Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1906 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

The receipt of “black hand’; letters by members of the House has almost caused nervous prostration among some of them. The "black hand” warnings began to come a few days ago, when several members received pbstal cards’ on which there was a drawing bf a black hand. Beneath tiie hand was the wniag: "Chuy font flays more.” Members began to rtmsatk their think of what act they had committed to gain the enmity of the "black hand.” Two days after the receipt of the first warning a second came with tue same black hands andi the ominous words* "you have only two days mo.’e.’f This was followed the next day with a postal with the inscription "you have one day more.” These repeated warnings caused considerable t-larm until to-day when postal cards were received Inscribed in rial ink: "No more black hands; uso Blank soap.” Members of Congress believe this particular method of advertising should be abolished by law.

Theodore P. Shouts, chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, told the Senate Committee on Interoceanic Ca-

nals that the reason J. F. Markcl’s contract to establish a complete commissary on the isthmus had been canceled was because Chief Engineer Stevens had declared that Mr. Market would make $1,000,000 a year out of the arrange-

meat. Mr. Shouts said when he received Mr. Stevens’ message he called in Mr. Market and told him other arrangements would have to be made. "Mr. Stevens said the men could be fed on the Isthmus for 30 cents a day," declared Mr. Shouts. “Mr. Markel said that he could feed them for 30 cents if permitted to reduce the food to the quality given the laborers under Mr. Stevens’ plan.” The possibility of President Roosevelt's becoming the Republican candidate for a third term has been again widely discussed, following the statement made by Jacob Riis, the intimate friend of the President. “If duty demanded Roosevelt to continue this fight, he w’ould do it. I know he does not want to become a candidate for another term, but at the bottom of bls heart he believes in the people and will fight for them.” In many sections Republican leaders have come forward with pledges of support and the pros and cons of the question have been on every tongue in political circles. In the face of all this the President has not deemed it necessary to add anything to the definite voluntary statement made the day after he was elected that fie would neither seek nor accept a third-term nomination.

An embarrassing breach of rules resulted when Senator Warren of Wyoming escorted President Roosevelt’s two sisters, Mrs. Cowles and Mrs. Robinson, and two gentlemen Into the private lobby just back of the hall of the house during the session the other day. This lobby is so sacredly reserved for members that the rules forbid the Speaker to entertain a motion to admit others. Assistant Doorkeeper Kennedy, with apologies, escorted them hurriedly beyond the dead line and to a place In the gallery reserved for the President and his friends. The reforms proposed by the Keep commission for the conduct of the government printing office have been approved in the main by presidential orders. Each department is to appoint a committee on printing to see that unnecessary matter is excluded from all reports. The commission finds that the printing bill is $0,000,000 a year and that the unit cost of work is too high.

In considering the deficiency bill, the House decided that the eight-hour law for work on the Panama Canal should not be abrogated. It waa also determined that the Canal Commissioners should not receive compensation additional to their salaries as commissioners. Various amendments proposed byi the minority were defeated. Secretary Bonapare has ordered the dismissal of about 1,000 men at navy yards and stations because the item of $1,000,000 to cover the cost of repairs on ships had not lieetp Included m the deficiency bill jyxfSefore Congress. Senator Burton of Kansas, who had remained away from the Senate from the time of bls Indictment nearly two yenrs ago, complied with the technical requirement in order to secure the SI,OOO due Senators from mileage by stopping within the chamber for a moment from the cloakroom the other day, thus enabling the journal cleric to certify that the Kansas Senator bad been present. The amount for mileage Is SI,OOO, which Mr. Burtoa afterward draw. ' *

THEO. P. SHONTZ. ,