Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1899 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

The rivalry between Mrs. Davis, wife of Senator C. K. Davis of Minnesota, and Mrs. Merriam, wife of Director of the

Census Merriam, also of Minnesota, which is now attracting attention in Washington, has existed for ten or fifteen years. Mrs. Davis, whose maiden < name was Miss Anna 1 Agnew, was originally a dressmaker in St. Paul. At that thne Mrs. Merriam was, as

she still is, a leader of society in the Saintly City. After Senator Davis married Miss Agnew, having secured a divorce from his former wife, Mrs. Merriam was at some pains to show her disapproval of the marriage. Finally Mr. Davis was elected to the United States Senate and removed with his wife to Washington.

When President McKinley was making up his cabinet the name of Mr. Merriam was suggested for one of the portfolios, but it is said that the outspoken opposition of Senator Davis prevented its serious consideration. Later the same influence is said to

have blocked Mr. Merriam’s path to the Russian mission. It has been understood that the feud had been recently settled, but the latest reports are that it is about to break out again with new intensity. Nothing will be done by the War Department to relieve the distress of the destitute volunteers in Porto Rico. There is no truth in the story from San Juan which says the deplorable condition of these men is due to neglect on the part of the War Department. Gen. Corbin said the soldiers who are now destitute in the West Indies insisted on being mustered out there, and received all their pay, commutation of rations, and travel pay to which they are entitled. If they have spent this it is their misfortune. They are now private citizens, and so far as money goes have no more claim on the Government than any other private citizens, although they will be given preference when the Government needs employes. It is believed the reports from San Juan have been exaggerated, and that there are comparatively few discharged soldiers who are in needy circumstances. After the killing of the negro postmaster at Lake City, S. C., the burning of the postoffice, and the w-ounding of the postmaster’s wife and children, the Postoffice Department decided the best thing under the .circumstances was to do away with the postoffice at Lake City entirely, and this was done. Now there comes up a wail from the people of that place that they cannot get along without postal facilities. Lake City has a population of about 600, arid since the postoffice was burned and the postmaster murdered those who formerly transacted their postal business there have had to go a distance of four miles to another postofflce. The Postoffice Department will not even allow the Lake City people to mail letters on the train, postal clerks having instructions to close the drop slot on the side of the mail car before reaching that place. The decision to send the Filipino ’flag captured at Iloilo to the naval academy at Annapolis disposes of a bitter fight between the army and navy regarding the capture of the capital of Panay. The sailors and marines from the cruiser Boston went ashore at Iloilo many hours before Col. Miller landed. They received the surrender of the town and captured the flag, but Col. Miller was promoted to be a brigadier general, while the navy people have only the flag. That there may be no mistake about the matter, the flag has been decorated with an inscription, showing it was captured by a landing party commanded by Lieut. Niblack, Feb. 11, 1899. Gen. Shafter at San Francisco has been instructed to establish a model camp at the Presidio for the accommodation of 4,000 volunteers. This is in anticipation of the muster out of volunteer troops soon to be returned from the Philippines. Reports from Gen. Otis indicate that there will be nearly 2,500 sick to leave the islands. These, as far as possible, will be brought home in hospital ships. The War Department is making detailed arrangements for the beginning of the homeward movement. Delivered with almost every mail at the pension office are letters from negroes throughout the country making inquiries as to how soon the commissioner will begin the payment of pensions to former slaves. In nearly every instance the writer says that he has paid some agent, lawyer, collector, preacher, club, society, association or individual, who claimed that the pension would be immediately forthcoming, and they are beginning to fear that they are not going to get the pension. China will not be partitioned by Russia or the combined European nations unless positive assurances given that the treaty rights of this Government will be protected fully. It is realized by the officials here that before long China will be divided up among the nations, and while this Government will not take a hand in the land grabbing scheme it will not permit the partition project to be carried out if this Government is to be the loser. Secretary Long does not believe Admiral Dewey will take four months to reach New York, although it will take some time to put the Olympia in shape for its long voyage. It will remain at Hong Kong to undergo some repairs and receive its coat of white paint, and many stops will be made en route. Since the Washington Monument was opened to the public on Oct. 9, 1888, 1,169,631 persons have made the ascent, or an average of one in every seventy-five men, women and children in the country.

Seised the Opportunity. Lofter—“lndeed, Miss De Vine, I oust say it You are the star of the Inks.” Miss De Vine—“ Now that is very dee of you and you are the first to dissover me, too.” "Then may I have an astromomer’s ■eward?” “What is that, Mr. Lofter?’ a “The right to give you my name.”— Brooklyn Life.

MRS. MERRIAM.

MRS. DAVIS.