Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-12-10

captured vessels and cargoes condemned
as prizes is SOL, ,034. In 10 cases appeals
have been taken on the part of the claim
arts to the United States supreme court
from the decree of the district court and
are now pending.
The attention of congress Is called to the
necessity of providing more complete
and adequate form of government for
Alaska. The efforts to administer justice
and maintain order in the territory with
the large accessions of population that
! have recently gone into that region. re-
stricted by the very limited machinery
provided for Alaska in its original
sparsely populated condition, are at
tended with great difficulty and embar-
rassment. The power Of congress to
provide a form of government adapted
to the peculiar conditions of this territory
is undoubted.
| The machinery of justice II entirely
inadequate. There should be an increase
in the number of judges, the number Of
United States commissioners and United
States district attorneys. The powers
territory should be increased so as to
enable them to hear and conclude minor
cases of both civil and criminal nature.
with right of appeal to the territorial
district court. Much complaint arises
from the operations of the fee system in
connection with the office of United
! States commissioner recommend that
n change in the method of fcompensating
I L., 10 h1t tHNtA
compensation shall he paid entirely by a
fixed salary and all fees covered into
/ the treasury.
/ Washington, Dec. s.-The manner in
which all war funds were spent is told in
detail for the first time in letters sent
! from all the departments and bureaus
to the house committee on appropria-
tions and made public as part Of the re-
port on the urgent deficiency bill. OF
the emergency national defense fund Of
| $40, 600 900, the navy department got the
F, largest amount, VIZ, $29.913,274. The
navy has 4 balance of s275,000 Of this
fund.
The war department expenditures of
the emergency fund amounted to $780, =
3O3. The state department received
$393. 600 in five allotments from the
emergency fund OF this amount the
sum of 100000 has been transferred to
the bankers for this department at Lon
don for the use of the peace commission
at Paris. and $50, 900 was advanced to the
disbursing officer for the commission
prior to its departure for Paris.
Assistant Secretary Spaulding writes
concerning the treasury's expenditures
of the emergency fund: "Allotments Of
$4,000 for investigating the adminstra-
ton of civil affairs in Porto Rico have
been made to this department, all OF
which will probably be expended. An
allotment of 1000 for expenses of COM
mission of inquiry into the conduct of
the war has also been made to the treas
ury department.. of which $4,000 have
been advanced to the disbursing agent
of the commission. How much more
will be required the department Is un'
able at this time to state"
New York, Dec. S.--Assistant Naval
Constructor Hobson will go to Manila
| to superintcnd the raising of the suni<en
Spanish war vessels. He has not yet
given up hopes of successfully raising
the Colon, but Is doubtful whether the
navy department can be induced to go to
further expense in this work.
London, Dec. S.--The Washington corr
respondent of The Daily Chronicle says:
have ascertained from the highest
source that President Mckinley has no
thought of ignoring or violating British
rights under the Clayton BulweT treaty.
On the contrary, when the proper time
arrives England will be invited to CO.
operate regarding the Nicaragua canal.
The Washington correspondent Of The
Times makes similar statement.
Madrid, Dec. S.-Only in political and
official circles is any interest in the mes
sage displayed, and there it takes the
form of bitterness and Indignation at
Mr.. McKinley's allusion to the destruc-
ton of the Maine. The press does not
hide its satisfaction at the indications in
the message and elsewhere that Ameri-
can colonzing will be fraught with diff
culties aud expenditure. The prediction
is made that the Nicaragua canal will
lead to trouble between the United States
and Europe.
Washington, Dec. S.-Major General
Wheeler had talk with Secretary Alge1
and Adjutant General Corbin yesterday
1t Is understood that he will be relieved
from further duty, unless there Is re.
currence of war, but that he will remain
on the active list of the United States
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