Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1898-12-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular CORES oondent.
WAsHINGToN. Dec. 26. 1898.


lean Peace Commissioners. who
brought the official copy of the Treaty
of Peace to Washington, cordial
personal welcome and heartfelt con-
CALCULATIONS on their successful work,
and assured them that the Christmas
gift they brought to the American
people was thoroughly appreciated.
As further mark of his appreciation,
he will give, in honor of the Commits
sioners, state dinner at the White
House. In addition to the treaty.
the commissioners brought to the
President, full and detailed report
of their work The commissioners
were pleased that the opposition to
the ratification of the 'reaty by the
Senate had practically all died out,
and that the treaty was likely to be
promptly ratified. Senators who have
been quoted as intending to oppose
the treaty have assured President Me-
kinney that, while opposed to the re-
tention of the Philippines permanent
ly, they would vote to ratify the
treaty as soon as it was reported to
the Senate from the committee On
foreign relations, tie which 1t will be
sent as soon as 1t goes to the Senate.
which will be immediately upon the
reassembling oi Congress.
The Spanish Peace commissioners
will realize wiIaG q mistake they made
when they refused 10 Sell Us small
island in the Caroiines for a cable sta
tion, as soon as t.4eJ les,Fn tnat we
hnx e t.ty
Wake IsIand-tsiat VIZ answer every
purpose and will eu~l nothing. This
island is about two thousand miles
from the Hawaii IA ISL; ads and about
thirteen hundred miles .om Guam.
being almost on a dIce:b me between
those possessions As far back as 1851,
Admiral Wilkes surVel ed Jilts island
and asserted o.b.e, JuL the island be-
ing merely ii coral reef three miles
long, has never ueen occupied. But
it is alright Tor Il cable station, and
President Mckinley has sent orders
to Commander Taussig, of the gun
boat Bennington, to proceed to the
island and take formal possession. 1t
is a coincidence that on the 4th of July
of this year, a transport bound Tor Ma
nilla. stopped at Wake island to allow
our soldiers to get d days recreation
on land
President Mckinley stopped a lot
crooked business when he ordered
that new franchises given by the
local authorities in Cuba, Porto Rico,
and the Philippines, should be revok-
ed by our military authorities, when
ever they were unfair in tkeir terms
or likely to be against the best inter-
est of the islanders. A lot of unscrup-
ulouS spectators have been engaged
in the purchase of railroad, electric
and other franchises from impecune-
Gus members of the local governments
with the expectation that the U. S.
would recognize them. 1t is the Pres
ident's intention to prevent any rob-
berry of the Islanders that can be pre-
vented by watchfulness on the part of
the authorities.
Admiral Sampson, who has just re-
turned from Havana, where he has
been on duty as a member of the evac-
uatiOn commission, says that while
many Cubans are anxious to set up an
Independent government, the better
classes of the island, including most
of the men of wealth and prestige in
business affairs, are practically unani-
mously in favor OF the U. S. taking
the island for keeps instead of only
temporarily. The Admiral's own
opinion is that the Cubans are in no
condition, at this time, to successful
j ly establish and maintain govern
ment of their own, and, while he
doesn't say as much, the impression
one gathers from talking with him,
Is that he doubts whether they ever
will be.
Chairman Hull has filed with the
the clerk of the House, the report of
the committee on military affairs in
favor of his bill for the reorganization
and Increase of the regular army.
which was not ready when the bill
was reported TO the House, lust be
fore Christmas ad journment- The re-