The silver star., 1898-12-29

A new counterfeit 81 silver certificate
has been discovered. 1t is of the series
of 1896. Bruce, register. Roberts. trcas-
urer, and apparently printed from pho
to-etched plates on heavy bond paper.
No attempt has been made to initiate
the silk fibre, and the treasury number
has been traced with blue writing fluid
which runs when dampened, as does
the red coloring applied 10 the seal.
The execution is poor and the work
would deceive only the most careless
handlers.
Senator Mason has introduced in the
Senate u resolution directing the com
mittee on agriculture to inquire into
certain legislation pending before the
German Reichstag calculated to pro
hibit the importation into Germany of
American sausage and other meat prod
ucts, and directing the committee,
should the legislation become law, to
report Immediately a bill to require the
inspection of sugars, meat. wines and
other food products which are import
ed into this country from Germany.
In the House n similar bill has been
reported from the committee on agri-
culture.
The preliminary report of the Nicar-
aguan Canal Commission. consisting of
General Haines. Admiral Walker and
Professor Haupt. has been completed
and will be read before the Senate
committee either during the Christmas
recess or Immediately afterward. This
report will give many details of con-
struction in regard to the proposed
route and will give close figure on the
entire cost of the undertaking as far rs
human ingenuity can forcsce. 1t is
seen from the report that S135, 100000
will be a conservative estimate of the
entire cost of the canal and this almost
agrees with General w. Ludlow's re
port of 1896.
The Cabinet on Wednesday discussed
the instructions 10 be sent 10 General
Otis at Manila, which will be promul-
gated there us a proclamation by the
President. The Instructions are similar
in import to those sent TO our officers
at Santiago upon the occupation of that
city by the United States troops. The
Cabinet also decided that existing con-
ditions justified n further reduction of
the military forces of the United States
and the secretary of war was instruct
ed 10 ARRANGE for the Immediate muster
out of $4,000 volunteers. The details
for the execution of this order have
not yet been arranged. Several of the
volunteer orders in the Philippines un-
roubtedly will be included in the
number.
well-informed newspaper man
says: There is no question of the rati-
fication of the Spanish treaty by the
Senate, although there may be n good
deal Of debate. 1t involves many in
teresting questions that have not been
discussed in that great debating socie-
~ and establishes n number of prece-
dents of Importance. The only Repub-
lican who is certain TO oppose il is Mr..
Hale of Maine. Mr.. Hoar and Mr..
Morrill,, on general principles. are
against the annexation of territory by
the United States in the West Indies
or the Asiatic ocean, but will not antag-
onize the government. At least one
half OF the Democratic senators will
vote for ratification, and probably
more. The attempt to organize that
party against the Presidents policy is
failure. because such a movement
could do no earthly good and would
only result in defeat.
The Senate committee on foreign re-
lations has concluded its revision of the
bills providing for Il territorial govern
ment for Hawaii, and Senator Cullom
reported the changes to the Senate
There Were numerous changes, the
most Important being ns follows: The
section defining citizenship was amend
ed by striking out the word white"
and also the explicit reference to Por.
tuguese and left TO read as follows.
THAT all persons who We're citi-
zens OF the republic of Hawaii
on August 81, 1898, are hereby
declared TO be citizens OF the United
States The provision in regard to
the qualifications of territorial senators
Is changed so as to require that the sen.
ator shall be male citizen, thirty
years of age, that he shall have resided
in the Hawaiian islands not less than
three years and that he shall he quail.
ified TO vote for senator's" The explicit
property qualifications being stricken
| out.
General Shafter appeared rather un.
expectedly before the War Investigat.
ing committee last Tuesday and told
his story of the Santiago expedition.
lie was supported by his aide. Colonel
Miley. who was with bin In Cuba, and
hanked by large portmnntenu of pa.
pers. TO which his aide occasionally ap.
piled for reference. General Shafter's
story of the operations around SantI-
ago was tcrsely told, hut at times quite
vivid In It's recital and Interesting In
detail. Briefly summed up. his csti.
mate of the Santiago expedition was
that II had been n military success. and
cheap at the cost OF 500 men lost IN
the fight. He considered the expedi
tion 10 have been as well fitted out az
the time allowed would permit, and
said that on looking back he had nc
criticism Of his plans 20 make and
would not change them II the events
had TO he gone through again. IIt
said he had no complaints OF any sor,
to make and would be 10th TO intrud.
them Mt this time II he had.
A decision by the Supreme Cour
some time ng0 seems 10 settle thu
point raised against the constitutional
ty OF "cxpansi0n." II said: "Thc pow
er OF Congress over the territories o
the United States In general and plen
ary, arising from and Incidental to III,
right TO acquire territory itself, ant
from the power given by the constiti