Gilpin observer., 1902-08-28
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
GOVERNMENTAL PROCEEDINGS

The War Department. has In course
of preparation an order for the army
maneuvers to take place at Fort Riley,
Kansas. in the latter part of Septem-
Der. The maneurers will be timed to
suit the President, who will review the
troops that participate in them. Sew
eral thousand regular and volunteer
soldiers will appear in the maneuvers
including two regiments of United
States infantry, one regiment of Unit
ed States cavalry, several batteries of
united States artillery and the militia
organizations of Kansas and Nebraska.
1t is admitted at the State Depart
ment that there is a renewal of tension
between the United States and Turkey,
but the officials do not deem it prudent
to disclose the present condAion of af-
fairs. They say, however, that the
condition Is In no way grave, but 1t Is
of that strained character which has
occurred from time to time with Tur-
key in recent years. 1t is inferred that
the present tension grows out of the
pending claims of Americans who
suffered loss during the Armenian out
break. To some extent the Stone alb
duction gave added cause for irrita-
ton. The American minister, Mr..
Leishman, has been given wide lati-
tude to deal with the situation as cir
cumstances may demand.
In the naval maneuvers 1t Is believed
that the white" squadron under Com
mander Pillsbury has had difficult
problem set for it. Pillsbury's restric
lions were such as to confine him to
at most a dozen harbors, among them
Portland, Portsmouth, Rockport, Sa
lem and Provincetown. A full moon Is
also another factor against the enemy's
success. In the circumstances, the ma
val experts generally agree that an at
tempt to strike the coast during the
daytime would be foolhardy for at
lacking fleet. but that at night, w.,h
very thick weather it might be possible
for Commander Pillsbury, with his
ships darkened, to creep in, pass the
scouts and quietly anchor without be-
ing reported until too late for Higgin-
son to reach him with superior force.
Attorney General Knox returned to
Washington August 23d, being sched-
uled to sail from New York for Paris
ON the 9th. Mr.. Russell, who is now
there investigating the Panama canal
question for this government, has ca
bled Mr.. Knox that there are some fea-
lures of the case that should receive
the attorney generals personal atten-
ton. In speaking Of the railroad
merger suit the attorney general said
that testimony would be taken in the
case, beginning at New York mex.
month. Referring to the published re-
port that he would be selected to sue
coed Justice Shiras on the supreme
bench in case of the latter's early re-
tirement, Mr.. Knox said that he had
no Information upon the subject. The
published report that Solicitor General
John K. Richards is to resign to enter
into partnership with Abner Mckinley
is discredited by Mr.. Knox.
The new tariff treaty that has been
signed by T. B. Sharretts. United
States commissioner for tariff revision
in China, and by the representatives
of six other nations, changes the pres
ent ad valorem tariff of China to spe-
cific rates. This is in accordance with
the protocol. The specific rate agreed
upon Is based upon the average value
of products imported into China during
the past twenty years. Under the terms
of the protocol this change from ad va
loren to specific rates does not need
the signature of China. The change
will no doubt make some slight differ
ence In the rates Of duty, but is not re-
garded as a revision of the tariff to
any general extent. 1t Is expected that
in a commercial treaty the tariff will
be changed to a considerable extent.
The commissioners on the part OF the
United States to negotiate this treaty
are Minister Conger, Consul General
Goodnow at Shanghai and Mr.. Feely.
The treaty which they negotiate, 1t is
expected, will be completed within q
short time.
In a report made public at
the State Department United States
Minister Squires at Havana calls
attention to an interesting change
in the Cuban tariff law which
admits cheese cloth into the is
land free of duty in order to promote
what Is known as the covered cultiva-
ton" of tobacco. Important agricul-
tural interests of Cuba have for some
time urged that the step announced
above should be taken. and President
Estrada Palma in his message to the
Cuban Congress strongly recommended
the exemption of cheese cloth from the
payment OF import duties. Covering"
tobacco consists in placing the cheese
cloth Mt a certain height in the form Of
an awning over the plants to moderate
the intensity of the suns rays, prevent
the wind from swaying and breaking
the leaves, and, most important of all,
to guard against insect attacks. The
system has been tried with success in
Sumatra. The duty on cheese cloth
was from IS to 80 cents per kilogram
about 2 Is pounds) and the amount
imported has been approximately $15,-
600 worth per annum, little more
than one-half being from the United
States.
Advocates of the metric system in
the United States see In the action of
the colonial conference in favor of
compulsory use OF the metric system
the early adoption Of that system by