Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-09-29

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Although Congress at its last session
appropriated $260,OO0 for the building nf
a gunboat to take the place of the ami.
quated Michigan on the lakes this law
cannot be carried out on account of tbo
provisions Of the treaty with Great Brit
ain, made in 1917 The curious spectacle
is presented of Congress acting a law
which is contrary to an existing treaty,
although that body was cogniZant of th4
fact, for it inserted a proviso in the law
which authorizes the construction of the
gunboat which reads: provided constlmc-
ton Of said gunboat shall conform to all
existing treaties and conventions This
treaty has been violated for number Of
years, for the tonnage of the Michigan is
far in excess of the treaty stipulationS.
but the Government has decided not tc
further encroach upon the provisions of
the treaty and viii for the present defer
building the new gunboat. The Navy De
partment officials have taken no steps to-
ward the construction of this ship, not
even going so far as drawing the plans,
and will not do so until the treaty is alb
rogated or an intimation is given by the
commission at Ottawa as to what action
will be taken in this direction.
Secretary Long has determined to ma
teriaNy increase the navy. He will pre-
sent estimates this year to provide for
an enlisted force of 10000 men and $500
boys. The present enlisted strength of
the navy is little over 10000. This in
crease is not as great as some of the naval
authorities believe will be necessary in
view Of the augmented service. 1t is. of
course, the intention of the department to
retain large number of vessels at
League Island in reserve, and for this pur->
pose comparatively small enlisted force
will be sufficient to keep the vessels in re-
pair and in condition for service at any
time. Still, there is a feeling that the
navy should have a trained force which
would be available in time of emergency
without calling upon SO many volunteers
and making use of such a large number
of enlisted men who lack discipline. The
sentiment in Congress in favor of larger
navy is strong one, and some OF the Off
GERS are disappointed that Secretary Long
has not decided to present estimates for
fully $4,000 or 10000 men.
An old colored man named Virgil Blue
was at the War Department the other
day to inquire about two sons one in the
Tenth cavalry and the other in the Twen-
ty-fourth infantry, who were both wound
ed before Santiago, and was greatly re-
Joiced to hear that they had fully recov-
cred and were with their regiments He
came from Fauquier Courthouse. Va
Pm proud oh dem boys" said the old
man. Il dun had one son die in de army"
The old man said he had thirty-fiye ne
pheWs in the colored regular and volun-
teer regiments of the army. He has ten
brothers and these nephews are sons Of
the brothers. "Sort oh a fitin' crowd"
said the old man, ''but I used to enjoy a
tussle myself" -,
The newspapers reaching the State De
partment in the official mails from the
East show that the almost universal ex-
preston in the public press of Japan is in
favor Of the United States holding perma-
nently and governing the Philippine Isl
ands. The position taken is that this will
be in the interest of peace and commerce
and good government. The editorials in
sist that this is the only issue Of the mat
ter that will satisfy the highest interests
of the islands and the demands of civil
lzation. The papers declare that the Unit
ed States, in assuming the control of the
islands, will receive the moral support. if
not the active cooperation, of Japan and
Great Britain.
Toru Hoshi, who has been minister
from Japan for several years, has taken
his place as a leader of the Government
party in the parliament at Tokyo and will
be succeeded here by Mr. Komura, the
present vice-minister Of foreign relations
in the Mikado's cabinet. Mr.. Komura is
a diplomatist Of wide experience He
served in China for several years and was
intrusted with the grave responsibility
of settling many perplexing questions that
grew out Of the late war. He has also
been minister to Corea, where he made an
excellent record j.
3 -
The Treasurer Of the United States re-
Gently sent check for 81, 475, 900 to the
International Navigation Company at
Philadelphia in payment for the use of the
auxiliary cruisers St. Paul, st. Louis,
New York and Paris for an average pc
Rod of 120 days each. The amount paid
was approximately $4,000 day, Or
$4,000 a day for each vessel.
Among the orders recently placed for
guns for the new battleships are several
12-inch rifles which will take the place Of
the present 13-inch guns, The new guns
will use smokeless powder and viii send
their projectiles at velocity Of 1905 feet
per second, so per cent greater thar the
velocity of the present 13-inch shell
Postmasters may make campaign
speeches and otherwise participate in Poi-
itics if they do not neglect their Official