public function. beyond the
reach Of competition or the control Of
the Interstate commerce commission, to
which other common carriers are sub
jected."
There IL no longer any question that
the diplomatic relations between the
critical state, growing out of the Sui.
tan's bad faith. He promised to nay
the indemnity claims Of the American
missionaries for the destruction Of
eight buildings Of the Euphrntes col
!eges at HarpO0t and several buildings
belonging to the American missionaries
nj Marash during the Armenian massa-
cres In 1905. What action the govern
ment Will now take to enforce the Sui
tans promise In not definitely
known, but ns the situation In critical,
II may result In Secretary Hay send.
ing the Turkish minister at Washington
his passports.
The House subcommittee on In.
Dor, In charge Of the Gardner eisht.
hour bill. reached q decision Wetincs.
day on the anal form Of the bin and
on several amendments. nll Of which
VIII be reported to the full committee
on labor. when Il In expected that final
action will tle taken. The bill has at
trHcted much attention In labor cir.
cies, being actively urged by tho
american Federation Of Labor. and
nus been theoretically opposed by
many large steel. arimor, ship building
sod ammunition concerns doing busi-
neas with the government, a. the
measure will have the effect Of fixing
N eIsht.hour day on armor and like
Commodities and In the building Of
The RepublIcan program includes
ne passage Of the shipping bin by the
ocnate and the passage Of the Nicar-
ssua Canal bill by the House Of Repre-.
=. ,.cntative. during the present session
~ ~ order 70 comply with the platform
" ne last Republican convention.
tsacn tscn pledged the party to that lcgisln-
eiOus III IN mn sSxs<,t<.S1 txAxssnwna tak