Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-11-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular CorreSpondeat)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21st, 1898.

President Mckinley has called
time on Spain, 50 to speak. He
has set a time limit, within which
the Spanish Peace Commissioners
must either accept or reject finally
and definitely, our demand for the
Philippines. The exact length of
this time limit is not known out
side of the Cabinet, and probably
half dozen others who enjoy the
Presidents confidence. but there
are good reasons for saying that it
does not extend much, if any, be-
yond Dec. 1. The President was
somewhat loath to adopt this per-
emptory policy, because he disliked
to even appear to be taking adj
vantage of our power to compel
Spain 20 do what we pleased but
the quibbling evinced in the
answers of the Spanish Commits
sioners, which they took a week or
more in each case to prepare, con-
yinced him that if they were not
pulled up short, the negotiations
were liable to go on indefinitely.
He is simply tired of keeping this
country on war footing, and
waiting for the Spaniards to agree
20 u formal treaty of peace.
Chairman Cannon, of the House
Appropriation Committee, is de-
termined that there shall be no
delay in getting the regular appro-
priation bills reported to the House,
at the coming session of Congress-
The appropriation made at the last
session OF Congress for the support
Of the army only extends to Dec
31st, which makes Unnecessary that
new appropriation shall be made
before Congress takes its Christmas
recess. Upon information from
She War Department that its
estimates would be ready by that
time, Mr.. Cannon has called a
meeting Of the members of the sub
committee on deficiencies, of which
ne is Chairman, for the 26th inst,
and if the estimates are not delayed
this bill is likely to be ready to be
reported as soon as Congress assem-
bles. The subcommittee ON the
District Of Columbia, will hold its
first meeting Dec. |, and the pres
ent intention is to report the bill
and pass it before the holidays.
The House appropriation commit
tee has a good record for hard and
rapid work, under the guidance of
Chairman Cannon, but he hopes to
establish q new record at the COM
ing session of Congress.
The first pension of the Spanish
war has been awarded to Private
Jesse 7. Gales, Second L. S. Ar
tillery, who lost part of his upper
lip and several teeth in the Cuban
campaign. Under present laws $17
q month was the most that could
be allowed Gales, who is perma-
nently disabled and disfgured He
will be given that sum, but its in
adequacy is so manifest that it is
likely a bill will be passed by Con-
gress authorizing its increase.
Admiral Dewey has notified the
Navy Department that he has con-
tracted with a Hong Kong firm to
raise three OF the Spanish gun-boats
sunk in Manila Bay; that the work
has already been partially accom-
plished. and that 100000 will
cover the entire cost of raising and
putting them in complete repair.
These boats are of a class that will
be especially useful to the L. S. in
Philippine waters. They are
named respectively, Isla de Cuba,
lsla de Luzon, and Don Juan de
Austria. The first two are twin
ships, 200 feet long, 80 feet beam,
with a draft of II feet 6 inches,
and the other is slightly larger,
21O #, long, 30 ft. beam, with a
draft of II it. 6 inchef. They all
have torpedo tubes as well as bat
series.
While it is hoped that the an
nouncement of satisfactory progress
by the Canadian American Com
mission will shortly be followed by
another that a treaty has been
agreed upon, it is known that such
a result can only be obtained by a
material change in the position the
Canadians have heretofore taken as
10 what should constitute CONNER
cial reciprocity-the real object of
She Canadians in taking part in
This commission. The United