, 1900-04-05
WASHINGTON NEWS.
"nnt ConEresa Is Doing.-Notes From the
white House and tho Departments.

"ittee On banking and currency has
submitted b report on the bill to give
greater safety to national banks, by
restricting the making of loans and
o~verdrafts to bank officers.
Senator Davis of Minnesota has in
reduced a substitute for the Puerto
Hican bill which provides for free
trade between the United States and
Puerto Rico, and extends he internal
revenue laws with amendments over
the island. The act is declared provis-
lonal and shall not continue longer than
March 1, 1902.
In the Occur d'Aiene investigation
Wednesday a sensational scene was
enacted when Attorney Cheney for the
state, practically charged Congressman
Lentz with being a liar and Chairman
Hull was scored by Mr.. Lentz. There
was much talk about fighting, but the
incident passed without n resort to
violence.
Secretary Root had n three hours
conference Thursday with the Philip
pine commission, during which he
discussed the instructions they should
follow after their arrival at Manila.
Written instructions will be given the
commission 1t is expected the secre-
tary will submit a preliminary draft
to the Cabinet. The instrument con
templates primarily the establishment
OF civil government in the Philippines.
Chief Willis l.. Moore of the Wealth
er Bureau has issued an order prohib-
iting persons connected with the SER
vice from smoking cigarettes during
office hours, and stating further that
those who smoked cigarettes at any
time would be mentioned in the conf
dental reports which are made quar-
terly to him by chiefs of the several
offices n divisions throughout the en-
tire service. He doesn't object to
cigars and tobacco, but says that Gig
arettes unfit a man for work in that
line.
The speech that Senator Beveridge
was to nave delivered before the
United States Senate on his free trade
amendment TO the Puerto Rican tariff
bill will be used as a Democratic cam
paign document in Indiana n other
states. In some mysterious way the
Indiana Democratic committee has Sc
cured n printed copy of the speech. The
Republicans are much concerned as TO
how the copy fell into the hands of the
enemy. The Democrats intend care
fully to analyZe the speech before they
send it out for general distribution.
One hundred ladies of this city have
subscribed S25 each to purchase a u
venir to be presented to Lady Paunce-
fote, wife OF the British ambassador
Although Lord Pauncefote's term Of
service expired W years ago, 1t has
been extended by command of the
Queen because of his great usefulness,
but this is probably his last season In
Washington, and Lady Pauncefote's
friends in this city have selected n dia-
mond sunburst costing $1,000 which
they will hand her before she leaves in
the spring, to remind her OF their re-
gard and affection.
Consideration has been caused by
the discovery that Charles E. Magoon,
law officer of the division of inSular
affairs, upon whose opinion the secre-
tary of war and the opponents of free
trade with Puerto Rico have been rely
Ing for arguments, had previously writ
ten another opinion, in which he main
tanned n position exactly contrary to
that assumed in the second document.
His first opinion declared the constitu-
ton was extended to Puerto Rico when
the peace convention was ratified. His
latest production insists that Puerto
Rice Is not a part of the United States.
After several conferences Monday be-
tween General Wheeler and officers of
the administration, it was announced
that the War Department had tempo
rarily disposed of its case by placing
him on waiting orders. This action
retains General Wheeler in the service
Of the United States until opportunity
Is had to determine whether he shall
be given an active command, made the
subject of n special retirement act, or
mustered out of the military service.
1t is stated that he would not be OBJ
liged to retire under the rules of the
regular establishment until next fall.
so there Is still opportunity for the gen
eral to see service again If he desires.
A direct vote was taken by the SEN
ate Thursday on the proposition TO
strike from the Puerto Rico measure
the provision levying fifteen per cent.
of the Dingley Law duties on Puerto
Rico products. The proposition was
defeated by a vote of 10 to &C. While
the vote is regarded as p~resaging the
passage of the pending measure, it is
not regarded as Indicating the final
vote on the bill. The feature of the
debate vas the speech of Mr.. Bever-
idge. While he advocated reciprocity
between the United States and Puerto
Rico, he announced that II all efforts
TO secure free trade should fail, he
would support the pending bill. The
bill was under discussion throughout
the session, several important amend
ments being agreed to.
General Solicitor Henderson of the
Burlington system stated to-day that.
in all probability, the secretary of the
interior will send a special agent of the
government in a few days to treat with
the Crow and Cheyenne Indians rela-
tive to the amount to be paid for their
tribal lands through which the new
Burlington line will pass to reach the
Big Horn basin region of Wyoming.
The route Of the new line Is from To-
luca, Montana, a station in the Crow
reservation near Billings, Southwestern
ly for n distance of $50 miles TO the
center OF the Big Horn basin. The re-
gion which will be opened by the new
line Is one Of the richest in natural re-
sources In Wyoming, and General Man
derson states that with railway facili-
ties 1t will soon become as prosperous
az any part of the West.
A visitor at the White House, refer
ring TO the lack of chaDlains with tho