Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-07-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, July IL, 1898

1t must haYe been noticed by all observ-
ant readers of war news that the victories
scheduled in advance have invariably
failed to be pulled off on schedule time,
and that our greatest victories such as the
destruction of the Spanish fleets at Santi-
ago and at Manila, have not been handi-
capped by advance notices. This was
especially true of the Santiago affair. That
the postponements in taking that town
were caused by orders resulting from
Spanish trickery is more than probable,
although it is constantly-too constantly,
in fact-reiterated by those attached to the
administration, that Mr.. Mckinley has
issued no orders about the movement on
Santiago, since it was begun, except that
instructing Gen. Shafter not to accept the
surrender of the Spaniards except uncon-
ditionally. The Spaniards across the
Atlantic are trying to create the impression
that they are on the eve of sueing for
peace, and they are succeeding, too, with
some persons high in authority, and
thereby hangs some of the delays which
have so aggravated those who believed
that the quickest way to secure peace was
to lick the Spaniards as fast as we could
get at them.
Although that bluff about sending a
fleet to Spain has accomplished its purpose
and turned Camara's feet back towards
home, it is still being kept up, and the
departure of the feet promised in few
days. STILL knowing ones would be glad
to make wagers on big odds that the feet
never starts.
Gen. Miles has gone to Santiago. He
did not carry his private car with its porce-
lain bath tub, but has his headquarters on
floating palace, the elegant passenger
steamer Grand Duchesse,n which has
been stocked with large supply of the
choicest and best eatables and drinkables.
His headquarters will remain on the
'eamer during the campaign against
Porto Rico, of which he will take personal
command.
Very few Senators and Representatives
remain in Washington. The most of the
latter have gone to their districts to look
after their fences" while the former, as
rule, have gone in search of cooler places
The Senate left quite a number of small
military ominations-mostly Captains and
Lieutenants-unacted upon, as well as a
lot of nominations of civil officers. Some
were not acted upon because of lack Of
time, but the most of them were hung up
because of objection to them by some
Senator.
The announcement of the Democratic
4 hat hafr i+nfi nhfoa
lions to the House bill allowing volunteer
soldiers in camp to vote for Congressman
were such that they would feel justified in
resorting to any sort of tactics to prevent
the bill being passed by the Senate, was
sufficient to prevent any serious attempt
being made to take the bill up previous to
adjournment. just to find out whether
the Democrats meant business, Senator
Burrows asked for unanimous consent to
vote upon the bill, few minutes before
adjournment, and the storm of objections
at once raised, convinced him that they
did. The Democrats objected to the bill
because, ike the old Force bill, it recog-
nized Federal control of Congressional
elections, which the Democratic part does
not.
Leaving war appropriations out entirely,
the other appropriations made at the
session of Congress just closed, exceed the
total of any previous session. The follow
ing statement is made by Representative
Sayers, of Texas. the ranking Democratic
member of the House Committee on APP
preparations: The total appropriations at
the present session amount to 1892. 527, 991
This includes SLY 1886 go permanent ap-
preparations and 1851, 788,095 for war
expenses Deducting the war expenses
from the sum total, we have $3.50, 739, 1896,
to be charged against the civil and ordin-
airy expenses Of the government. 1t should
be borne in mind that no River and Harbor
bill has been passed. Considering this
fact, the appropriations for civil and
ordinary expenses of the government, at
this session, and excluding war expenses,
exceed that of any previous session"
Congress was too anxious to adjourn
after the Hawaiian annexation resolution
vas adopted. to heed Senator Morgan when
be said There is absolutely no necessity
for an adjournment at this time it is a
basty, imprOvident, and dangerous STEP"
but, unless many are mistaken, the wisdom
Of those words will be seen later. The
truth of his other words" The very
moment that the treaty of peace is signed
BY the President and the government of
Spain, the military power of the President
will ceas-, and the legislative branch of
the government must provide govern
ment for any territory we may acquire by
the war;" is undisputed; yet the legislative
body cannot meet again until next Decem-
Der, unless called together by Mr.. McKin-
ley. in extra session.
The report of the Senate Committee on
claims, which investigated by instructions
of Senate resolution the disposition Of
the money paid to the Southern Methodist
Book concern for war claim, was NOT
intended to be humorous document, but
many have so regarded it. 1t starts out
by absolving the church from all blame,
and then proceeds to make scape goats of
E. B. Stahlman, the attorney who got rs
per cent. of the claim. and Messrs Barber
and Smith, agents for the book concern,
because they led these very innocent Sena
tors to believe that no fee was to be paid
ont of this claim There may be Senators
who believe that men devote their time to
lobbying any bill, no matter what its
nature may be, through Congress without
expecting pay for their services, but there
are certainly no other persons in Washing