The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-01-14
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent
wv ,cYYr>,croN n ~ To,, 1909

From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. G. Jan. 2, 1898
The u. S. Treasury starts into 1898
with more pleasant outlook than it
had at the beginning of year for
some time. There was surplus OF
$1,750,000 for the month of Decem-
Der, and it is reasonably certain that
with the exception of the present
month, and possibly April, when heavy
quarterly payments on account of
pensions have to be made, every month
of the present fiscal year will show
surplus. 1t should not be forgotten
that the payments made on account
of the purchase of the Union Pacific
Railroad were not included to make
that December surplus. While this
condition is gratifying to President
Mckinley and every republican, it is
especially gratifying Chairman Ding
ley, who predicted many months ago,
when the extra session of Congress
was considering his tariff bill, that the
governments financial condition
would improve. just as it has done
under the operation of that bill as a
law. On Saturday, Mr.. Dingley fur
nished the Press Association with a
detailed statement of the revenues
under the Dingley law and of the rev.
enue outlook.
President Mckinley is thoroughly
alive to the meaning of the present
attitude of the great powers of Europe
towards China. He knows that they
are after commerce as we'll as territory
The U. S. wants no territory as far as
China, but it does want to keep the
valuable Chinese trade it already has
and to add to it, and, while not in
tending to get mixed in any European
deals or squabbles, it does intend to
take whatever steps that may be nec-
essary to protect American CONNER
cial interests in China. The U. s.
has treaty rights in China which
must be recognized by any power
that acquires territory by any means
in that country, and with that end
solely in view, the President and his
advisers are watching every move
made by the powers of Europe in or
towards China. In other words, we
have nothing to do with the relations
of China and other nations so long as
our treaty rights are respected.
Notwithstanding the persistent ef-
forts of a portion OF the democratic
press to prevent contributions, the
Presidents manly appeal for dona-
tions for the relief of the poor Cubans
who are suffering for the necessities
of life by reason OF the conditions on
the island and not for any faults OF
their own, has touched the charitable
hearts of the country and substantial
relief is pouring into Cuba by every
steamer. Arrangements have been
made for Miss Clara Barton, Presi-
dent of the American Red Cross, to
go to Cuba with staff of assistants
to help the U. S. Consular agents in
distributing the aid among the suffer
ing. The President is much gratifed
at the prompt response of the country
to his appeal for aid.
This year, for the first time since
1893, when the death of Mrs. Harri-
son caused its suspension, there was
no New Years day reception at the
White House. President Mckinley
spent the day in rest, going for drive
! with Mrs. Mckinley in the morning
and receiving several personal friends
| during the afternoon and evening.
The democrats and the assistant
democrats are striving hard to make
it appear that the financial position
OF President Mckinley, which is in
strict accord with the platform upon
which he was elected, furnishes rea-
son for the Senators who are populaly
known as "silver republican" to break
their pleasant relations with him, but
so far as can be learned it is labor
wasted. Some of these would-be mis-
chief makers may be surprised when
Senator Wolcott makes his promised
speech, explaining the trip of himself
and colleagues to Europe in behalf of
international bimetallism. Just be-
fore the Senate took its holiday recess
Mr.. Wolcott said that he hoped to
| be ready to make that statement
about the middle Of January.