, 1901-03-14
WASHINGTON NEWS

Inc RepuDDcan senatorial conferences
decided not to r%eorganize the commit
tees at this session. This means an
early adjournment of the Senate.
The President has appointed William
A. Rublee of Wisconsin TO be consul
general of the United States at Hong
Kong, China.
The general deficiency, the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial and n IN
dian appropriations have been ap-
proved by the President.
The President has signed the army
appropriation bill, which contains the
provisions relating to the relations OF
the United States to Cuba and the gov
eminent of the Philippines.
Orders have been issued at the wal
Department for the reorganization OF
the enlisted force of the corps OF en-
gineers in conformity with the nr9v1s-
ions of the act of February 2, 1901.
The President has named as MEM
bers of the st. Louis exposition COM
mission Ex-Senators Carter, John NJ.
Thurston. William Lindsay of Ken
lucky and George W. Mcbride of Ore
gon.
On the 9th instant Captains X. ID.
Evans and H.. o. Taylor, having been
advanced five numbers for services at
the battle of Santiago, We're commits
sioned as rear admirals, to date from
February 18th last.
The number of persons visiting the
library of Congress in one day, March
9TH, was 72,512 by actual count kept
by a mechanical register. In three
days-Saturday, Sunday and Monday
the total was ove 100000 persons.
In accordance with the provisions
nf the naval appropriation bill as
passed, the six years course at the
naval academy will be Continued. The
Senate provisions for the appointment
of additional cadets was eliminated by
the conferees.
Senator Mitchell of Oregon comes
back after SIX years absence, having
defeated the man who defeated him.
During his senatorial career he was
famous for his industry, being IL of
the most untiring committee workers
and always ready to do work that
other senators tried to shirk.
Senator Aliens name is still carried
on the rolls as Il senator from Nebras-
ka and II is understood it will be until
the Nebraska Legislature elects or adj
iournS. There was some contention
that his term would expire on March
Bird, the close of the las Congress, but
the authorities held otherwise.
A general order from General Mac
Arthur, issued by instructions from
the War Department and recommend
ed by he Philippine Commission, has
fixed the ratio of reduction for United
States currency in the Philippines dur
ing the first quarter of 1901 at 81
UNITED States for 81 insular cur
rency.
One of the surprises of the closing
hours of Congress is the final passage
of what is known as the omnibus pub
lie buildings bill, providing for increas-
ing the present authorized cost limit
of forty public buildings in various
parts of the United States and di-
recting the secretary of h treasury
to enter into contracts for completing
them.
The omnibus public buildings bill
passed by both houses carried the fol-
lowing increases among others: Boise
City, Idaho. 100000 to S250,0O0;
Cheyenne, Wyoming, S250,00O to $780,
600; Butte, Montana, 100000 to $780,
900; Helena. Montana. 100000 to
S350,O0O: Leadville, Colorado, $4,000
to $4,000: Salt Lake City, Utah, $780,
600 TO 100000: Seattle, Washington,
100000 to $750,0OO.
The volume of work done by the
Congress just closed was shown in
a supplement to the House calendar
prepared by Tally Clerk Workfield of
the House staff. The House was in
session 1877 days. which is less than
any. Congress for years. The number
of bills introduced. etc, is given as
follows: Number of bills, 1896; num-
Der of reports, 5000; public acts, 345;
private acts, 1,250; total acts, 1885;
number of joint resolutions, 395.
In discussing the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, Senate Morgan read that part
of the treaty which relates to the Mic
aragua canal and also the protocols OF
an agreement for the construction of
the canal between the United States
government and the governments of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica. He de-
clared ii was perfectly clear that the
protocols entered into last fall by this
government We're n distinct violation
of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. 1t was
equally evident that the United States
must abandon its plighted faith with
Nicaragua and Costa Rica, in order
that the Clayton-Bulwer treaty might
be fastened permanently upon his
government and hang like n pail over
it, or take such a stand as will sus-
tain the President in his patriotic
and noble action"
The Democratic senators were some
what exercised over the assignment of
n seat on the Democratic side of the
chamber to Senator McComas, Repub-
lican senator from Maryland. BY COM
mon consent, the Democrats from time
immemorial have occupied the seats
on the right of the presiding officer
and the Republicans those to the left.
But the present preponderance of Re
publicans makes 1t necessary to seat
some of them with the Democrats,
and McCOmas pre-empted Mr.. Buffers
seat, which was about to be vacated,
thereby getting one of the best in the
hall. The matter was finally Quieted
by n transfer. Senator Heitfeld falls
heir TO the coveted place and Senator
McComas takes Senator Teller's seat
-Hu 4I1