Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 141, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1903 — WASHINGTION GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTION GOSSIP

In consequence of the Democratic vfctory in New York City, Hon. Charles Towne, ex-Senator, ex-Congressjnan, ex-

vice presidential nominee, and ex-resident of Minnesota, will become a prominent figure in the Democratic national convention and may ba either presidential or vie# presidential candidate. He is a Tammanyite and New Yorker. Ha took an active part in the New York campaign and, in his capacity as spellbinder.

did as mnch as any other one man to bring about the election of McClellan. Towne was a member of the United States House of Representatives in 1895, ’96 and ’97. He was elected as a Republican, but left the party when the gold standard was written into the creed in ’9O. Towne then practically organized the Silver-RepubHean party. In 1900 he was appointed to the United States Senate to fill an nnexpired term of two months. In the past two years he hae made a fortune in mostly as a promoter of Texas oil properties. \~.J The monthly statement of the public debt shows that at the close of business Nov. 80, 1903, the debt, less cash in the treasury, amounted to 1925,829,410, an increase for the month of $5,426,909. The debt proper shows a decrease of about $4,000,000 for the mouth. It is recapitulated as follows: Interest-bearing debt ......?>,s 002,911,240 Debt on which interest has ceased since maturity 1,106,720 Debt bearing no Interest ...... 800,808,870 Total ,$1,295,006,809 This amount, however, does not include $931,208,869 in certificates and treasury notes outstanding, which are offset by an equal amount of cash held for their redemption. The cash in the treasury is classified as follows: gold reserve $ 150.000,000 Trust funds . .r. 081,208,809 General fund 144.703,557 In national bank depositories.. 168,047,060 In treasury of Philippine Ini- “ ands :.... 4,906,449 total $1,308,057^932 Against this there are demand liabilities outstanding amounting to $1,029,720,503, which leaves a cash balance on hand of $360,237,429. While there is no disposition to pass a bill raising the salaries of Congressmen, it is growing more apparent each year that the existing stipend is wholly inadequate, and that few; men without private fortunes will consent to remain in public life. With every Congress nod » | few useful men qjuietly drop out on this account. A New England representative used to say facetiously that there were two classes of ihen, speaking from the financial point ofjview, who should come to Congress—tho»e who were so rich that no amount of ajppeal for money coaid affect them advefrsely, and those so poor that the worst; hanger-on would not waste his time In hunting them up. As this member said he belonged to neither class, Congress was no place for him. There was a time twenty years or more ago when by common consent this was not the case. A Congressman could live in reasonable comfort on his salary. But standards of entertainment are constantly rising here, as elsewhere, and few men can afford to wholly omit social obligations. The amendment of the timber and stone law as proposed by Senator Hansbrough’s bill, introduced the other day, in the opinion of many irrigation advocates may have a disastrous effect npon ■ the Irrigation law, killing its homemaking features and leaving it a convenient and profitable tool for grasping speculators and cattle men. The irrigation act provides that the government shall store the floodwaters and construct dams and diverting works, the land, when reclaimed, td be divided into small farms and given to homemakers and settlers. The Hansbrough amendment, it is claimed, would Glow the lands to be filed upon in tracts jf unliifiited acreage by individuals or corporations holding lien land rights for lands included in the forest reserves.

In his annual report to the district commissioners, Major Sylvester, superintendent of the Washington police force, says that the cocaine habit is greatly on the increase among the lower classes in the capital city, aud that vigorous measures should be taken at once to check tha evil. “It is bound to become a destructive agency unless something is done to prevent its sale by druggists,” he says. “Two years ago the drug waa hardly known, but the habit has grown, and the wreck of lives which accompanies the use of this deadly drug and its sister drugs, morphiqe, chloral and other pharmaceutical preparations, and even patent medicines, is becoming appareut” The comparative statement of the government receipts and expenditures show* that far November the total receipts were $44,692,594, and the expenditures $47,427,788, leaving a deficit for ths month of $2,735,194. The receipts from customs are shown to hare been $19.220,347, a decrease for the month of about $3,370,000; internal revenue, $21,235,511, an increase of $2,388,000; miscellaneous, $4,236,735, increase, $2,000,000. The expenditures on account of this War Department show a decrease of $1,460,000. For the navy an increase is shown of $3,703,000. *•" 1 •* / The fight for statehood for Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and probably Indian Territory ia fairly on the way. Senator Quay again ia tha champion of statehood. Nothing la to be done to th# direction of aecuring statehood until ths regular aeaslon. Then the subject ia to be precipitated in the House, where quick action la confidently expected npon a bill. Senator Quay expresses the opinion that Indian Territory should be Included In those to be admitted to the Utoton and to provision to that effect probably will be Included In the bllL . _

CHAS. TOWNE.