The Press., 1898-07-07
Washington Letter.

washington, July 4, 1898.
Heis a callous man, indeed, who can
look at Old Glory after reading of the
heroic conduct of Gen. Snafter's brave
men at Santiago, and of SIMPSONS gal
liant tars, who so ably assisted in the
winning victory after victory, without
feeling new pride of his country. Skaters
men fought under great difficulties. The
country around Santiago would be diff
cult one for military operations under the
most favorable circumstances, but when
those operations are successfully conduct
ed with the thermometer ranging from
105 to 1876 in the shade and against an
enemy about equal in numbers and strong
ly intrenched, they command the unbound
ed admiration of, not only Americans,
but of all men who admire bravery, en-
durance and determination. Skaters
short campaign against Santiago has
made an enviable place in history for
himself and his men. The casualties were
large, but it seems wonderful that they
were not larger.
Inasmuch as the members of the select
committee on the census, just named by
Speaker Reed, will have much to say
about the large number of appointments
to be made by the census bureau which
will get to work next year on the census
of 1900, outside of the civil service rule,
there was more or less scrambling and
wire pulling to get on the committee.
Following is the committee Hopkins, of
Ills, Chairman, Russell, of Conn, Bah
cock, of Wis, Heatwole, of Mimi, Ache
son, of Penn, Alexander, of New Y ork,
Aldrich, of Ala; Wise, of Va, DeVIies,
of CAL, Morton, of South Carolina !;
Ridgeley. of Kansas; Griffith of Ind and
Mcdowell, of Ohio. Eight of the com
mittee are republicans, four democrats,
and one populist.
Although there is still considerable out
side speculation as to Germany's inten-
ton the Philippines, President McKin-
ley and Secretary Day stated at cabinet
meeting that they had received official as
surances direct from the government of
Germany that no interferences with
American plans in the Philippines, had
been even thought of. The revival of the
old European story that Germany France
and Russia had formed a combination to
head off the U. s. and Great Britain in
the Philippines, is not attracting any
special attention in Washington, for the
very simple reason that nobody believes it.
Military men are much interested in
the successful nse of a balloon by Gen.
Shafter to make observations of move
ments inside the enemy's lines in and
around Santiago, and they have no doubt
that when the report of the campaign is
made, Gen. Skaters staten ent of the
use of the balloon will be so strong that
1t will give the balloon a permanent place
among American military accoutrements,
such as it already holds in Europe.
Further than a temporary shortage of
stamps in several large cities, the causes
of complaint made to the treasurer de-
partmeRt about the new tax law, which
has been in effect since the first of the
month, have been trivial. No one class
has been more abused on account of the
new law than the receiving clerks of the
telegraph companies. Where one man
rendering a telegram unstamped would
laugh and say, 'On, l forgot" when in
formed that it could not be received until
the stamp was attached, three would
say unprintable things about the tele-
graph company because it does not pay
this tax. No trouble was experienced at
any of the banks, although many of theil
customers appeared to have heard of the
stamp tax for the first time when they
presented checks without stamps and hac
them handed back by the paying tellers
The state department has information
that Spanish agents are in Mexico trying
to organize force of Spaniards anC
Spanish sympathizers to make a raid OF
Texas towns near the border. The infor
nation worried nobody in Washington
because the belief is general that if tn,
Spaniards ever take rading party from
Mexico into Texas, the Texans will Sc,
to it that not a Spaniard gets back t.
Mexico.
likewise the adjournment of congress.
was hoped by the friends of annexation
that the president could have signed the
resolution for the annexation of Hawaii OF
independence day, so that our fellow
citizens to-be on the islands would have
been given an additional reason for join.
ing with us in celebrating our greatest
national holiday foI all time but the
senators in charge of the resolution con-
cluded that it would be wiser not to add
the dying agonies of the antis by pushing
II to vote, knowing that a vote would
come without any pushing in few days.
The resolution will probably be adopted
by the senate during the present week,
and the adjournment of congress will fol-
low very closely, unless something new
turns up to interfere with the carrying
out of the present programme.