Gilpin observer., 1901-05-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent

Members Of the house committee on
rivers and harbors in the last congress
who, of course, expect to be on the same
committee in the present house, will
make visit to all the principal gulf and
Pacific coast ports for the purpose OF
inspecting them, and to make the in
spection more thorough they will take
their wives with them. They are care
full to state that their junket will not
cost the government anything, and
| it probably will not cost them much
railroads are always willing to furnish
free passage to congressman. Another
junket will extend to the Philippines
The party will include Senators Beacon,
Harris, and Turner, and Representa-
tives Smith, Gains, Mercer, Neber, Nc
Cleary, Densmore, DeArmond, and
Burleson, each accompanied by his
private secretary. They will go on
government transport, from New York
to Manila, Gen. A. w. Greeley, chief
signal officer, has also decided to go to
the Philippines to omake personal in
spection of the operations of the signal
corps.
Secretary Roots official announcement
that thu government transport service
between the Uuted States and Cuba
and Porto Rico would shortly be aban-
doned and the government business
be divided between the Ward and the
Munson steamship lines, which submit
ted identical bids for doing the work.
is taken to mean that United States
authority is to be withdrawn from Cuba
in the near future.
Dom Paul Kruger is still inclined to
make visit to the United States, and
Mr.. Montagu White, who is the agent
of the Boer authorities in this country
is now in Washington trying to find out
how the government would receive Mr..
Kruger. 1t did not require visit to
Washington by Mr.. White to find that
out Mr.. Kruger would be received just
as the Boer ENJOYS were year or so ago
and as prominent citizen of foreign
country would have no trouble in seeing
the president. Has Mr.. White forgotten
how cordially the president received the
Boer ENJOYS and how he enthused as he
pointed out to them the beauty of the
views from the White House windows?
The same views are there and the presi-
dent would doubtless enjoy pointing out
their beauty to Dom Paul.
Solicitor General Richards, upon
whose motion Mr.. FREDERICK Degetau,
resident commissioner from Porto Rico,
was admitted to practice before the
United States supreme court, says the
admission has no significance in con-
nection with the insular cases awaiting
the decision of the court. He says he
made the motion because under the laws
enacted by congress appeals are per-
mitted from the United States court OF
Porto Rico to the United States su-
preme court, and it seems to him right
and proper that the Porto Rico lawyer
who practiced in the former court should
have tho same privilege in the latter.
II is the rule of the supreme court to
admit only citizens Of the United States
to practise, although foreigners have
been allowed to argue specific cases.
Therefore the admission of Mr. Degtau
is regarded as an expression of the
courts opinion that Porto Ricans are
citizens of the United States.
The first steps were this week taken
toward securing plans for new build
ing for the department of agriculture
Secretary Gage approved the appoint
paration of the plans. This board is
composed of Secretary Wilson, the Su-
pervisng architect of the Treasury, and
three well known architects. Ten arch.
building along the lines that have been
agreed upon. Congress appropriated
$1,000 to pay for the plans. 1t is esti.
mated that about 100000 } will be re-
quired for the new building, and nc
trouble is anticipated in getting congress
to make the appropriation at its mex,
session.
The idea seems to prevail throughout
the country that old currency and bonds
issued in the early days OF the govern.
ment will be redeemed in cash by the
United States treasury, while as n mat.
ter OF fact the only value of most Of
these old documents is as relics. Treas.
urer Roberts, speaking of the idca, said:
Hardly day goes by that does not
bring some old currency or bonds to the
department for redemption. Obliga.
tions incurred back in the time of the
continental congresses and in the time
OF the confederation find their way to