The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-07-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular eorresnondent.l

| IRON our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, ID. c., July 4. IS9S.-He i,
a callous man, indeed, who can look at Ole
Glory after reading of the heroic condlc
OF Gen. Skaters brave men at Santiago
and of Simpsons gallant tars, who so ably
assisted in the winning of victory after
victory, without feeling new pride in his
country. Skaters men fought under
great difficulties. The country around
Santiago would be difficult one for mill
tary operations under the most favorable
circumstances, but when those operations
are successfully conducted, with the Their
mometer ranging from l0J to l25 in the
shade and against an enemy about equal
in numbers aud strongly intienched, they
commend the unbOunded admiration of,
not only Americans, but Of all men
who admire bravery, endurance and de-
termination. Skaters short campaign
against Santiago has made an enyiable
place in history for himself and his men.
| The casualties were large, but it seems
wonderful that they were not larger.
lnasmuch as the members Of the select
committee on the census, just named by
! Speaker Reed. will have much to say
about the large numl er of appointments
! to be made by the Census bureau, which
will get 10 work next year on the census
Of 1900, outside Of the civil service rule,
there was more or less scrambling and
wire pulling to get OH the committee.
Following is the committee: Hopkins, Of
H.; Chairman, Russell, of Conn. Babcock,
of Wis; Heatwole, Of Mimi; Acheson, of
A Ia 81 Ill
Of Ala; Wise, of Va; DeN ries, of Cal;
Norton, Of s. c.; Ridgely, of Kansas;
Griffith, of Ind; and Mcdowell, OF Ohio.
Eight Of the committee are republicans,
four democrats, and one populist.
Although there is still considerable out
side speculation as to Germany's inten-
tons in the Philippines, President Mckin-
ley and Secretary Day stated at Cabinet
meeting that they had received official as
surance direct from the government of
Germany that no interference with Amer
lean plans in the Philippines had been
even thought of. The riya! of the |
old European story that Germany, France
and Russia had formed combination to
head off the L. 5. and Great Britain in the |
Philippines, is not attracting any special |
attention i'll Washington, for the very |
simple reason that nobody believes it.
Military men are much interested in
the successful use of balloon 10y Gen.
Shaiter TO make observations OF move
ments inside the enemy's lines in and
around Santiago, and they have no doubt
that when the report of the campaign is
made, Gen. Skaters statement OF the use
lnl nj lao N 4 Iaf wi
give the balloon permanent place among
American military accOutrements, such
as it already holds in Europe.
Further than temporary shortage of
stamps in several large cities, the causes
ol complaint made to the Treasury Depart
nent about the new tax law, when has
been in effect since the first Of the month,
have been trivial. No one class has been
more abused on account of TIE new than
he receiving clerks of the telegraph COM
)anics. Where one man rendering teie- :
gram unstamped would laugh and sav:"Oh, !
forgot when informed that it could not T
,e received until the stamp was attached, b
hey would say unprintable things about i
he telegraph company because il docs not [
,ay this tax. No trouble was experienced v
t any of the banks, although many OF II
heir customers appeared to have heard OF a
he stamp tax tor the first time when they II
resented checks without stamps and had ;
hem handed back by the paying teller. j
The State Department has information Z
hat Spanish agents are in Mexico trying ?
D organize force of Spaniards aud Span D
,h sympathizers to make a raid on Texas
owns near the border. The information Il
orried nobody in Washington, because "
nc belief Is general that II the Spaniards "
yer take ralding party from Mexico into a
eXas, the Texans will see to it that not ~
paniard gets back TO Mexico. u
The annexation Of Hawaii is in sight; Il
likewise the adjournment of Congress. al
was hoped by the friends of annexation. /
lat the President could have signed the pl
solution for the annexation of Hawaii sc
| independence Day, so that our fellow
items tO-be on the islands would have III
zen given an additional reason for ioin- Is
g with us in celebrating our greatest ma d.
)nal holiday for all time, but the Sena- Oh
rs in charge of the resolution concluded co
at it would be wiser not to add to the III
ing aSonies of the ants by pushing it to vi
vote, knowing that the vote would come at
thout any pushing in few days. The Ia
solution will probably he adopted by the Ut
nate during the present week, and the loI
lournment OF Congress will follow very &C
sely, unless something new turns up to
ertere with the carrying out Of the pres
programme.