The Press., 1898-12-08
Washington Letter.
Washington Dec. 5, 1898.

of which is about the war, the events leading up to it, connected with and fol- lowing it, up to the acceptance of our terms of peace. The general tone of the message is highly commended; also the handling of the more or less delicate question connected with our requirement of the Philippines. It Is free from rancor and bombast, although fully recognizing the unprecedented achievements of the country in the war with Spain. Its dom inant note is patriotism of the highest or der-patriotism such as every good Amer ican feels, regardless of political affilia- ton, and can endorse. If the sentiment in congress, is representative of that of the country, and it usually is, the mes- sage will be generally commended.
 While the legislation of the session of congress, which opened to-day, will have little direct connection with the newly acquired territory of the country, several of the regular appropriation bills, notably those for the. army and for the navy, as well as the bill for the increase of the regular army, will furnish texts for many speeches on that subject, and the talk of senators and representatives indicates an intention to take full advantage of those texts. Consequently the debates of the present session are expected to be unus- ually lively and interesting.
 There is a disposition among prominent republican senators to fight shy of con- mitting themselves, either for or against, holding an early spring extra session of congress, to consider financial legislation, regardless of whether failure of the pres ent session to pass all the legislation actually necessary makes an extra ses- sion imperative. Senator Allison was asked plainly whether he was in favor of an extra session to consider financial legislation, but he adroitly declined to commit himself, and answered the ques- ton by saying: "The president must de- eide whether or not the new congress shall speedily assemble; we have noth- ing to do with the question" He was also averse to expressing an opinion, say ing when asked to do so: 'sso many things may happen in the next three months, that a prediction at this time re- garding an extra session must be neces- sarily based upon the merest speculation" :"
 Secretary Alger says, in his annual re- port, in favor of his recommendation that it be provided in the legislation for ill., creasing the regular army to 100, ,OOO men, that natives of islands occupied by our troops may be enlisted: "These men are acclimated, understand the language and habits of their countrymen, and their en- listment will not only give them employ ment, but also have the tendency to en- able the government to get into closer touch with their people than it would otherwise be able to do. This would also relieve our own men from serving in those climates to a large extent, and | would, moreover, enable the volunteers to be mustered out of the service and re- turn to the avocations of civil life" That last sentence will do more to hurry army legislation than any other one thing. Every senator and representative is be- sleged with requests to get this or that | regiment of volunteers mustered out, and they all know that no considerable num- Der of the volunteers will be ordered mustered out until congress provides for the enlistment of regulars to take their places. It is believed that this peculiar situation will keep men quiet who other wise would bitterly oppose the bill pro- viding for the increase of the regular | army.
 Senator Hale sees nothing but trouble and expense in the annexation of the Philippines, and declares his intention to fight the ratification of the treaty of peace to the full extent of his ability. regard less ofwhat other senators may do. MT. Hale's pictures of the calamities likely to follow the ratification of the treaty oi peace would be. truly awful if he could make everybody see through his eyes. But it has not been forgotten that MT. Hale drew some very weird pictures of what would happen to this country if ii dared to make war on Spain, which were long ways from what actually did hap. pen; therefore his doleful talk isn't fetch. | ing any tears of alarm.
 | The probability of Nicaragua canal legislation is going to be good thing fol Washington hotel keepers this winter, and it may be that some impecuneous statesman who will be dropped from Un. cle Sam's pay roll at the close of the present congress will also handle some oi the Panama canal company's money
 which it is understood will be liberally spent to block Nicaragua canal legisla. ton. The house is the doubtful body
 the senate is known to be overwhelmingly favorable to the construction of the Mic
 aragua canal by this government. There are signs that the administration will use
 it's il fiuence upon the house in favor o1 | canal louislatton