Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-05-20


publican Senators - Fighting
Joe" in the FicId-Con2reSs May
Not Adjourn in JuIy-BilI to
Submit Amendment for Election
/ of Senators by the People Has
Passed the House.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, May IL, 1898.
When it comes To fighting, we can
whip the SpanlardS just rs fast as we
! can get at them, bl. when there is "A
| chance for trickery Spain can give
this government seven points in a
game of ten and win ont every time.
This was proven again by the wild
goose chase upon which Admiral
Sampson and the strongest vessels Of
his fleet have been for more than a
week hunting for the Cane Verde
Spanish fleet, which instead OF being
headed for Porto Rico has turned up
on the coast of Spain, 5000 miles
away. Now, when everybody is dis
gusted and disappointed, some officials
have the nerve to say that they never
believed the Spanish fleet was coming;
this way at all.
This Spanish fleet has been the buga-
boo given by the administration as an
excuse for the delay in invading Cuba.
AS soon As it was known that it was
on the other side of the Atlantic, it
was announced that the invasion was
to begin at once, and Gen. Miles, who
was to command, engaged a Pullman
berth on II train for Florida and hotel
quarters for himself at Tampa. Then,
presto change! the engaged Pullman
berth was not used, and Gen. Miles
postponed his trip from Washington.
Still the public is assured that there
has been no doubt or hesitation on the
part of the administration; that Mr.
Mckinley is not waiting to give Spain
a chance to sue for peace, and that
the invasion OF Cuba will be an ac.
complished fact in the next few DAYS.
The men will be in Florida ready to
do the invading, and they are being
rushed there as fast as steam can
carry them, and there will certainly be
no need for further postponement. II
is the opinion of such men as Fitz Lee
who know what they are talking about
that the campaign in Cuba need not
last longer than thirty days, if rs many
as 5000 men are sent over.
There has been no room to find
any fault with the promptness of the
administration in sending Admiral
Dewey-the rank of Rear Admiral was
formally conferred upon him by the
President and Senate this week-rein.
forcements to aid him in holding and
governing the Philippine Islands
The cruiser Charleston has already
started for Manila from San Francisco
and other ships are being prepared to
start. 1t will take the Charleston
about three weeks to make the trip.
There is no truth in the charges so
persistently being made in Republican
papers that Democratic Senators are
responsible for the delay on the war
revenue bill passed by the House.
The fact is the bill as passed by the
House was very crude and imperfect
measure, and the Senate committee
on Finance has been trying to whip it
into a more satisfactory shape by
amending it. More amendments have
so far been offered by Republican
Senators than by Democrats. The
Democrats are too anxious to see this
war fought to a speedy and successful
close to refuse to do their part towards
furnishing the government all the
money it needs, but there is money
enough on hand for all present needs
and they do not intend being stam-
peded in supporting obnoxious methods
of raising money just because the bill
is labeled war measure"
Major General Joseph Wheeler
(" Fighting Joe Wheeler") was the
first one of the new Major Generals to
take the field. He babe his many
friends in Congress goodby and left
for Chattanooga. where he will take
his command. He took no steps con.
corning his seat in the House, and will
probably take none until it becomes
apparent whether the war is to be a
matter of weeks or months. Many
lawyers contend that the acceptance
of commission by any Federal
official vacates the other place. There
seems to be doubt about it. At the
request of Senator Sewell, who nc
Major General has been ordered To
command the camp of instruction this
week established on the Virginia side
of the Potomac, several miles from
Washington. Attorney Griggs will
give an official opinion on the subject
Major Generals Fitz Lee and James ii
Wilson have been ordered to report II
Chattanooga for active service.
The concurrent resolution offered
by Representative Dockery, of Missouri
providing for recess Of Congress from
June 6 until July 10, which is now in
the hands of the Ways and Means
committee, was not the result of a
party conference, but merely Mr..
Dockery's idea of what would be the
proper thing to do. Car Reed hopes
to have Congress adjourned before the
first named date. AS a rule Demo.
Gratis think it would be unwise to adj
journ while the war is in progress.
While there is no disposition among
them to have Congress interfere with
the conduct of war, they think that
Congress ought to have some say
about the terms of peace, and il it
isn't in session it cannot.
With only IL negative votes the
House passed the bill providing for a
constitutional amendment for the cleo
ton of Senators by the people.
| A Hired Girl.