St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-03-27
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
COngressmen AppOinted-Prize Money
The United States CensHs-DIsfran-
chisement BiII-Presidenfm Nc II Inley-
The boundary QuestiOn-A Counter


From our regular correspondent
# Editor of the CALIFORNIAN:
J. Many senators, congressman and thet
). families from the north and west remain
/ ed here after congress closed in preference
y to returning to their homes before the
p advent OF warm weather, but some are
f now making trips farther south, extend
2 ing their journey to Cuba and Porto Rico
for change of scene and for investiga
, ton. The President since his return has
, been favored with frequent calls urging
= promotions IN the army and in other de-
partments for friends. The appointment
of some of the senators and congressman
who were not reelected to fill their offices
in the next congress, has called forth
some criticism, although such men as
Senator Carter, the chairman OF the COM
missioners of the Worlds Fair at St.
Louis, is an able man and Senator
Thurston a very capable lawyer and the
other Ex's are acknowledged to be men
of national reputation and of good char
acter, yet the opposition claim that the
men have not made special study of the
duties of such commission, and they
ought to allow those who have to fill
the place, at $4,000 per year. 1t remains
to be seen in the future whether the
President made mistake or not in the
selection. 1t was generally supposed
that z. {. Knox of Pttsburg would sue
coed Mr.. Griggs as tie general,
but the Ohio delegation of Congress
have been urging the President to name
Gen. John K. Richards for the office, for
he filled that place in The state of Ohio,
when Mr.. Mckinley v las the governor.
A printed circular has been issued by
the navy department Of the treasury in
reply to many letters Of Enquiry with re-
ference to the prize money and bounty of
those engaged in the battles of Santiago
and Manila, stating that the matter is
still before the court of claims for de-
cision and no action can be taken until
judgment has been rendered in the mat
ter. Thus far only Admiral Dewey and
Rear Admiral Samls on have received
their prize money and that was made by
special decree.
Director Merriam d the United States |
census is commendd by all for his de-
c1ded action and measures in investigat-
ing. the irregularities in the MARYLAND
census. The Assistant Director, F. H.
Wines, has been sen with 20 enumera-
tors, to take the Ger BUS of two counties
again where the llsthas been padded, in
st. Mary and CharAs counties. The IS
enumerators, who took the census orig
inally, were appointd on the recommeu-
dation of congressm& or prominent men
of the state. Stephn A. Abel, of ST..
Mary County, Md was arrested and
brought into the pc Ice court, charged
with having knowingly made false re-
turns in seven cases. of persons who
were dead but he decared as alive and
actual residents. Some had been dead
5, 10 and Is years 1t has been said
that hundreds in New York city cemeter-
les have taken an active part in presiden-
tial campaigns but ira small state like
detection ollows Justification
more readily. 1t is chimed that Abel re-
ported 1,S00 from his district, which
was 500 more than vas correct, for $50
were non-residents ofthe district, 80 re-
sided in Washington and 40 in Balti-
more. The fraud occlrs in the district of
S. E. Mudd. Abel is
about 40 years of age, farmer and I'M
married and he was bended for 3d. 500. :
The law demands punishment for will
ully making fctitioHsreturns and con-
Viction for the same, fine not exceed Z
ng $4,000 and two years in prison. /
This case may prove 0 much Importance {
10 Maryland and affec, the re-apportion- I
nent of the state and also the members =
Of the house of delegates. Gov. J. W.
Smith sent for copies If the records for &
some OF the counties. Director Merriam t
declares that itany of he 81 900 census l
,numeratois have beer guilty of fraud, :
hey will be prosecuted 7
A good deal of interest centers in the !
lisiranchisement bill passed by the !
Maryland legislature. 1t is thought a
hat 10000 white people and perhaps n
81 600 negroes who are unable to read f
and write, will thus b, disfranchised, of h
whom the majority are republicans. c
Senator German has taken an active
interest in the new measure and that =
suggests that Democratic victory will .
olIow next fall in the legislature and .
mat senator German may again return r
to the United States Senate. The new -
law Will not allow voters the aid OF a :
ballot clerk to prepare their ballots and =
tue names are no longer grouped to rep :
resent the party. TIE case of Abel is +
SAD to be the first one recorded in the :
history OF census legislation in the Grim +
NAL court Iii affirmed that the errors s
DO not exceed so names in Charles q
county. In connection with these state +
ments' the opluion of Senator Burrows 9
seems timely tor he wi probably be the I
next chairman on privileges and cleo +
-ions IN the Senate. lie thinks that a r
Oallot law to disirarchise $4,000 citi i
<eus' so that the legislature of state v
may be dominated bv one political y