Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-03-11
WASHINGTON LETTER
tFrom our regular Correspondent

uation in Washington during the
past week, and. unless Spain is
guilty OF some overt act, none Is
expected until the report OF the
Naval Court of Inquiry has been
made. When that will be, is very
uncertain. Some Of the Havana
dispatches say that the Court eX-
poets to come to Washington this
week, but nothing indicating such
intention has been received by the
the Navy Department or by incl
President. There has been no
change in the prevailing sentiment
in Congressional war with Spain
has got tocome before this business
is ended.
Congress is ready to vote the ad
ministration all the money that
would he needed to put the cOun-
try upon a war footing just as the
President will say thai he wants 1t
done, but the President and his
cabinet are of the opinion that it
wonld he regarded by tho world at
large as equivalent to a declaration
of war against Spain 10 ask Con
gress 10 make war appropriation.
still, il that were the only obstacle
Congress would probably be asked
to act; but there is an other, and
more Formidable obstacle. To ask
for war appropriations in advance
cfthe report of the Naval Court Of
Inquiry would be discrediting that
court 10y assuming what its report
would he before it had been made,
and would indicate a desire on the
part Of the administration TO make
reason for going to war with
Spain.
Although this is the position OF
the administration, it is by no
meausidle 1t is making every
preparation for war that is posi-
ble in advance Of appropriations by
Congress, and is even making some
preparations, on the advice of
leading members Of Congress, that
would not under ordinary circum
stances be iustifablein advance Of
appropriations.
1t is the belief of Secretary Long
aud other prominent officials that
the constantly reported buying Of
war lips by Spain are largely the
work of European ship builders
who have vessels on hand which
they would gladly sell on the |. S.
at war prices. Secretary Long
positively denies the statement that
the q. S. was contemplating secur
ing options on a number Of war
vessels or that it had secured op
tons upon any. OF course, he
ought to know, bat all the same
nobody around Washington will be
greatly surprised when the shoot
ing begins to find the stars and
stripes floating above a number of
formidable vessels which are not
now supposed to belong to Uncle
Sam.
Not even the probability OF war
with SPAN can lessen popular IN
terest in a little pamphlet that has
Just been published by the |, ;.
Geological Survey, by direction Of
a Joint Congressional resolution.
This pamphlet contains At pages 0.
descriptive matter relat
ing TO the gold regions OF Alaska
practical Information for prospec.
tors and miners, and maps Of the I,
Forty Mile and the klondike gold
mining regions, showing at glance
all of The known gold bearing
rocks. Those who desire copies of
this pamphlet would better lose no
time III writing to d Senator or
Representative for it, as only 40.
600 have been printed. They will
he distributed gratis by the Sena'
tors and Representatives.
The report o. the Senate civil
service committee recommends
that all duty collectors Of internal
revenue, storekcepers and gaugcrs,
and all deputy collectors of Gus
toms shall he removed from the
classified service; and says that the
Printing Office was
never legally placed within the
classified service and is not now, by
right, in the classified service.
Foreign War Rumors.