Gilpin observer., 1901-06-20
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WASHINGTON LETTER.
I From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. c., June 1s, 1901.
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Mckinley came very near doing 1T when
he announced that he would not be a
candidate for the third term. The sum
and substance of the sentiments express
sed by men of all political parties is that
the country owes him dept of gratitude
for saving it from such three-t term dis
cussion as that which the people went
through in the late seventies, when
General Grant was being pushed for
third term, and when enmities were
aroused which lasted for years. There
is not the slightest doubt that the senti-
ment of the country is now, as it always
has been, overwhelmingly opposed to
third term for any president.
The question of an official to block
important business for his own comfort
or conveniece is squarely raised by an
order announcing that neither the Com
missioner or assistant commissioner of
patents will grant hearings to inventors
during July or August. That order, if
carried out will inconvenience and delay
every inventor compelled to secure a
uCdKIlS, anu lllS Seutldl ljltsSiOl
that the commissioner of patents exceed
his authority in issuing it. He and his
assistant get paid all the year around
and there is neither right or justice in
not conducting the business of all the
branches of the patent Office, which
turns in profit to the government all
the year around. Something should be
done at once to teach the commissioner
of patents that he is only a salared Of
lcer, and not the owner of the patent
Office, and it ought to be done quick
enough to save the inventors of the
country from delay and annoyance. It
is an opportunity of Secretary Hitch
cock to show his metal as n man Of bust
ness, and if he fails to take advantage
of it, the matter is likely to be brought
to the attention of the president. OH
cial notice of the unconditional accept
ance of the Platt amendment by the
Cuban convention has been received.
Ex-senator and Mrs. T. II. Carter, of
Montana, have had an experience that
probably has never been duplicated,
certainly not in large city. They live
in a three-story and basement brick
house in the north end of Washington.
For several years Mrs. Carter had MOTTO
ed the presence of a number of honey
bees around the house. She recently
discovered there was a hole between the
second and third stories, made for, but
never used for braces in Srick walls, and
that the bees were constantly going in
and out. She thus described what she
saw: 1--WE had a section of the floor re-
moved and imagine my surprise when l
saw honey solidly packed, extending
along the space between the joists and
reaching from the ceiling below to the
floor above it, a height of about eight
cen inches. We took out Several hun
dIed pounds of honey and there may be
many hundred of pounds left in there"
Mr.. Carter says he has something to do
with several kinds of mining, but this
is his first experience in honey mining.
1t will doubtless surprise many to be
told that the value of the coal mined in
the United States in 1900 S29S ,920,0 600,
exceeded that of any other mineral and
was one third of all the minerals. But
the fact is attested by official figures
just completed and made public 10y the
United States geological survey. Our
coal product was l4O00000 tons greater
or l6 per cent, than in the previous year,
and leaves England far behind as the
greatest coal producer, position she
held previous to 1893.
The labor organizations are already
at work preparing petitions TO Congress
for the re. enactment OF the Chinese ex-
clusion law, which will lapse next year,
at the coming session OF congress, and
their leaders are anticipating hard
fight. Speaking of what the knights OF
Labor are doing in that direction and of
the prospects tor success, John W. Hayes
secretary OF that organization, said: I'VE
have nlready sent out 100000 copies Of
the appeal of the San Frarcisco local
assembly, asking for re.cnactmcnt Of
the exclusion law upon the ground that,
If such notion is not taken, the tide Of
Chinese immigration will sweep upon
ua. ] have no doubt that wa will be
able to get the rc.enactmont through
the house, even though the administra-
ton may not favor such n policy, be-
cause the next congress meets on the
eve OF congressional election, and the
members will respect the position of the
workingmen Of the country. Whether
we be so fortunate in the senate is, to
my mind, an uncertain matter. | am
afraid that the administration will want
some legislation for the Philippines and
It's representntivee in the sennte will