Gilpin observer., 1901-05-02
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WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. G., April 20, 1901

| L ao lulih Ill taO Saouhs SoSOtSs-AS 49,
it seemD, not the Patt amendment, but
the tariff. Although the members OF
the committee from the Cuban consti-
tutional convention, now in Washington,
have been guarded in their talk, it has
become apparent that their object
was to use the Platt amendment to
dicker for tariff concessions on sugar
and tobacco, and that the convention
would swallow the Platt amendment at
a gulp, if assured OF the tariff conces-
sions. They have, of course, been in.
formed that it is congress and not the
executive branch of the government that
controls the tariff. The president could,
if SO disposed, promise to recommend
tariff concessions in his message to con-
gress, but there are reasons why he is
not likely to do so, chief of which is the
strength of the interests in this country
which would be affected by the tariff
favors shown to Cuban sugar and tobac-
co.
While the Cubaps are not making any
headway in the official object of their
visit to Washington, they have no cause
to complain of the warmth of their vel
come or of their entertainment. The
president and Mrs. Mckinley gave a
state dinner in their honor last Thursday
night, at which they met the most prom
inent man in Washington. Gen. Wood
siys there is no doubt that the Platt
amendment will be adopted, and that
the information gained by the Cubans
in Washington will result in fastening
action.
A book just published by the govern
ment-'The history of the capital of the
United States"-which, by the way, is
the handsomest book ever turned out
by the government printing Office recalls
the generally forgotten but interesting
fact that the original idea was to make
the rotunda of the capitol mausolem
of Washington. The idea was SO far
carried out that congress adopted res
olution dedicating the rotunda as the
final resting place of Washington's re-
mains. and the consent of the Washing
tons were obtained. Subsequently how
over, Virginia protested against the re-
moval of the remains from Mt. Vernon
and in 1882 the owner of the estate with
drew the family consent; and the idea
was abandoned.
One by one the traditions of the past
are swept away. Who has not read in
the past, with thrill of admiration, OF
the Indian under sentence of death, who
could be turned loose on his honor with
the certainty that he would appear Mt
the time set for his execution and pay
the penalty? Mr.. Raymond Herr, a
U. S. deputy marshalin Indian Territory
who is visiting Washington, thus dis
posed of that tradition: 1.-The story OF
Indians under penalty OF death being
let out on furlough and scrupulously
returning at an appointed date to be shot
do well enough for old times, but they
don't occur in these modern days. A
Choctaw Indian, who has been condem.
med to death, escaped, and it was two
years before we found him."
The Old wrangle about the free dis
tribution of seeds by the department OF
agriculture was given fresh start this
week by the publication of charges
made by the Wholesale Seedmen's
League, alleging irregularities In the
distribution and that the government
was being defrauded by the use of smal.
Ter PACKAGES that have heretofore been
used. Secretary Wilson denies most
positively either that there is any ir.
regularity or that the government is not
getting all it pays for. He says that the
seeds are bought in bulk by the govern.
ment and that the packages are made
smaller SO that n larger number Of per.
sons could be supplied, and the only
reason for the charge is opposition to
the free distribution of seeds by the
government.
MIR. Francis Loomis, United States
minister to Venezuels, reached Washing
ton this week, and as n result OF his con.
ference with Secretary Hay an official
denial that Mr.. Loomis had been re
called, at the request Of the president Of
Venezuela or for any other cause, was
made public. 1t is further stated that
Mr.. Loomis is on leave OF absence, grant.
cd ut his own request, and that he will
go to Europe for his health. Mr.. Loom
is soys the asphalt trouble in Ven
czuela has been greatly exaggerated by
publications in this country.
The president and Secretary Root
have decided that 10000 shn& be the
maximum strength OF the regular army,
unless some new trouble in the Philip
pines makes it necessary to enlist n larg
Or number OF man. mud TINT the full