The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-03-26

| nuo'.EXpen6oS Even Greater Idf MOntn
Than Those of the Last War.-Recruiting
| Continues at all Army and Navy Stations.
An air Of suspense noticeable in the
navy department at Washington is due
to the approach of the time for the de-
livery OF the report of the court Of in.
quiry.
A cabinet officer expressed the be.
lief that the report will require care.
full consideration on the part of the
president and bis cabinet before being
given to the public, which would seem
to indicate that its publication will be
| postponed to some time about the
middle Of the week.
The new naval policy embodied in
the creation Of another squadron to
| rendezvous at Hampton Roads, was
also discussed and received unanimous
approval.
Some idea Of the activity prevailing
in naval circles is given by the state.
ment that the pay roll OF the construo.
ton department, only one OF several
departments, in the Mare Island navy
yard, for March, was $4,000. This
great expenditure per month, it is
said, was not cquallel during the late
war.
| A separate account will be kept OF
all funds expended from the $50, O0O,.
900 emergency appropriation. A sep
arate form of requisition has been pre-.
pared and ell amounts allowed from
the fund are made upon the direct
order signed by the president himself.
'Tho president to report to congress
just how every cent of this money is
spent" said member of the cabinet
today, "and for this reason is adopt.
ing the course above outlined"
Recruiting is going on apace at all
stations for the army and navy, and
good reports come from all quarters.
The Columbia and the Minneapolis are
still 210 men each short of their proper
force. This is accounted for by the
fact that firemen, machinists and coal
passers are wanted. An officer at the
department said that 5000 landsmen
could be secured in a day if they were
desired.
The ordnance bureau of the War De.
partment Friday awarded contracts for
q large number of steel armor piercing
end deck piercing prof .ctiles for the
coast fertilization guns. The bureau
divided tho contract so that supplies
will be coming from several quarters
at the same time.
The auxiliary cruiser board spent the
early part of Friday preparing reports
to be sent to Washington on second
class vessels inspected Thursday after.
noon. The City of Washington, which
sailed Friday from New York, was in.
spected Wednesday.
The board il euid to have orders to
inspect all obtainable vessels in the
harbor for first class cruisers.
Lieut.. Reeder and Passed Assistant
Engineer Danforth have been added to
the board, tie work being so heavy
that the increased membership was
necessary.
The board inspected the W.rd Line
steamers Friday and it is understood
have prepared favorable reports to
send to Washington regarding them.
The Orizaba is now being repaired by
the Morgan Iron Works company, who
are putting new plates on her.
The navy department has the follow
ing list Of the Spanish torpedo dotilla
now at the Canary islands: Torpedo
boat destroyers. Terror, Furore and
Pluton, each $50 tons and speed OF
% Knots. Torpedo boats AEON, 127
tons. 25 knots; Ragor, l20 tons, %
knots; Aliste, 1913 tons, rs knots, and
Cuidad de Cadiz, 100 tons, % knots.
By request of Secretary Long the
issue as to the enactment into law of
the naval personnel bill will not he
precipitated until the naval appropria-
ton bill is passed by the house.
Secretary Roosevelt went to the cap
itol to urge the incorporation Of the
entire personnel bill in the appropria-
ton bill. Speaker Reed informed
him that the bill as an amendment
would be left to point of order and
Mr.. Boutelle, of the committee on
naval affairs, advised against putting
any portion of the personnel bill in
the appropriation measure. The only
items formerly recommended that will
be included will be those calling for
the adoption of fifteen assistant pay
masters and twenty assistant engineers.
which are considered in the light of
emergency provisions.
Funeral of B, X. Bruce.
Blanche K. Bruce, in whose death
last week the colored race lost . most
prominent benefactor, was inferred
at WASHINGTON Monday afternoon. Rev.