Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-06-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent)
WASHINGTON, June 20, 1898.

hlnley. III Is not a large army,
but it is large enough to accomplish
the purpose for which it was sent;
the men are splendidly equipped
and are all eager to distinguish
themselves. twill require several
days for Gen. Shafter to take up a
position from which aggressive
operations against Santiago can be
started, but it is confidently ex-
pected that news OF a crushing and
decisive blow being administered
to the Spaniards will be received
during the present week. There
isn't the slightest doubt in any
quarter that Shafter will give the
Spaniards drubbing that they
will remember, as soon as he can
get at them.
While neither the President nor
any of his advisers believe that the
Spanish fleet which left Cadiz
several days ago will dare to come
to Cuban waters, its starting will
hasten the capture of Porto Rico.
No chances are to be taken. If
that Spanish fleet should cross the
Atlantic it would naturally en-
deavor to make Porto Rico its base
of operations, but, unless some
thing now unforeseen should pre-
vent the carrying out Of present
plans, Porto Rico will be in our
possession before the Spanish fleet
can possibly arrive there. In this
connection it may be we'll to state
that the steamship companies
which own vessels suitable for the
transportation of troops are re-
sponsible for any delay that may
occur. They are playing hog with
the government by refusing to
charter their vessels to carry troops,
because they wish to sell them
to the government at fancy prices.
The government can, of course,
impress the vessels, leaving the
compensation of their owners to be
settled hereafter, but up to this
time the President has not been
disposed to resort to that method
of obtaining ships, but it may be-
come necessary for him to do so.
The contest over the joint reso-
luton for the annexation: of Hawaii,
which went through the House
last week by more than a two
thirds vote, is now on in the Sen
ate. How long it will last depends
largely upon the endurance of the
Senators-less than thirty in num-
ber-who have started out, not to
defeat the resolution by a direct
vote, but to prevent a vote at this
session of Congress. There can be
but one end-a vote and the adop-
ton of the resolution. The Senate
could not adjourn without voting
on this resolution, even if a maj
ority of its members desired to do
so. No adjournment can take
place without the consent of the
| House, and the votes of 2O9 Rep
resentatives for the annexation
resolution was a notice served on
the Senate that adjournment with
out action would never be consent
ed to by the House. In order to
make the work Of the anti's as
hard as possible, it has been de-
cided by the friends of annexation
shall allow the other fellows to do
all the talking.
Although the subscriptions for
the war bonds to be issued are
already largely in excess of the
amount of the first issue-S2O0,
600, ,0O0-one bank offering to take
half of them at a premium of | per
cent. there is no reason for any
small investor to Withhold his sub
scriptiOn for fear that he will not
get the bonds. Those who desire
$500 or less will get them first,
and it will take lots of these small
subscribers to absorb the entire
issue. So any of your readers who
desire small amounts Of these
bonds at par may forward their
| otDSIiI ptioliN, oiI Dl6tllhS w NC OD-
tanned at any Express or money
order Postoffice, with confidence
that they will get the bonds.
The third expedition will leave
San Francisco for Manila this week
and will be accompanied by Gen.
Merritt. 1t is not probable that
another expedition will be sent
until some of the ships that car
ried the first troops return, as there
are no more ships to be had on the
Pacific. 1t is believed that the
first Philippine expedition has an
rived at Manila. AS soon as Off
cial news Of it's arrival is received
President Mckinley intends to
issue proclamation declaring the
establishment of military govern
ment over the Philippine Islands.
Not the slightest apprehension