The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-06-21
FROM THE CAPITAL.
Our Correspondent Talks in
General About Wash
ingtOn.
tCommunicated)
w ASHINGTON.
June 18th. 1901.

1t has always been understood
that Mr.. Mckinley was abso-
lutely lacking the sense of humor.
That understanding no longer
holds good. Whether it was the
wording of some of the congrat-
ulations Showered upon him for
his declaration that he would not
be a third.term candidate that
aroused the sense of humor in
him, does not matter. The fact
remains that he now has it. His
first exhibition of it almost
frightened several members of the
cabinet, but they have become
accustomed to it now and find il
an agreeable change. The exhi-
bition was in connection with
some of the congratulations Mr..
Mckinley received during the
past week. He has a little bunch
of them on his desk from his
would-be Republican successors
that are particularly fulSome in
tone. The first man he showed
them to. with a perceptible
chuckle. was Secretary Hay. who
loves joke as we'll aS the next
man, Notwithstanding his digni.
fled and frowning appearance.
but who could not hide his aston
iShment of Mr.. Mckinley'S quiet
enjoyment of the congratulations
of these men for having taken
himself out of their way. How
ever, it soon spreads aud not one
of those congratulations will meet
Mr., Mckinley or any member of
his cabinet for a long time with
out arouSing an inward laugh.
Has the administration prom.
iSed tue Chinese minister to use
Its influence to prevent re.en-
actment 10y Congress of the Chi
neSe exclusion law. which will
expire next May? That question
Is deeply interesting the labor
organizations and others who are
working in favor of a prompt
enactment of he law by Con-
/ greSs, There are several SuSpic-
l0uS circumstances. The Chinese
minister, who has more pull
with the administration than any
other member Of the diplomatic
corps is openly working against
re enactment. and officials con.
nected with the administration
have been saying that the Senti-
ment on the Pacific Coasts much
more favorable to the Chinese
than it was when the exclusion
law was enacted. it is not prob
able that the administration
would dare to openly favor throw
lug open our doors to Chi.
neSe immigration, but it is fear.
ed by the friends of re-enact-
ment, that it may allow Senators
and Representatives to infer that
failure to re-enact the Chinese eX-
cluSion law would be diSpleas-
ing.
Boss Platt's new Commissioner
of Patents has evidently taken
''public office as a private snap
for his motto, and thereby he is
likely to get himself and the adj
mlniStratiOn in hot water. unless
some OF his superiorS in office
are wise enough to make him
withdraw his outrageous order,
suSpending hearings before him
self and the Assistant Commits
slOner of Patents. for the months
OF July and August, thereby de-
laying for two months the bust
ness of every inventor whose case
requires a hearing. The business
OF the United States Patent Of
flee is conducted at a large profit
to the government and the idea
that any official, even the Presi
dent himself. should assume the
right to suspend any branch of
that business for a long sixth of
a year, is ridiculous, and this ar
rogant Commissioner of Patents
cannot be taught too soon that
the United States Patent Office
is not his private property run for
his personal comfort or conven-
fence.
Senator Martin, of Virginia.
who is in Washington on official
business, said Of the work of the
State Constitutional Convention.
now sitting in Richmond: ..The
question of suffrage is difficult
problem, but | feel that the con.
vention will be able to solve it to
the satisfaction of the greater
portion of conservative Virgin.
ianS."
TEDDY" has made bid for
the support of the "nigger" del.
egates to the Republican Ma
tlonal Convention, by appoint
ing "nigger" his messenger
this is the only appointment at
the disposal of the Vice -Presi.
dent, although Senators told him
1t was against precedent to have
a "nigger" messenger around the