The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-03-23
Interesting Washington Notes.

The gun-shop in the Washington
navy yard reminds old-timers Of the
war time activity in the same yard, but
upon different class of work. Dur
ing the war this was strictly navy
yard; now it is one only in name, its
principal work being the making of
guns, some of the finest in the world
have been and are being made here,
mountings, and ammunitions for the
navy. Not minute is now being lost
in the yard, eight-hour shifts of men
being continuously az work.
Another certainty is, that President
Mckinley will not allow himself to be
influenced by any of the numerous
stories as to what European nations
may think that he should do, but will
act solely in the interest of the national
honor OF the United States, without re-
gard to the probable approval or disap-
proval of his action by any European
power or powers. The Maine was our
ship, the court that made the investi-
CATION and report was composed of our
naval officers, and it is our affair to
take what action we please upon that
report, and we are going to do it. This
isn't spread but plain, every
day patriotism, which is shared by
every American whose heart is in
the right place.
By far the ablest and most interest.
ing paper the government has recently
published is the report for 1897 of A.
P. Greeley, acting commissioner of pa
tents. A synopsis has been printed in
some OF the newspapers, but, owing
perhaps to 30 much war news, it was
so incomplete as to give very little idea
OF what this valuable document, which
will doubtless be translated and read
by thousands abroad, contains; it must
be read as whole to be appreciated.
Inventors, patentees, manufacturers,
capitalists, and publicists, who wish to
understand the greatness of American
industry and how indissolubly it is as
ISOLATED with the patent system of the
United States, should read this pamph-
let, which may be obtained free by ad-
dressing request for it to the commits
sioner of patents, Washington, D. G.
There is no cooler man in Washing
ton than President Mckinley, although
his is the greatest individual RESPONSE
bility in deciding what action shall be
taken upon the report of the Naval
Court of Inquiry. That report will
probably be received in day or two,
certainly this week. Opinion differs as
to whether the report will be at once
sent to Congress and made public.
Senator Chandler, whose relations with
the President are such that his opinion
is as good as that of any other man,
said: 1t ia barely possible that the
character of the document may be such
as to render it inexpedient to give il
out until Congress scan be gradually
made aware of it's contents. If, for in
stance, it indicates beyond doubt the
official culpability of the Spaniards in
connection with the Maine disaster, il
would not be wise to place Congress in
immediate possession of the facts offici.
ally, for fear that war would be de.
clared simultaneously, and without due
regard for all the conditions" One
thing is certain, Congress and the pub.
lie will have the report at the earliest
moment it can be given out without
detriment to public interest.
The three commissioners appointed
by the Cuban cabinet to act with the
| Spanish minister in negotiating a re.
ciprocity treaty with this country have
| been presented to Secretary Sherman,
and later they called on Hon. John A.
Kasson, who has charge of the inter.
ests of this country in all reciprocity
negotiations. They expressed an anxi-
ETY. to proceed at once with the treaty
but it Is not probable that any material
progress will be made until it becomes
q little clearer that it will be worth
while to make such a treaty. If VIC
are to have war with Spain, there will
be no such treaty negotiated, and If We
recognize the independence of Cuba
we should thereby officially declare thai
Spain had nothing more to do with
Cuba. These commissioners may bt
entirely honest in their intentions, blu
the administration has not forgotten
Senior de Lome's advice that these ne
gotiations be pressed as blind, nor th'
statement made on the floor of tn,
Senate few days ago by Senator Proc
tor, showing the weakness in Cuba o
the so called government that thes,
commissioners represent. In plaiI
English, these commissioners are being
treated with the courtesy due them
but they are not throwing any sand il
Uncle Samuels eyes.
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