The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1898-06-30


! ger. where there are about 25,0O0 soldiers,
come to Washington every day. Many of
! them have never seen the capital before
j and up TO this time the saloons and disrep-
| utable houses have been reaping a rich
harvest from their patronage. The police
! have been instructed not to arrest or 9th
erwise interfere with men in uniform un-
| less it is absolutely necessary for their
| welfare or the protection of others, and
notwithstanding this order the station
houses are filed with drunken soldiers
nearly every night. 1t has been the rule
| tc send them back to camp rs soon as they
ore sober without placing their names up
on the docket of arrests or bringing them
| before the police court. Exceptions have
| been made only i'll cases of assault end
| other misdemeanors which could not be
| overlooked. 1 has come to be the prac-
| ticc also for the provost marshal of the
| camp to send an officer and squad of men
| into the city every morning for the pur-
pose of picking up the boys who have
| fallen victims to temptations or are other
| wise detained
The object of the Secretary of War in
| ordering that the recruits under the sec
ond call for troops shall be used in
Strengthening the regiments mustered in
under the first CALL so that each company
shall have leo and each regiment 1,200
men, is not only to promote the efficiency
of the army, but is a measure of economy
worth several millions of dollars to the
Government. 1t cuts down the number
OF regiments and the number of compan-
les, and consequently the number of Off
GERS, ore-third, and as the pay of the Off
GERS of u regiment under the old plan ag
gregates almost as much as the pay of
the men The expense will be reduced one
third also.
People in Washington who go to market
or shopping these days are pretty sure to
receive Sold coin as change. and it is the
first time we have had that experience
since greenl..cks were adopted by Secre-
tarv Chase in 1852. During the last six
weeks the discussing officers of the diff
fcrcnt departments have been paying the
salaries OF the clerks in the yellow metal,
and all drafts ana warrants upon the
treasury have been paid III mixed money
at the proportion of So in paper to SO i'll
-
greccbacks and silver certificates and u
large amount OF gold coin in common cir
cNlation.
II seems 20 be settled that Gen. Miles
himself instead of Gen. Coppinger will
Head the army to Porto Rico, and it is the
Presidents intention to allow him full
sway in making the preparations for the
expedition and selecting the officers and
troops that will accompany him. Miles
has upset the plans that were made in the
War Department while he was at work at
Tampa and, having done so, will be held
responsible for making and carrying out
new plan of campaign.
The superintendent Of Washington po-
lice has been instructed to notify all liquor
sellers of the intention strictly to enforce
4 law which was passed by Congress in
1861 forbidding the sale of LIQUOR in any
form to soldiers in the service of the Unit
ed States, Or to any person wearing the
uniform of such a soldier, under the pen
atty of $50 fine for each offense and the
forfeiture of both the municipal and the
United States license for the sale of
liquor.
The boys at Camp Alger are very eager
to get away and are agitated by every
rUmor that refers to their departure. They
are rapidly becoming hardened soldiers
and will soon be ready for serious busi-
ness. The regiments are all short in num-
bers. Recruits are coming in rapidly. sew
eral hundred every day, but they are most
ly green men who have never served
with the militia and have to be drilled in
the simplest riidiments of military duty
.
1t has been decided that there will be no
general invasion of Cuba until fall That
has been the Presidents determination
from the beginning. Even before the de-
claration of war he made up his mind that |
il Eostilities should occur he would not be |
for the sacrifice of the lives
he knew must be lost from yellow fever
and other climatic diseases if an attempt |
were to be made to invade Cuba during |
tie rainy season.
There is intense indignation both in |
army and navy circles and in Congress be- |
c}use ST the general understanding that |
Hohson has been kept in Castle Moro ex-
posed TO the fire of our guns. If the usual |
practices Of warfare We're followed Hob |
son and the Americans would be removed |
to Il place of safety. instead OF danger |
The putting forward Of prisoners az a |
shield is Il relic Of barbarism.
There is Il vacancy in the postoffice at |
Strclcs M;ils. Pa, fcr the first time in |
fftv-:hrec years. 1t is caused by the |
death OF Joseph Strobe st the age of "a.
who was appointed postmaster by Prcsi-
dent james ~. Polk Oct. 21. 1S45, and |
elI the office continuously ever since |
There are two older non in the postal |
;cryice. One Of them is III Maine and the |
9ther in Maryland.
Secretary Cages 3 per cent bonds are |
already 1T premium of per cent. Bank
srs and brokers III different parts of the
are publishing circulars and aG-
rert.sem"nts Offering to pay that nonus
'or subscriptions that are acknowledged |
y the treasury.
1t VIII lie The middle of July before en-
lttack can ',e made apcn Porto Rico. The
,ulnher Of troops and the selection: of the |
'"gi:nenY viii be determined iatcr. Gen. |
Niles tiiaIis lie stculd have Hot less than
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