The state herald., 1900-01-26
WASHINGTON NEWS.
What Congress is Doing.-Notes From the
white H.use and the departments.

1t is said that j. S. Clarkson will not
be secretary of the Senate, there hav-
ing been serious objections made to
his appointment by several senators,
which are based chiefly upon the
ground that he has been and still is in-
terested in legislation now pending In
the Senate.
Representative Shafroth said to-day
that there apepared some misunder'
standing as to the provisions or the
arid land bill which he has introduced,
of the passage of which he is so conf
dent 1t does not provide for the ces-
sion of all the arid lands but loan of
l,0OpOOO acres to each state.
The secretary of war has returned to
the military committee of the House.
with favorable Endorsement, bill
recently introduced by Mr.. Moody of
Massachusetts, providing that the Off
GERS of the army who have served in
two wars with credit may be retired
with the rank next higher than that
which they now hold.
| The House on Thursday passed the
Senate bill to extend the powers of the
director Of the census, after striking
out the committee amendment to
authorize the director to contract for
extra printing with private contractors.
The whole fight was upon that amend
ment The Influence of the public
printer and the labor organizations of
the country Were employed against it,
and after II Lively debate of several
hours 1t was overwhelmingly defeated.
The publication Of the reports of the
twelfth census, therefore, will be made
by the public printer as in the past.
The special committee of the House Of
| Representatives to Investigate the case
of Brigham II. Roberts of Utah to-day
| reached Il final conclusion. On the po-
lygamous Status of Mr.. Roberts, the
committee was unanimous, and agreed
upon Il formal statement of the facts.
On the question of procedure to be
adopted the committee was divided.
The majority, consisting of all the
members except Littlefield of Maine
and DeArmond of Missouri, favored
, exclusion at the outset. Messrs. Lit
tleteld and DeArmOnd will make Il
minority report favorable TO the seat
ing OF Mr.. Roberts ON his prima facie
rights and then eXpelling him.
1t has been decided by the Postofiice
Department TO permit the star route
system In u measure 10 supplement the
system of rural free delivery. Second
Assistant Postmaster General Shallen-
berger has found that 1t is feasible to
permit carriers on star routes to de-
post mail in proper receptacles placed
along their line of travel. This plan
will he started in South Carolina be-
ginning July 1st, and will be extended
to other parts of the country as rapidly
us possible. This innovation makes
necessary change in the postal regu-
lation which forbids mail contractors
and their drivers access to the mail
matter or 10 any mail locks or keys.
Attorney W. Il. Harrison, who is
here representing the Denver Chamber
of Commerce. was heard before the In
tcrstate Commerce Commission Fri.
day. He appeared in the case OF Kin
del against the railroads for violation
of the long and short haul clause in
Denver freight charges. Mr.. Harrison
made an excellent presentation of the
arguments for the recognition Of Den
vcr's claim to fair treatment In trans
portation. He was attentiycly listened
to by the commissioners. Mr.. llarrl-
son says that he Is confident that the
commissioners viii give Denver the re.
lief sought.
There is No disposition on The part OF
the Navy Department 10 make any
change in the program for new naval
construction on account of the intro
duction Of the German bill looking to
the addition OF forty-cight armored
ships To the German navy. Attention
Is called 10 the fact that there are now
already authorized twenty-onc ships
for the navy In addition TO the fleet
afioat. This number is as large ms II
Is believed Congress will authorize nj
this time. and as the German increase
Is 10 be divided among eighteen years,
while ours Is continuous to each Con.
grcss, II Is felt that the United States
navy Is In no danger OF losing the posi-.
tion II now commands.
The ways and means subcommittee
recently named 10 inquire MS To the le-
gal meaning OF the United States" a.
applicable to newly acquired Islands or
dependencies In n session ARE discuss
Ing the general subject The members
feel that the question Is n pivotal one, on
which will depend the adoption OF tar.
III systems for the Islands. The only
decision directly bearing ON the point
Is by Chief Justice Marshall. holding
that the term United States means
the entire territory over which this
government exercises control. The
members Of the committee. Including
Mr.. Ncwlnnds who started the inquiry,
are inclined To view the foregoing opin.
lon ms n dictum incidental to the ease
and not establishing a fixed principle
of law.
The treasury officials say that favor.
l,ism has not been shown In making de.
poslts OF public money with national
banks. for such deposits have never
been refused when bonds accompanied
II Ms security. They further say that
no complaint or criticism Of the pres.
ont system Of dcp0sltlng public funds
hns ever been received from u bank
or n banker or any other financial or
commercial association of amy sort, he.
cause they are familiar with the meth
ods of the Treasury Department and
| approve them. The only complaints
aud criticisms have appeared In the
newspapers or have been made by pol.
ltician- FOR political effect. There are
. now $50 banks designated NJ dcposl.
tories Of public moneys, aud on Sntur-
day Inst the amount intrusicd TO them
was SNi.ii7.opo. or these nineteen are
| In Illinois. thirteen IN Indiann. eight IN
Michigan. eight In Wisconsin, twelve
| Ia Iowa, seven IN Kansas, six IN Ne.
| brnrkn and twcniy.throc In Ohio.
The Grand Opera House. the largest
| auditorium IN Washington. wns packed
Ia the doors sunday night with nm en.