The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-06-16
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, June 1s, 1903.

from Washington were hot enough to
melt the wires. There was evidently
occasion for the use of hot words, as
the delay In getting the army started
from Tampa prevented Santiago being
captured when Admiral Sampson
knocked the outer Notifications to
pieces SO completely that he was able
to land force of marines to spike
the guns that his bombs had not made
useless and to take possession of sew
eral positions, aided by insurgents.
Gen. Miles did not go south day too
soon. His report of the condition of
affairs at Tampa caused CONSERVATION
in administration circles for awhile,
but he was ordered to adopt heroic
measures to straighten out matters
and to hurry the army off, and he has
at least got the army off, if he hasn't
Strengthened out everything and is
now engaged IN getting another army
ready to be started to Porto Rico
just as soon as it is known that the
movement against Santiago has been
successful. Congress has found it
difficult to keep quiet, but the dispo-
sltlon to regard all we'll that ends we'll
is causing suspension of judgment
until the end is shown to be well or
otherwise. That it will be all right
in the end is certain enough, but
there can be no other reason than
politics for dragging this war along
until the Congressional campaign.
Although the Treasury Department
has widely advertised its intention to
offer the 100000, 900 in bonds,
which will be the first issue under the
authority conferred by the war-revenue
bill, to the people, Secretary Gage
makes no secret of his belief that the
greater gortion of these bonds will be
bought by banks. 1t is probable also
that he will much prefer seeing the
banks get them; he is a banker and
has always looked after the interests
of the banks.
Alabama men arc telling many
stories illustrating the peculiarity,
grit and determination of the family
of Lieut.. Hobsop, the hero of the
daring feat OF sinking the Merrlmac
in the entrance to Santiago harbor.
This remarkable family lives in the
little town of Greensboro. Lieut.. Hob
son has brother at West Point and
another practicing law. His lawyer
brother earned a reputation by the
way IN which he argued the first case
he had before the Alabama Supreme
Court. 1t was an appeal from lower
court, and the following was his open
ing speech: "Your honors, this case
has been decided by you already seven
times and each time it has been de-
cided wrong" He lost his case, of
course. but he got advertised all over
his state. The whole family seems to
make specially of upsetting preced-
ent and doing things in their own
way. Lieut.. Hobson and his COM
panlons will all be promoted as soon
they are restored to liberty, and Con-
gress will give them all medals of
honor.
When the war is over a Congress
ional investigation into certain trans
actions in which the government has
been made to pay large sums of money
tor ships, and other things bought in
connection with the war is likely to
bring about sensational developments
and to result in public disgrace for
certain individuals who have used
their pull with the administration to
profit by this robbery of the public
treasury. Much information is in
possession of Senators and Repre-
sentatives, but patriotism has kept
them quiet, and will keep them quiet
until peace is declared then they
will talk, and there will be day of
reckoning.
There is much humbug in the civil
service discussion in the Senate over
the bill providing for taking the next
census. Everybody knows that Con-
gress intends to have the employees of
the Census Bureau appointed by pull,
just as all of the employees of Congress
are now appointed, and that the very
men who have been advocating hav-
ing the appointments made through
the Civil Service Commission will be
in the front rank Of the scramblers
after these places when the time
comes to give them out.
The controversy over the annexa-
ton of Hawaii is in a fair way to be-
come personal fight between Gar
Reed and Mr.. Nc. Kinley, if it has
not already done so. Reed is play
ing for time and with the assistance
of some. of his lieutenants he has
played successfully this week. His
game is to delay action until all the
,D1~o,r;, t;o. Hill, axo 1..1