The St. Johns herald., 1898-11-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Some News Notes From the Ma.
 fiOnaI Capital.

tiOnaI Capital
 From Our Regular Correspondent. )
 A leak in the Paris end of the admin istration has made it apparent why the republicans were so anxious that the treaty of Peace should not be concIud- ed before the Congressional election. We are to get the Philippine islands. But we are to buy them-a new wrinkle, after capturing territory by force of arms, to pay money for it-either by paying a large sum in.cash or by assuming about $40 ,000,0 ,000 of Spanish bonds, or by both It is not surprising that the republican managers should dread uch information as that going to the country on the eve of an important election, nor that they should now be trying to discount it by saying that nothing had yet been posi- lively determined, except that We would demand all of the Philippine islands. That demand was today officially made by our peace Commissioners, of the Spanish Peace Commissioners, but it was known in Paris several days ago, and known to the Spanish Com mission CTS that this government had agreed to proposition to buy the Philippines. A suspicious thing about this agreement is that special issue of Spanish bonds, Of $40, 1000, ,000, alleged to have been issued for public improvements in the Philip pines, which were floating around in the financial markets of Europe, from the time they were issued, all suddenly dis appeared about the time the Peace Com mission met, and today not one of those bonds can be bought. Where did they go They were bought np by somebody, according to lhe testimony Of European bond brokers. Did that some body nave advance inside information that ths particular issue of bonds was worth more than other Spanish bonds, because of this agreement of the U. s. govern ment to buy the Philippines? If so, who gave that information, and who is going to profit thereby? These are questions that will not down, and which many, if MT. Mckinley allows this agreement to be carried out, bring about scandal that will make Algerism seem like very small matter
 Secretary Gage has been giving away administration secretes. by publicly ad hitting that while he hoped for the elec- ton of republican majoritory of the next House, he would not go so far as to say that the he looked for republican success. The only difference between Secretary Gage and the other members of the administration is that he has pub licly said what they all think and say privately.
 Instead of being help to Quay, Mir. McKinley's visit to Philadelphia was positive injury to Quay, and Quayism. Mir Mckinley did not speak the good work for Quay that it was hoped by the terror-stricken Quavites that he would speak. In fact, he spoke not a single word that could be construed into smy pathy for Quay or wish for his success, although some of Quap's friends took especial pains to make openings for MT. Mckinley to say something of that sort. The result is that the Quayites are say ing that it would have been better for MT. Mckinley to have remained out Of the state, because his silence has been construed '.y .-- llti-1nay republicans ..u.I..IIIeV. elUIou sym pathy for Quay, and they are making some dire threats about what they will do in connection with the National Con- vention of 1890.
 Mir McKinleys Commission ought to give Capt. Wm. Astor Chanler, who served in the Cuban campaign and won praises from Gen Shafter in an official report, and who is now democratic can- didate for Congress against Lemuel Eli Quigg, in one of toe New York city dis tricts, chance to testify, if they really wish to get at some warm facts. Capt. Chanler says that Abner Mckinley made money out of contracts for furnishing supplies to our troops in Cuba, and more- over, that the stuff furnished by the Ab- ner Mckinley concern was of inferior quality, and not up to the specifications in any particular. This matter will be heard from again as soon as Congress meets.
 The country may expect the publica- ton of preliminary report from MT. McKinley's alleged investigation com mission, during tse present week, as Boss Hanna and the other republican managers have ordered that one be made andsgiven to the public before the Congressional election. There is little probability that whitewash report. such as will be made, will influence the casting of single vote. The people oi