The Press., 1898-11-03
Washington Letter.
Washington Oct. 31, Is

U. s. would demand all of the Philippine islands. It has been felt from the first that such would be the ultimate result. Politics has had little or nothing to do with the decision of the administration to adopt this policy. It is public opinion, regardless of politics, that has brought 1t about When President Mckinley start ed upon that western trip neither he nor any member of his cabinet had made up their minds that we should take the Philip pines, and at least one of them-Seeretary Gage-was opposed to our taking any of the islands; but when they returned to Washington they had all about made up their minds that public opinion was 80 strongly in favor of American ownership of the entire Philippine group, as the only logical crowning of Dewey's great victory in Manila bay, that no other policy would do. What they heard later, at Philadel- phia, clinched that opinion, and our peace commissioners at Paris were accordingly instructed to make that demand. So much for the adoption of the policy.
 While it is certain that the policy of American ownership of the Philippines will be popular, it remains to be ascer- tained whether the method of obtaining that ownership will meet with such gen. eral approval. It must be understood to start with that no official announcement has been made concerning that method, but that enough has been said by those who ought to know to cause it to be be- lieved that the consent of Spain will be obtained either by a direct payment of money to Spain, or by the assumption of about $40, ,0OO, 900 of Spanish bonds, is- sued for Improvements in the Philippines. At first glance, there will naturally be op- position to the U. s. paying $40, ,000, ,OOO or any other sum for undisputed posses sion of territory which had already been will doubtless accept the argument that the Philippone bonds, which were not, as were the Cuban bonds, issued to make war against the natives of the islands, but for the purposes of public improve ment, should be considered lien on the island, regardless of ownership, and that it would be an injustice, discr reditable to great country like the U. S., to take the islands from Spain and leave that country to pay indebtedness incurred for public improvements on them. The question is likely to be much discussed as soon as it becomes absolutely certain upon what terms we are to acquire the Philippines.
 At the headquarters of the republican and democratic congressional committees in Washington the claims are about equal as to which party will elect majority of the house, but the opinion outside is that the republicans will retain control of the house by reduced majority. Some dem- ocrats say that they would prefer that the if their party carried it they would have to share in the responsibility of the ad- ministration in inaugurating the experi- ment of a colonial policy, or take the re- sponsibility of hampering that policy, and that they would prefer doing neither dur ing the next two years. If that senti- ment exists to any extent among the voters of the party, there is no doubt of the result of the election.
 Among the noted officers now in Wash ington are Gems. Miles, Wheeler, Lee and Lawton of the army, and Capt. Robley D. Evans and Lieut.. Hobson of the navy. The latter officer Is here to report to a board of the chiefs of bureaus of the navy I %I1vr olr rol Spanish ships. This board will decide whether the work shall be continued. Hobson's confidence in success in raising the ships is not shared by all of the naval officials. But if public sentiment is con- suited, they will not stop Hobson's work ', on account of it's cost, If there is any cer- tainty of his succeeding in saving the ships. Those ships would, in the eyes of most people, be worth more than new ones would cost, as object lessons in the patriotism, bravery and craftsmanship of the American sailors, and If they can be saved, neither cost nor jealousy of Hob son should be allowed to stand in the way.
 A rather curious request has been made of the navy department by the Acme wrecking company of San Francisco. This company wants to raise the battle ship Maine and bring her to the U. s., claiming to have a method by which the work can be accomplished, and asks nothing more of the government than permission to do the work at it's own ex- pense. The company states in its re- quest that if the government wishes the ship after 1t has been safely brought to some U. $. harbor, that it will not ask more than the usual salvage payment, through condemnation proceedings. It is not supposed that the government would care to buy the wreck. In fact, the real object of the company is to 1aise the Maine in order that she may be ex- hibited in this country, although nothing of the kind Is said in it's letter to the navy department. According to the request of the company, it intends to blow the mud from under the wreck with streams of
 water under high pressure, and then to pass chains under and attach them to a framework on each side connected with a system of steel air-tight barrels. The gradual winding up of these chains is counted upon to raise the wreck.
 both We'll Posted.