The silver star., 1901-01-04
WASHINGTON NEWS

/ VCnolOAk6 III EIV y LuOutu CONn W sAA~
widows Of General John H. McCler-
nand and General John NJ. Palmer.
Nothing in the Supreme Court since
the electoral commission that decided
the Hayes-Tilden presidential contro-
| versy has attracted SO much attention
aS the arguments over the political
status Of Porto Rico and the Philip
pines.
Robert II. Wilcox. delegate in the
House of Representatives from the
Hawaiian islands. has just been paid
a claim of 81 600 for mileage. 1t was
the largest claim of the kind ever made
but il was paid promptly by the SER
geant-at-trms. Mr.. Wilcox will draw
$500 more for his return trip.
Last year il cost three-tenths of one
per cent to collect the revenues OF TINS
government from customs, which in
cludes the losses as well as the saiar-
les and other expenses. In the Internal
revenue bureau il cost l.5S per cent. to
collect S295.0OOOOo. which also IN
cludes all losses as well as expenses of
every description.
Last winter Congress appropriated
$4,000 to pay the expenses of a dele
gate from the United States to the Sec
Oilu ttiltltHNt thstt 10 "
assemble on the 22nd of October next
at the City OF Mexico. but il is proba-
BILE that the authority will have to be
renewed at the present session. 1t
looks now as il the conference was 60
ing 10 be great success.
The secretary of war has sustained
the action of the military authorities
in Cuba in what is familiarly known
h., ..s,la ,,v1, sa' yxtfhnuf
prejudice. however, to the full legal
rights of the claimants which are left
TO the future determination of the
courts of Cuba. The case involves
many important legal questions and
bids fair to be u subject OF litigation
for years to come.
The river and harbor bill as II will
be reported from the House committee
soon after the reconvening OF Congress
on the Bird of January. will carry n pro-
vision abolishing the Missouri River
Commission. Members of the House
whose districts touch the Missouri on
either side generally express the opin-
ion that the navigation of the stream
is SO limited as to render the commits
sion useless.
There is good deal OF canvassing
among the Daughters of the American
Revolution over the approaching cleo
fion of president of that order in the
place OF Mrs. Manning. who promised
last year that she would not be can
didate again. Those whoa familiar
with the inside politics Of the Daugh-
tiers confidently predict the election of
Mrs. Donald Mclean OF New York,
who has been O candidate on several
occasions and is the most active MEN,
Der Of the New York chapter.
Christmas day was generally OBJ
served in Washington. in all of the
churches holding special services.
President and Mrs. Mckinley lad with
them as guests at dinner Surgeon-Gen-
eral and Mrs. Siernberg. DIR. and Mrs.
Rixkey. q. S. Hiestand. General Corbin
and Secretary and Mrs. COrtelyou. The
President did not go to church. hat he
and Mrs. Mckinley took two drives
out into the country during the day.
Secretary and Mrs. Hay. Postmaster.
General and Mrs Smith and Represent
alive Payne OF New York called on
them.
The House committee on rivers and
harbors will provide $20OOO0 to pay
the expense of final survey for q
fourteen-foof channel between Lock.
port and St Louis. The portion OF the
route between the terminus of the
drainage canal at Lockport and Graf
ton. the mouth OF the Illinois river.
will be surveyed under the direction
OF the corps Of engineers OF the army,
and that portion between Grafton and
St Louis by the Mississippi river com.
mission. In the opinion OF experts the
essential part Of the survey can be
made In year or so. so that salts.
factory report ought to be made for
the consideration Of the LvIlIth Con.
gress.
President Mckinley. like President
JEFFERSON. believes that his entire Cab
met should share the responsibility Of
all the important acts OF the admin.
istration. and hence every proposition
above the ordinary routine relating TO
the general policy OF the government
which may arise in any OF the execu.
tive departments * submitted for de.
bate and decided by majority vote.
the Presidents name being called nt
the end Of the roll. Every member of
the Cabinet has mn opportunity TO dis
c,iss the subject MS freely as he desires
and to question bis colleague In whose
department the mattcr may belong for
Information. but he votes OIL his own
responsibility.
The State Department has received
no money as yet on account Of the
Turkish indemnity claims. Nor has II
had any connection whatever with the
deal which has been made by the
Cramps wi..i the Turkish government
FOR the inclusion Of the amount Of the
Indemnity In the price to he paid for q
warshlp by the Turkish government.
But II does know that such contract
has been made and II also hns had for
It's own part promises from the Turk.
ish government that the claims shall
be paid. So. II the money comes
through the Cramps. II will I've ne.
cepted. ns the State Department recog.
Dizes the right of the porte TO selec,
any messenger 1t mny choose to trnns.
nit the money.
Mr.. Wilcox. the new delegate from
the Hawaiian islands. is going to hnve
trouble on the same ground M the late
I 49,.