Catoctin clarion., 1898-12-08

cial legislation, regardless OF whether
failure of the present session to pass all
the legislation actually necessary makes
an extra session imperative. Senator
Allison was asked plainly whether be
was in favor Of an extra session to con-
slider financial legislation. but he adro-
itly declined to commit himself and
answered the question by saying: "The
President must decide whether or not
the new Congresshall speedily assemble;
we have nothing to do with the ques-
ton" He was also averse to express
ing on opinion, saying whom asked to
do so: "So many things may happen 10
the next three months that prediction
at this time regarding an extra session,
must be necessarily based upon the mer
est speculation"
Secretary Alger says. in his annual
report, in favor Of his recommendation
that it be provided in the legislation
for increasing the regular army to 100,
600 men, that natives of islands occu-
pied by our troops may be enlisted:
"These men are acclimated, understand
the language and habits of their coun-
trymen, and their enlistment will not
only give them employment. but also
have the tendency to enable the govern.
ment to get into closer touch with their
people than it would otherwise be able
to do. This would also relieve our own
men from serving in those climates to a
large extent, and would. moreover, en-
able the volunteers to be mustered out
of the service and return to the avoca-
tions of civil life" That laat sentence
will do more to hurry army legislation
than any other one thing. Every Sen.
ator and Representative is besieged
with requests to get this or that 1egi-
ment of volunteers mustered out, and
they all know that no considerable
number of the volunteers will be Or
dered mustered out until Congress pro
vides for the enlistment of regulars to
take their places. 1t is believed that
this peculiar situation will keep men
quiet who otherwise would bitterly op-
pose the bill providing for the increase
OF the regular army.
Senator Hale sees nothing but trouble
and expense in the ann exation of tht
Philippines, end declares his intention
to fight the ratification Of the treaty O.
peace to the full extent of his ability
regardless of what other Senators may
do. Mr.. Hale's pictures of the calami
ties likely to follow the ratification o
the treaty Of peace would be truly awfu
if he could make every body see through
his eyes. But it has not been forgotten
that Mr.. Hale drew some very weir(
pictures of what would happen to thi
country if it dared TO make war OF
Spain, which were a long ways from
what actually did happen; therefore hi
doleful talk isn't fetching any tears 0
alarm.
The probability of Nicaragua Cana
legislation is going to be good thin
for Washington hotel keepers, this win
tin, and it may be that some inpecune.
Gus statesmen who will be dropped iron
Uncle Sans pay roll at the close of thu
present Congress, will also handle som
of the Panama Canal Companys none
which it is understood will be liberall!
spent to block Nicaragua Canal legisla
tion. The house is the doubtful body
the Senate is known to be overwhel.
mingly favorable to the construction O
the Nicaragua Canal bv this govern
meut. There are signs that the admin
istration will use it's influence upon tn
House in favor of canal legislation.