Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-05-20
W ASHINGTON LETTER.

" 1DlllllN / Ult LII ulJ'
where Is the spanish I1eetg invasion
of Cuba Delayed. Our rights so Far
satisfactory. Hawaii win he Annexed.
SENATE Revenue Bin WIN Not BE Passed.
President McKinley's greatest
anxiety to-day arises from the fear
that the Cape Verde Spa ish Fleet,
now believed to be headed for Cuba
may escape the fleet of Admiral
Sampson, which did such good
work in destroying the Notifications
in the harbor of San Juan, Porto
Rico, last week and flying squadron
of Commodore Schley, which is now
being given its first opportunity to
show what it can do in the fighting
line, and get safely in the Cuban
harbor. 1t will make no difference
in the end-and not a vessel in the
Spanish fleet will escape destruction
or capture-but it would be much
easier to destroy the fleet ON the
open sea than it will be after it gets
into a fortified Cuban harbor. And
besides, that fleet has supplies for
the Spanish in Cuba which it is very
desirable to keep away from them.
The coming of the Spanish fleet
has naturally resulted in holding
up all plans for the invasion of Cuba
but they are only postponed until
the fleet can be got at and destroyed,
not abandoned. The postponement
of the invasion of Cuba is really
very advantageous to us, as it will
enable us to make the invasion with
larger and better prepared army.
1t has been found that many of the
volunteers are poorly equipped, and
it will take time to gather the new
equipments for them. Spending a
short while in camp will also be
greatly beneficial to the volunteers {;
it will get them in a condition to
stand a campaign in Cuba.
The several fights which have
taken place in Cuban harbors be-
tween ourblocknding ships and the
Spaniards during the last few days
have been entirely satisfactory to
| +1o od,,;nis+rotsor F,r,,,;1ol,1a
batteries have been destroyed, two
Spanish cables have been cut, many
Spaniards have been killed, and our
loss has been comparatively small.
The crews of the blockading ships
have proven themselves brave and
fearless in carrying out the most
dangerous orders-the men who
cut tho two cables in the harbor of
Cienfuegos having done so in open
boats, under heavy fire from the
batteries and from small arms.
There are a lot of rumors in cir
culation concerning Speaker Reed s
opposition to the adoption of the
joint resolution for the annexation
of Hawaii, which was favorably re-
ported to the House last week, and
his intention to prevent its being
voted upon. There is no foundation
for these rumors, further than the
wishes of who started them. The
resolution will be voted upon, and
will be adopted by large majority
This statement is made on undoubt-
ed authority.
There is no possibility th't the
amended war revenue bill which
has been reported to the Senate
from its Finance Committee can
ever become q law In fact, there
is doubt whether it could pass the
Senate in its present condition. In
addition to striking out the clause
authorizing the issue of bonds-the
only certain way in which the gov
ernment can at short notice raise all
the money that may be needed tC
fight the war to victorious end
the amended bill provides for an
additional issue of greenbacks
amounting to $3.50, 600, 600, a propo.
sition that the House overwhelm-
ingly voted down before passing
the bill, and the coming of the so.
called seignorage of the silver bal
lion owned by the government
$42, 900, 600, 600 in silver certificates
TO be issued in advance of the coin.
age, Representative Steele, of Ind.
prominent member of the House
Ways and Means Committee, said
after reading the bill reported to the
Senate: 1.-The majority of the Sen
ate Finance Committee seem tC
think that this government car
carry on an expensive foreign wal
on wind" Chairman Dingley sale
of the amended bill: "The Bryan
democracy appears TO have abandon
ed free silver and gone back to fla
money, pure and slmp g. lam nov
wondering what the republican,
who left their party and enlisted
under the Bryan banner in order t,
secure the free and unlimited coin
age of silver will say to that propo-
sition. What's the use of going {,
all the trouble and expense of coin
ing so cent silver dollars when yol
can print paper dollars in unlimit
ed quantities and amounts at sligh
tunr,1,Ia md ,.-..,,...r. TIfI.~ -.