The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-25

sent to the senate on Saturday last. The
senate was then in executive session,
and it was the last day of the special
session The senate adjourned sine die
at 3:40 that afternoon, and before it did
so, Mr.. Washington had been confirmed.
The entire transaction occurred almost
within an hour.
One of the first things Senator Long
did when he again took up his work at
his desk and at the departments was
to assure himself that there was no
stain upon Mr.. Bigham, who for many
years has been a reputable and success
full citizen of Kansas. He ascertained
from the department of state that there
had been no charges against Mr.. Big
hams record, and that while the depart
ment believed it was securing at the i'm
portant point of Capetown the benefit
OF the services of a younger and more
experienced consul general in the person
of Mr. Washington, yet there was not
the slightest reflection upon Bighan.
In common with all important officers
of the government, Mr.. Bigham, at the
beginning of the new administration.
fled his resignation, and all there is to
the matter is that he was not reappoint-
ed, Many other conspicuous represen-
tat1VeS of the government were not,
where they had served four or eight
years. Mr.. Bigham has had his present
position for practically four years.
Mr.. Bigham, as told in the State Jour
nal the other day from here, was in
Washington only about three months
ago on his return to South Africa after
his prolonged leave in Kansas. At that
time he stated that he had found the
duties of his Office not altogether to his
linking, and that it was excessively ex-
pensive at his post of duty, as to rate
of living. Indeed, he threatened two
years ago to resign unless the govern
nent granted him greater remunera-
ton His salary was then increased to
$1,000, but even this barely Sufficed to
defray actual expenses and enable him
fo 11of n cc1f nc 7ear1t
representative abroad decently should
do. Mr.. Bigham complained to friends
here at the time that his Kansas bust
ness interests were suffering and that
he had deemed it not advisable to take
his family back with him.
The return of Senator Burton to the
state leaves Senator Long as the sole
member of congress now in the city.
Senator Long expects to return to KAN
sas early in April. He has a number of
important departmental matters to look
after prior to that time; and his cor
respondence is still practically the same
as when congress is in session. The
work at his offices keeps up much the
same as during the active legislative
season.
In the closing days of the session of
congress Senator Long endeavored to
have included in the general deficiency
appropriation bill the claims for dam
Geary county during the army naneuv-
ers in the fall of 1908. He was unsuc
cessful but will take the matter up
again when the new congress convenes
in December. When the last army
maneuvers held in Kansas were held in
the fall of 1908 at Fort Riley, certain
citizens living adjoining held that they
sustained damages for destruction of
property. These claims were filed in
the office of the quartermaster general
of the army, war department, and were
passed upon by a board and a report
made to the secretary of war. The
claims aggregated Is in ALL and
amounted to $1,356.9S. When the war
department made to the secretary of
the treasury last fab, as usual, its
schedule for necessary and proper APP
propriations, to be included in what the
secretary of the treasury calls his book
of estimates to be transmitted to con-
gress, this item was included. Other
items of a similar character growing
out of maneuvers elsewhere in the coun-
try were also included Later the sec
rotary of war recommended to congress
for place in the general deficiency ap-