The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1898-03-18
NAYI0NAk CAPITAL
An Interesting Letter From Our Regu-
lar Correspondent.
HERSEY PENS ENTERTAININGLY
Tells What Is Going On in the Way of
Local Gossip - What Montana's
Representatives Are Doing.

Washington, D. c., March IL
There is certain "reminiscences of
brutality in the modern man as seen
in the impatient condemnation of the
president for his "cowardly inactiv-
ity' and "want of backbone in the
face of the crisis which now appears
to confront the nation, and when all
considerations of patriotism demand
the highest confidence IN every depart
ment of government. The responsible
ity borne by the head of the nation at
such a time is Unreasonable. no man
can tell to what the action of our gov
ernment may lead, the peace of the
whole world may depend upon the de-
cision of President Mckinley. At such
time. it seems to me. the tenderest
sympathy should be extended to the
man who, as the chosen leader of the
people, carries upon his shoulders such
| hideous burden Of care. To satisfy
myself and to be able to give he Mon
tana people reliable information gath
cred by personal observation, 1 today
visited the navy yard here and secured
all possible facts as to the work in
progress. All about are visible signs
of unwonted activity and every ma
chine is in motion and every forge
alight talked personally with many
of the workmen and learned from
their lips that so far as the government
plant here is concerned, at least, there
are most significant signs that if act.
ual war is not expected, the United
States is not to be found mapping A
busy looking clerk in answer to an in
quiry said: eve are adding $50 ma
chinists to the force in the yards today
and so helpers and laborers. - Further
Investigation showed that a large in
crease of work is laid out and the
whole place is surrounded with an at
mosphere of energy and spirit. Speak
ing to a group of machinists I learned
that night and day work will begin to-
day. three shifts going Oh. 1--WE are
at work on number of guns that have
seen service,' one of them said "be-
sides all the new ones under way.
These guns are being converted into
modern rapid fire pieces and thus made
defective for immediate use. The ca
pacity runs from 5-inch to l3-inch
guns. There are no guns forged here
Except those for use Oh ship board ~
The house held last week one of the
most notable SESSIONS in it's history.
Three hours dehiste upon Joe Cannon S
bill, appropriating $50. 900, 600 for ma
tional defense, Wene divided into from
10 ,k0 .tn1, ~
smouldering patriotism which had sc
long been suppressed found vent. Gu,
of sea of platitudes came many pearls
of ,oratory and tine whole session was
tribute to the unity of the nation il
the cause Of human liberty. But one
voice was raised against the war senti-
ment which swept through the house
! during the discussion of the bill and
; that was from Pennsylvania, in tht
person Of Representative Bingham. H.
said the talk in the house was like
that of 'yellow dog journalism. ,
"We have heard much about the cour
age of Fitzhugh Lee,'' said he. "Wt
don't want his courage, we want hi
common sense. !" The galleries round
ly hissed the Pennsylvania and wer.
but mildly rebuked by the chair.
A delegation of citizens from Sheri
dan. Wyoming, reached here last week
whose avowed purpose it is to secure
. military post for that place. In my
: opinion there is no chance for their re
quest to be granted. The abandon
ment CT Fort Custer was a deliberate
] act on the part of the department O.
war and was done with the distinc
understanding that no farther necessity
exists for a post in that district. L
was distinctly stated at the time thu
, order was first promulgated by Genera
/ Miles and others in authority that tht
region of country exposed that hat
! been covered by Custer would be wei
taken care Of by Keogh. Harrison anC
from which troops could upon al
emergency be mobolized AS to the
disposition of Custer. the history o1
) the affair appears to he as follows
} At the time the order for the evacu
! ton of Custer was promulgated. Gen
) eral Miles received an application fol
/ the custodianship of the abandoned
I buildings from one Isiah Giles. The
general made favorable recommends.
fion for Giles to the war department
and was then apprised for the first
! time that revocable license had been
granted to Umstead. Bul]ard and Har-
! ris, of Fullerton. Nebraska. to occupy
the buildings and reserve for use as
/ stock rangers. the compensation fo1
same to be the custodianship of the
) property. saw General Miles today
/ and asked him the question direct il
I the action of the department was at all
likely to be reversed as to Fort Gus
ter. "The decision OF the war depart.
ment is final and will not be revoked. -
said the general. "a small detach-
ment is still at the post. but will be
: ordered away in a very short time.
There is strong probability that
maintained at the foot of the Big
Horn mountains the coming season
4 and this will likely be done from year
to year as necessity may demand.
4 AS to action on the post proposed
\ Sheridan, l understand that Senator