Gilpin observer., 1901-05-30
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

The contents of the Congressional II.
brary proper have now reached the
| following figures: Printed books ant
| pamphlets mot including duplicates In
| the copyright office, 995,O00; manu-
scripts, 27,OO0; maps and charts, 55,OOO
music, $4,000; prints, $4,000.
1t is persistently reported that
George b. Cortelyou, secretary to the
President, is soon to receive sub
stantial promotion. 1t is said that the
President intends to put him into the
Cabinet, providing matters work out
as he now anticipates. In spite of eX.
plicit denials, the story still goes
around that Postmaster General Smith
will soon retire, and this is the place
which rumor says Cortelyou is to have
The comptroller of the currency has
decided that United States Senators
Bate and Tillman, having been sum-
moned to Washington as witnesses on
behalf of the United States in the case
of the United States VS.. Cullen, are
entitled to the usual mileage and wit
ness fees provided by law, and that
the law as to clerks and officers of the
United States. which provides that in
such cases they shall not be allowed
mileage, does not apply to United
States senator's.
The present number of employees in
the Congressional library proper num-
ber 1S5 and in the copyright office
forty-five, while the care of the build
ingS and grounds requires now force
dncluding charwomem of IL persons.
Only statistics can make evident such
requirements. The building with its
courts covers three and one-half acres
of ground: it includes over 100000
cubic feet and eight acres of floor
space; 1t has 2,150 windows to be kept
clean; it is finished in costly marbles
and mosaics and decorated with costly
paintings, which must receive assidu-
GUS care, and it employs elaborate ma
chinery-heating and ventilating ap-
paratus, elevators, book railways and
pneumatic tubes-which must be
smoothly operated and kept in order.
There is no law or constitutional pro-
vision to prevent President Mckinley
from visiting Mexico or Canada, or
even Europe during his term of office
If he so desires, although the prece-
dents are against it. This is the rea-
son why he remained on his own side
of the border at Ell Paso, says Will
lam Il. Curtis in the Chicago Record
Herald. 1t is customary for the SOW
ereigns of Kingdoms and empires to
visit each other at pleasure, but never
has the President of the United States
gone over the boundaries of the coun
try except on two occasions, Andrew
johnson and Secretary Seward once
crossed the suspension bridge in car
riage and drove up to take a view of
Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.
General Grant did the same several
years later.
hn yNlp of IN
reau of the Navy Department are in
dorsed by congressional action the
United States will have the greatest
battle ship in the world. At the pres
ent time the Lepanto of the Italian
navy is said to be the largest battle
ship a1oat. She registers 1890 tons.
Plans now under consideration by the
board of construction call for bat
tie ship of 10000 tons, with corre
spending armament. 1t is also hoped
to secure for this monster engine pow
er which will give her a speed of twen-
ty-one knots. Such n ship would cost
from SG,OOO.OOO to $7,OOO.OOO. and
Congress may not be willing to vote
the money. 1t is interesting to note
that only two steamships now atioat
have tonnage exceeding that proposed
for this naval leviathan-the Oceanic
WIFI li,-if tolS anu tlle Scltlc Wltn
2O,SS0. The Great Eastern's tonnage
was 1915.
Four million dollars. says the Chi
cago Record Herald correspondent, is
the sum which the administration is
proposing to pay as a premium on n
Monroe doctrine insurance policy. The
money is to go for islands which it is
generally admitted the United States
does not want, but which 1t is propos-
| ed TO buy in order to keep them from
falling into the hands of any of the
other powers. The dispatch from Co
| penhagen which says negotiations
have been concluded between the
| United States and Denmark for the
| sale of the Danish West Indies to the
| United States is mistake. No con
| clusion has been reached. The matter
will be disposed of. so far as the dip
| lomatic agencies of the two govern
ments are able to dispose of 1t. till af-
ter the return of President Mckinley
and Secretary Hay to Washington.
Even then nothing can be done till
the American Congress and the Dan
ish Parliament meet next winter and
give assent TO the provisional arrange
monts which the foreign secretaries
may enter into.
The commissioner of the general land
office to-day recommended to the sec.
retary of the interior that 15.522 head
of cattle and horses be allowed TO
Craze within the Big Horn forest re.
serve. Wyoming. during the coming
| summer. May 1st the secretary author.
| lied the pasturage of hut $1,000 head
of horses and cattle in this reserve,
and prescribed that not more than 20G
should be allowed any one applicant
Under the commissioners apportion.
ment II has been necessary to conform
10 the 200 rule. So far 125 applications
formation on file in the last office It is
! and approved. which. after uniform
scaling down. now represent 1i.0S3