Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-09-29
Washington Letter.

| From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, September Pa, 1897.
No better refutation of the sensa-
tional tommyrot cabled from Europe
| this week about the United States
! having sent an ultimatum to Spain
| could have been given the public than
the departure of President Mckinley
Attorney General McKenna and Sec.
rotary Alger for Massachusetts, where
they intend spending week or ten
days in restful recreation. 1t must
| be evident to all that If there was a
crisis at hand, or even expected, the
president and two members of his
cabinet would not leave Washington.
These sensational publications are
from time to time originated In this
country for no other reason than to
create a sensation among the readers
of some newspaper belonging to the
school OF "yellow journalism" but
/ those which come from Europe are
often inspired by some manipulation
Of international politics, or speculat-
or in bonds. The latest story caused
| Spanish bonds to fall in price In all
European financial centers, and it
/ IIldH udN0 U6Su SUdEICu lOI UIldU very
| purpose.
There was no surprise in Washing
| ton when news of the unanimous
ratification of the annexation treaty
| by the senate of Hawaii was received
Everybody expected the ratification
| by the Hawaiian senate, just as every
| body expects the annexation treaty
to be ratified by the United States
senate early in the coming session Of
congress.
Acting Secretary Roosevelt has
ball, who will direct the movements
of the fotilla of torpedo boats which
will leave New York, October l, for a
trip down the Atlanti coast, his final
instructions This will be the first time
that the United States has had fleet
of torpedo boats together and the
most will be made of the opportunity
j to test the usefulness of this class of
boats. The fleet will consist of five
vessels, the Foote, the Porter, the
Dupont, the Ericsson and the Gushing,
and it's eYolutions will be keenly
watched by naval officers and all who
are interested in increasing the effect
iveness of our navy.
The opinion of Acknowledgement
McKenna rs tosthe proper construc-
ton of the section of the Dingley
tariff imposing discriminating duties,
rendered at the request of Secretary
Gage, was made public this week. 1t
is a long and carefully prepared docu-
ment, taking the ground that impor-
tations from other countries which
come through Canadian ports are not
liable to the discriminating duty; also
that the duty should not be paid on
! mportations ON other than British
possessions shipped in British vessels.
| This construction will be accepted by
the Treasury department. Senator
Elkins, who was instrumental in
changing the wording of that section
of the tariff bill with the especial pur-
pose in view of diyerting the foreign
freight brought into the United States
over the Canadian Pacific railroad to
our own roads, says the matter will
not be dropped, but that he will offer
a joint resolution in the senate to
abolish the bonding privilege, and
! will also try to put discriminating
duties on importations brought
through Canada. Senator Proctor
! says the opinion comedies with his
| views and that it will be especially
pleasing to the business men of New
England.
Inasmuch as the reports from Ohio
indicate that the Republicans will