The Press., 1898-05-12
Washington Letter.
Washington, May 9, 1898.

Washington Letter.
 washington, May 9, 1898.
 Congress will now add it's thanks to those of the president and the people ca bled to Commodore Dewey by Secretary Long as soon as the official report of his extraordinary victory in Manila harbor reached Washington-a victory resulting in the destruction of fleet of eleven Spanish vessels carryinglmore than one hundred guns and more than 2,00O men, the capture of heavy shore batteries, and the subsequent control of the Philippine Islands, all without the loss of man and without the serious injury of a ship and with only six men wounded4-by adopt Ing the joint resolution reported from the house committee on naval affairs extending the thanks of congress to Commodore Dewey. It will also supplement the pro motion to Acting Admiral, .cabled Commo- dore Dewey by Secretary Long, by pass Ing the bill providing for an additional rear admiral in the navy, which will en- able the president to further promote Com mOdore Dewey. The feeling in Washing ton Is that nothing Is too good for him. Troops are.to be sent to aid him in hold ing the Philippine Island as quick as they can belassembled in SanFrancisco and the ships prepared to transport them.
 Good news Is daily, aye hourly, expected from Admiral SRmpson's fleet, which is on on a mission known only to the presi- dent and cabinet. There are good reasons for the belief that sampson's first object Is the Spanish fleet reported to be headed for Porto Rico, and that if he fails to find the fleet he will turn his attention to the capture of Porto Rico. Naval officials will be surprised if he finds any more Spanish warships than the three or four that arc known to be in the harbor at San Juan, Porto Rico, because the general be- lief Is that Spain Is afraid to send her big fleet Into American waters. But the cap ture of Porto Rico will of itself be great victory and will help to shorten the war.
 The senatorial opponents of the bond clause In the war revenue bill are sparring for time, SO to speak. They believe that the Spanish end of the war is about to collapse, and that if they can hold up the bill until the collapse comes, they can prevent bonds from being issued. If the matter was put to vote now there is little doubt that a against an income tax last week would vote for the bonds, not because all who would 70 vote approve of the issue of bonds but because they recognize that as the only sure and speedy way in which the government can raise very large sum of money, and that If the war is to con- tinue even for Q few weeks 6 larger sum than can possibly be produced by tax mtion will be needed. Those who have so far succeeded in preventing the reporting of the war revenue bill from the senate committee on finance, where 1t has been more than week, have not said that they were trying to delay action until they could ascertain whether the end of the war was In sight, and are not likely to say so, but that Is their game.
 Under the new volunteer army law con- frmation of the nominations of regimen tai officers by the senate Is not required, as lt Is for similar officers in the regular army The president appoints them, and in the cases of all thoseso far appointed he has delegated the appointing authority to Secretary Alger.
 Senator Sewell has not qualified as ma jor general in the volunteer army although his nomination was confirmed by the senate at the same time that those. of generals Fitz Lee, Joe Wheeler. James II. Wilson, and the seven brigadier gener- Als of the regular army to be major gener- Als were acted upon, and it is not probable that he Will. If he becomes general he cannot retain his seat in the senate, and the present understanding, Is that he pre- fers tho later. .'-
 Few Americans have an idea of the ex- tent ofthe Philippine Islands, footing upon which was so gallantly captured by Commodore Dewey and over which the American flag now flies. SaturdaSes issue of the daily publication of the Department of State known ns Advance sheets of Consular Reports" Is devoted entirely to the Philippine Islands, which are ten per cont. larger in area than New England, New York, New Jersey. Maryland, and Delaware combined, and which have an estimated population of from s, 5000, 900 to 10,OOO, 900. But probably the most aston ishing thing about this publication, to moat people, are the official figures show inR that the U. s. has more commerce. with the Philippine Islands than does all the rest of the world combined.
 Thers Ia great retIcenee at the war de- partment concerning the movements of the army in connection with the invasion Cuba. Many conflicting stories are in cir oulation, some of them probably started by our officials to confuse the enemy. but the world Ia liable to learn that the U. S.. troops have taken Cuban port at any time.
 A spaninh spy was Arrested in Washing ton last night who Ia said to have draw ings of many of the coast Notifications in the vicinity of U. s. ports. He was