The Press., 1898-02-24
Washington Letter.
Washington, Feb. 2l, 1898

Washington Letter.
 Washington. Feb. 2l, 1898
 It Is perhaps fortunate for the country that the power of declaring war Is vested In congress and not In the yellow journals, which have since the blowing up and de- struction of the battleship Maine and 25O Americans, in the haI Dor of Havana, been busily engaged in infiaming the public mind and adding to the existing excite ment by publishing sensational manufact- ured stories for the purpose of showing that the terrible calamity was the result of foul play on the part of the Spainards, and demanding all sorts of ridiculous things from this government, not the least of which was an immediate declara- ton of war against Spain. They attack and villify the administration in every Issue because 1t has assumed that the ex- plosion was accidental, until 1t Is other wise proven. There Is a grave suspicion that there was foul play connected with the blowing up of the Maine, but there Is no proof The only way that proof can be had Is by investigation. And an in- vestigation by naval officers has been provided for. It is claimed by the ad- mInistration that 1t has made public every telegram received or sent since the first news of the sinking of the Maine was re- ceived ,and that 1t intends to continue this open policy, and there Is not a scrap of evidence showing this claim to be untrue a.k. eE has faith in the manner In which the ex eoutive branch of the government Is hand ling this delicate and trying case was shown by the manner ln which Senator Mason's resolution, providing for ccn- gressional investigation, was received. Senator Allen was the only man who publIsy Indorsed the idea That the presl- dent Is alertly guarding our rights was shown by his refusal to allow the Spanish authorities at Havana to take part in the investigation to be conducted by our naval officers he says he desires the finding to be such that 1t will carry con- victlon to our people, and consequently will not allow foreigners to have any thing to do with 1t ,the situation beingc iti- cal enough without adding sensational lies. It may result in war. If foul play Is shown, 1t certainly will. Therefore all good citizens should join In trying to keep down excitement until the truth Is known. It has always been the proud boast of Americans that in the face of foreign complications, partisanship was forgotten and every American stood shoulder to shoulder In support of the government, and the yellow journals, which have no higher mission than increasing their cir culation and making money, should not be allowed to change that condition now.
 Aquestion that may eventually grow to national proportions Is whether 1t would be proper or advisable for congress to regulate the hours of labor in all the states. Representative Lowering of Mass. is the author of a joint resolution, pro posing an amendment to the U. s. consti- tuition, authorizing congress to regulate the hours of labor in the states. This resolution Is before the house judiciary committee, which has been hearing argu- ments for and against It. The cotton mills of the South, against which the resolution Is aimed, or rather against the long hours worked In them, which 1t Is claimed has enabled them to drive the New England mills out of many profitable markets, sent a large delegation of in- Huential men to protest against the reso- lution. Representatives Lowering, and Walker, of Mass., spoke for the resolu- ton, as did a repT esentative of the New England mill operatives.
 Canadas attention has been called by this government to the injustice of a number of regulations 1t has adopted governing entrance to the Klondike coun- try by U. s. citizens, and abrogation of some of them have been politely asked for. It Is expected that Canada will grant this request, but If 1t doesn't, Its as congress Is fully determined to take a hand, If diplomacy fails to obtain just and fair treatment to our citizens who ln- tend going to the Klondike.
 The house passed a substitute for the Nelson bankruptcy bill, which was pass oa Oy tuB Bbuhbo hA Aho CAbA1 @Vo0AVhp 0hN the bill will now go to conference.
 Senators Pritchard, Lodge, and Elkins, of the senate civil service committee, had a conference with President Mckinley, at the latter's request, for the purpose of discussing the evidence taken by that committee during It's civil service investi- gatlon, and the nature of the report that will be made to the senate. It Is under stood that the president will hold back the order he intends Issuing for the modification of the civil service rules until after the report of the senatecommittee has been made, fin order that he may include Anyrecommendations in that report which he may consider desirable.