The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1898-06-16

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1t is curious fact that when the Span
iards have a reverse their bonds go up in
price on the French bourse, and whenever
there is q gleam Cf encouragement for
them they go down. This phenomenon is
explained by the brokers on the theory
that Spain is whipped already and the ex-
pectation that she will realize the fact
and throw up her hands every time we hit
her. The shorter the war, the better it
will be for the finances of the Spaniards
and the sooner she can recover her pros
perity. If the war is prOtracted the bond
holders know that she will be ruined and
their securities will be worthless.
The Secretary of the Treasury is ready
20 issue the new bonds the moment the
President approves the revenue bill. He
has been so confident the bond feature
would be retained that the work of pre-
paration has been going on for weeks. The
advertisements and announcements are
all prepared and in type, ready to be print
ed as soon as the exact phraseology Of
the law is known; the plates are engrav-
ed, ready to be turned over to the printer
ut moments notice, and all the machin-
cry for placing the bonds in the hands of
the public is organized and adjusted for
immediate use.
Orders were issued from the War Oe-
partment on one day last week for the
purchase by the quartermaster's depart
ment of more than $1,000,O00 worth Of
clothing and other supplies, including 50,-
600 standard army trousers and $4,000
fatigue coats or blouses, estimated to cost
100000; 225 900 drawers and 225, 900 un-
dershirts, light weight, estimated cost
100000; 10000 shelter tents. $4,000;
300 hospital tents. $4,000; $1,000 wall
tents, $4,000; 5000 conical tents. S70,-
000: 600 sets company books and 20 sets
regimental books, $4,000, and $4,000
mosquito head nets.
The conference committee on the sun
dry civil appropriation bill has effectuaIy
settled the dispute in the bureau OF en-
craving and printing over the use of
steam presses and has inserted in the law
provision that ''all bonds, notes, checks,
etc. shall be printed by hand" This is
triumph for the labor organizations that
have been fighting against the intrOduc-
ton of steam presses and labor saving
machinery in the printing establishments
of the Government for several years.
There is not the slightest concern felt
at the Navy Department about the feet
of Admiral Camara Semi-oficial infor-
nation from the most trustworthy
sources. which comes through diplomatic
channels, reports that the feet is incapa-
bic Of crossing the Atlantic, and much less
SO of reaching Manila There is not
enough coal within reach of Admiral Ca
mara to carry his ships 5000 miles, and,
what is more important, it is impossible
for him to get more.
Unless it is decided to take up the Ha-
waiian question Congress will be able to
adjourn soon, and serious conferences are
going On daily on this subject. The Presi-
dent IS anxious to have the annexation
resolution adopted at once. He objects to
q rostpOnement until next winter because
that viii be short session and the resou-
tons can be defeated by flibustering.
The friends OF annexation are willing to
stay now and fight it out.
Substantial recognition will he awarded
Constructor HObsOn for his heroic con-
duct in the harbOr of Santiago. but pro-
motion is to be deferred until that young
officers wishes have been consulted The
choice is open to him of continuing in the
construction corps, with increased pay
and responsibility. or of being jumped
over the heads of many officers his senior
in the line and appointed a full lieutenant
or possibly lieutenant commander.
At the close of Office hours on Saturday
the Adjutant General figured up the re-
turns of his mastering officers and found
that Uncle Sam was short 1888 men on
the Irst call for 900 volunteers. Iowa
is behind 1,640 men; Kentucky. 1898;
Alabama, 1856; Mississippi, 1000, and
North Carolina, 400.
To give Some idea of the quantity of
goods necessary to supply an army, it may
be stated that there have already been de-
livered to the quarterDaster at Tampa
$4,000 tents, $4,000 blankets, 127, 200
pairs of shoes, 297, 900 pairs Of socks,
142, 1000 undershirts, 142, 2,0O0 drawers and
&C, 900 suits of uniform.
The Secretary of State has received O.
very interesting report from United States
Consul Smith at Moscow concerning O
recent meeting of the engineers in charge
IF the construction of the great Siberian
railway. he shows that the entire ex-
penditure up to date on that enterprise
las been S1SS,O14,93S.
The agents of the Panama. the Cata-
lima, the Buena Ventura and other Span
ish ships that were seized in Cuban wat
ers and held as contraband of war by the
prize courts at Key West have pooled
their issues and will carry n test appeal
TO the Supreme Court of the United
States.
There is good deal of talk in congress
sional circles about sending Admiral
Sampson to capture the Canary Islands
and cruise around the coast of Spain. But,
It is only suggestion as to what might be
lone in case the Spaniards refuse to throw
Il