Gilpin observer., 1901-08-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. c., August 26, 1901.

Secretary Hays visit to President Nc.
Kinley, this week, had no connection
whatever with any urgency in public
business. In fact, it was more OF a
social than a business visit, although, OF
course, official business was naturally
talked about. Secretary Hay carried
data dealing with all matters OF impor-
tance that have come before the depart
ment of state since President Mckinley
left hington-the matters themselve
had been telegraphed to Canton Just c
soon as they came before the depart
ment. Secretary Hay will come back
from Canton, but his stay will be short,
as he has planned to join his family at
their summer>home, in New Hampshire,
and remain there until cool weather, un-
less important public business should
call him back to Washington earlier.
Acting Secretary Hackett has made
public letter to Admiral Schley show
ing that Rear Admiral Howison assured
the navy department that he had no
prejudice against either Rear Admiral
Schley or Rear Admiral Sampson and
was on friendly terms with both, before
he was selected as a member OF the
Schley Court of Inquiry, and that con-
sequently he dosen't think it necessary
to ask Admiral Howison to say any
thing about the newspaper interview
published when he was commandment of
the Boston Navy yard, which quoted
him as speaking disparagingly of Schley.
The second floor of a large building just
completed, in the Washington navy yard
is being fitted up for the use of the
court of inquiry, it having been decided
that no room in the navy department
was large enough to accommodate the
large crowd that will be attracted to the
daily sittings of the court.
Attorney General Knox surprised the
notoriety seekers who compose a com
mittee claiming to represent a labor
organization and an anti trust league
when he answered specifically au i'm
pudent letter they had written to him
and given to the press before he received
his copy, asking information concerning
the steel trust that it was assured he
had obtained as a practicing lawyer be-
fore he entered the cabinet. Mr.. Knox
would have been perfectly justitiable in
ignoring such letter as an insult, but
he knew that would be just what its
authors would like, so he declined to be
insulted and wrote very full, although
somewhat sharp answer. OF that por-
steel trust, he said: Il do not know who
the individuals are who organized the
U. S. Steel corporation. II they are the
persons usually named in the newspap-
with the single exception of Mr. c. NJ.
Schwab, do not know, never saw, ana
was never in any way connected with
any one o. them. l never heard OF any
agreement between them and the con-
stituent members of the steel corpora
tion. Neither at the time of the for
nation OF the U. S. steel corporation
nor at any tims was / officially con-
nected with the Carnegie Steel company.
was formerly one of it's legal advisors
in the conduct of its manufacturing bust
ness, but was never consulted with ref
erence to the formation of the U. S.
Steel company, nor in relation to the
sale to that company OF the shares
of stock held BY the atockholders of the
Carnegie company" In the last para
graph Mr.. Knox hits hard but in nice
way says: "Tnis department was not
called into being to furnish information
to private litigants. Its duty and its
object is to enforce the Federal statutes
as interpreted by the courts wherever
there is probable cause for believing that
they have been violated"
Mr.. j. II. Bingham, of Birmingham
Alabama, one OF the prominent republi
cans of his section, is in Washington. He
said of the new state constitution: 81
have no doubt that the new constitution
will bs ratified. The grandfather clause
in the suffrage plan has been strongly
resisted by many democrats, Senator
Morgan being one of those who declare
it TO be unconstitutional. But there are
several alternate clauses, 80 that should
this particular clause be eliminated by
the Supreme court, there would be still
other restrictions. Still, it is question
in the minds of many whether the new
plan win really dlsfranchise the negroes
That cannot be determined until after
the now constitution has actually gone
into operation"
The japanese minister came to Wash
ington, from the summer resort at which
he is spending his vacation, especially tc
present Colonel Watanbc, the new mill
] tarN ntlnrhn Of ihn Innnnnan Inrn, ion