Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-07-01

Eer, where tnerc nre ABOUT SD,UOU soldiers,
come to Washington every day. Many of
them have never seen the capital before
and up to this time the saloons and disrep-
utable houses have been reaping a rich
harvest from their patronage. The police
have been instructed not to arrest or 9TH
erwise Interfere with men in uniform un-
less it is absolutely necessary for their
welfare or the protection of others, and
Notwithstanding this order the station
houses are filled with drunken soldiers
nearly every night. 1t has beer the rule
tc send them back to camp as soon as they
are sober without placing their names up
on the docket of arrests or bringing them
before the police court. Exceptions have
been made only III cases of assault and
other misdemeanors which could not be
overlooked. 1t has come to be the prac-
tice also for the provost marshal of the
camp to send an officer and squad of men
INTO the city every morning for the pur-
pose of picking up the boys who have
fallen victims to temptations or are other
wise detained,
Tho object of the Secretary of War in
ordering that the recruits under the sec
ond call for troops shall be used in
strengthening the regiments mustered in
unde the first call, so that each company
shall have 100 and each regiment 1900
men. is not only to promote the efficiency
OF the army hut is Il measure of economy
worth several millions of dollars to the
Government. 1t cuts down the number
of regiments and the number of compan-
les. and consequently the number of Off
GERS. one-third, and as the pay of the Off
GERS of Il regiment under the old plan ag-
grcsates limos as much as the pay of
the men the expense Will be reduced one.
third also.
People in Washington who go to market
or shopping these days are pretty sure to
receive gold coin as change. and it is the
first time we have had that experience
since grcenbacks were adopted by Secre-
ta1y Chase in 1862. During the last six
weeks the disbursing officers of the DIFF
fercmt departments have been paying the
salaries of the clerks in the yellow metal,
and all drafts and warrants upon the
treasury have been paid in mixed money
Mt the proportion of So in paper to SIS in
coin. The result has been a scarcity of
g%reenbacks and silver certificates and a
large amour of gold coin in common cir
culation.
1t seems to be settled that Gen. Miles
himself instead of Gen. Coppinger will
lead the army to Porto Rico, and it is the
Presidents intention to allow him full
sway in making the preparations for the
expedition and selecting the officers and
troops that will accompany him. Miles
has upset the plans that We're made in the
War Department while he was at work at
Tampa. and, having done so, will be held
responsible for making and carrying out
a new plan of campaign.
iat.,.
The superintendent of Washington no.
lice has been instructed to notify all liquor
sellers of the intention strictly to enforce
a law which was passed by Congress in
1861 forbidding the sale of liquor in any
form to soldiers in the service of the Unit
ed States, or to any person wearing the
uniform of such a soldier, under the PEN
atty of $50 fine for each offensc and the
forfeiture of both the municipal and the
United States license for the sale of
liquor.
The boys at Camp Alger are very eager
to get away and are agitatcd by every
rumor that refers to their departure. They
are rapidly becoming hardened soldiers
and will soon be ready for serious busi-
ness. The regiments are all short in num-
hers. iccruits are coming in rapidly. sew
eral hundred every day, but they are most
~ green men who have never served
with the militia and have to he drilled in
the simplest rudiments of military duty.
1T has been decided that there will be no
general invasion of Cuba until fall. That
has been the Presidents determination
from the beginning. Even before the de-
cllration of Wal he made up his mind that
ii lios,ilities should occur lie would not be
responsible for the sacrifice of the lives
he knew must he lost from yellow fever
and other climatic diseases ii an attempt
were to he made to invade Cuba during
the rainy season.
There is intense Indignation both in
army and navy circles and in Congress be-
cause of tho general understanding that
Hohson has been kept in Castle Moro ex-
posed To the fire of our guns. If the usual
practices of warfare We're followed Hob
son and the Americans would be removed
10 IL pace OF Sn1ety. instead of dungc
The putting forward of prisoners us a
shield is Il relic of barbarism.
q 4 y
There is n vacancy in the postofice ut
Strode's Mills. Pa. for the first time in
tifty-tllree years. 1t is caused by the
death of Joseph STROBE at the age of 81,
who was appointed postmaster by Prcsi-
dent James Il. Polk Oct. 21. 1915, and
held the Office continuously evcr since.
There are two older men in the postal
service. One of them is in Maine and the
other in Maryland.
Secretary Cages 3 per cent bonds are
already ut n premium of 9 per cent. Bank
ers and brokers in different parts of the
country are publishing circulars and ad-
vertiscments Offering to pay that bonus
for subscriptions that are acknowledged
b. Tie Treasury.
1t will be the middle of July before IN
attack can be made upon Porto Rico. The
number of troops and the selection Of the
regiments will he determined later. Gen.