Gilpin observer., 1904-02-04
EVENTS IN WASHINGTON AND
TRANSACTIONS OF CONGRESS

vania has introduced a bill to pre-
hibit the issuance of money orders on
Sunday.
The Senate has passed a bill ap-
propriating $5,00O,000 for a memorial
bridge across the Potomac river at
Washington.
The House has passed the army, ap-
preparation bill, carrying approximate
ly $75.O00,000, after adopting a num-
ber of amendments.
Senator Beveridge has introduced
bill for the suppression and punish
ment of bribery and official corruption
in the territories of the United States.
The Senate committee on foreign re-
lations authorized favorable report
on the Cuban treaty, including the
Platt amendment. The treaty has been
ratified by the Cuban senate.
The Senate committee on claims re-
ported favorably Senator Teller's bill
to pay the heirs of A. G. Boone OF La
Veta $12,291 for services performed by
Boone in negotiating a treaty with the
Indians in Colorado in 1865 by which
the United States received large area
of valuable lands.
Just before his retirement from Of
flee, Secretary Root addressed the fol-
lowing telegram to Governor Luke
Wright: Wright, Manila-Hearty con-
gratulations and good wishes upon
your assuming Office of civil governor.
There can be no better wish than for
same fidelity, ability and success which
have always characterized your public
service in the Philippine islands"
Representative Shafroth of Colorado
has introduced a resolution reciting
the work that has been done by the
commission on International exchange,
and authorizing the commission ito
agree. subject to the approval of Con-
gress, with other nations upon uniform
laws, which will tend to preserve as
much of the gold product of the world
for coinage and monetary purposes as
possible"
Senator Mitchell has introduced
bill authorizing the North American
Telegraph and Cable Company to oper-
ate telegraph lines or cables between.
the shores of Alaska and Washington
in order to reach the Aleutian Islands,
Siberia, Manchuria, China, the Japan
ese empire and the Philippines. The
company is required to establish line
within five years between the United
States and the Aleutian Islands.
Rear Admirla R. D. Evans, COM
mander-in-chief of the Asiatic squad
ron, writes to the navy department
that desertions in his command have
been reduced to minimum. He says
the worst drawback to discipline has
been the excessive use of alcoholic
drinks. Admiral Evans recommends
the establishment of canteens in the
navy, where beer and light wines may
be sold to the men, to be taken with
their meals or when coaling ships.
The report of the commissioner of
patents for the calendar year 1903
shows that the patent business trans
acted exceeded all previous records.
The total cash receipts of the office
were $1,616,69S. leaving surplus of
$1SS.000. There were 50,213 patents
applied for and 81, ,699 issued. The re-
port predicts the same increase for the
present year and says the patent Office
since its inception in 1869 has fur
nished a net balance of S. ,6S2, $40 to
the government.
For the first time in many years the
treasury finds itself without any gold
coin in its vaults. 1t is explained that
this condition is the result of an un-
precedented demand for gold certifi-
Gates during the time when the mints
have been fully employed in coming
Philippine silver and subsidiary silver
for the United States. The mints at
Philadelphia and San Francisco have
been ordered to begin the coinage of
double eagles and to work overtime un-
til a sufficient supply has been coined
to meet all demands.
President Roosevelt's elaborate en-
tertaining at the White House is un-
derstood to be compelling him to make
serious inroads upon his private for
tune. The $4,000 he receives as salary
from the government is far too small
to stand the strain of a constant sue
cession of receptions. dinners. lunch
cons, musicales and teas. Few of his
predecessors in Office saved anything,
and President Roosevelt has sur
passed all Of them in the brilliaucy of
the functions which have made the
White House the real center of WASH
ington social gayety.
Without the sacrifice of single duty
on products entering the United States,
and. in fact, without any consideration
at all, Minister Thompson has secured
preferential rates on several lines of
staple American products imported in
Brazil. The details of the arrangement
made public to-day are that Brazil
gives preferential rates to the follow
ing products from the United States:
to flour in barrels. thirty-two per cent;
to flour sacks, manufactures OF rub
ber still wines. paints, yarpishes, con-
densed milk, clocks and watches, twen-
ty per cent The minister says that IL
American exporters. manufacturers
and farmers are ready to take advan-
tage of this opportunity, there is a
boundless market open to them in
Brazil.
Captain ID. C. Shanks. governor of
the province of Cavite. in the
Philippines. in his annual report
to the War Department. dated Octo-