The Delta independent., 1901-05-31
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

Herbert W. Bowen of New York has
been appointed envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary to Persia.
Mr.. Bowen was minister resident and
consul general at Teheran.
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. $4,000; manu-
scripts, 27,OOO; maps and charts, 5000
music, 204, 600; prints, $4,000.
1t is persistently reported that
George B. COrtelyou, secretary to the
President, is soon to receive a 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 Tfllman, 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 senators.
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 charwomen) Of II 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; it has ESQ 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
IL he SO desires, although the preee-
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 E. 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.
II the plans of the construction bu-
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 afloat. She registers $500 tons.
Plans now under consideration by the
board Of construction call for bat
tie ship of 10000 tons, with CORE
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 a ship would cost
Congress may not be willing to vote
the money. 1t is interesting to note
that only two steamships now af1oat
have tonnage exceeding that proposed
for this naval leviathan-the Oceanic
with 1924 tons and the Celtic with
2O,SSO. The Great Eastern's tonnage
was 1S915.
Four million dollars, says the Chi
cago Record Herald correspondent, is
the sum which the administration is
proposing to pay as n premium on a
Monroe doctrine insurance policy. The
money is to go for islands which it is
generally admitted the United States
does not want. but which it 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 a 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 it. 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
ments 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.l22 head
of cattle and horses be allowed to
Craze within the Big Horn forest re-
serve, Wyoming. during the coming
summer. May LIST the secretary author.
lied the pasturage of but 1900 head
of horses and cattle in this reserve,
and prescribed that not more than 200
should be allowed any one applicant
Under the commissioners apportion.
ment it has been necessary TO conform
to the 200 rule. So far 125 applications
formation on file in the last office it is