The Press., 1898-05-12
Washington Letter.
Washington. May g. 1898.


 
 Washington, May g, 1S9s
 Congress will now add it's thanks to those of the president and the people ca bled to Commodore Dewey by Secretary Long as soon as the official report of his extraordinary victory in Manila harbor reached Washington-a victory resulting in the destruction of a fleet of eleven Spanish vessels carrying 1more than one hundred guns and more than 2,0O0 men, the capture of heavy shore batteries, and the subsequent control of the Philippine Islands, all without the loss of man and without the serious injury of ship and with only six men wounded-by adopt ing the joint resolution reported from the house committee on naval affairs extending the thanks of congress to Commodore Dewey. It will also supplement the pro motion to Acting Admiral, .cabled Commo- dore Dewey by Secretary Long, by pass ing the bill providing for an additional rear admiral in the navy, which will en- able the president to further promote Com modore Dewey. The feeling in Washing ton is that nothing is too good for. him. Troops are,to be sent to aid him in hold ing the Philippine Island as quick as they can beIassembled in SanFrancisco and the ships prepared to transport them.
 Good news is daily, aye hourly, expected from Admiral Sampson's fleet, which is off on mission known only to the presi- dent and cabinet. There are good reasons for the belief that Sampsons first object is the Spanish fleet reported to be headed for Porto Rico, and that if he fails to find the fleet he will turn his attention to the capture of Porto Rico. Naval officials will be surprised if he finds any more Spanish warships than the three or four that are known to be in the harbor at San Juan, Porto Rico, because the general be- lief is that Spain is afraid to send her big fleet into American waters. But the cap ture of Porto Rico will of itself be great victory and will help to shorten the war. The senatorial opponents the bond clause in the war revenue bill are sparring for time, so to speak They believe that the OD6ulSn SlO Ol IIlO WtbI 10 dUOuG GO OO11CSPOOJ and that if they can hold up the bill until the collapse comes, they can prevent bonds from being issued. If the matter was put to & vote now there is little doubt that a majority as large as that which voted against an income tax last week would vote for the bonds, not because all who would so vote approve of the issue of bonds but because they recognize that as the only sure and speedy way in which the government can raise very large sum of money, and that if the war is to con- tinue even for few weeks larger sum than can possibly be produced by tax ation will be needed. Those who have so far succeeded in preventing the reporting of the war revenue bill from the senate committee on finance, where it has been more than a week, have not said that they were trying to delay action until they conld ascertain whether the end of the war was in sight, and are not likely to say so, but that Is their game
 Under the new volunteer army law con- lrmation of the nominations of regimen tai officers by the senate is not required, as it is for similar officers in the regular army. The president appoints them, and in the cases of all thoseso far appointed he has delegated the appointing authority to Secretary Alger.
 Senator Sewell has not qualified as ma jor general in the volunteer army although his nomination was confirmed by the senate at the same time that those of generals Fitz Lee, Joe Wheeler. James H. Wilson, and the seven brigadier gener- als of the regular army to be major gener- als were acted upon, and it is not probable that heaWill. If he becomes general he cannot retain his seat in the senate, and the present understanding is that he pre- fers the later.
 Few Americans have an idea of the ex= tent ofthe Philippine Islands, a footing upon which was so gallantly captured by Commodore Dewey and over which the American flag now flies. Saturdays issue of the daily publication of the Department of State known as Advance sheets of Consular Reports" is devoted entirely to the Philippine Islands, which are ten per cent. larger in area than New England, New York, New Jersey. Maryland, and Delaware combined, and which have an estimated population of from 8,8000, ,000 to 10,OO0,00O. But probably the most aston ishing thing about this publication, to most people, are the official figures show ing that the U. s. has more commerce with the Philippine Islands than does all the rest of the world combined.
 There is great reticenee at the war de partment concerning the movements of the army in connection with the invasion Cuba. Many conflicting stories are in cir culation, some of them probably started by our officials to confuse the enemy, but the world Is liable to learn that the U. s. troops have taken Cuban port at any time.
 A spanish spy was arrested in Washing ton last night who is said to have draw ings of many of the coast Notifications in the vicinity of U. s. ports. He was