Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1898-07-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From The rrlbune's Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, June a.
GERMANS IN THE PHILIPPINES There
| is not the slightest fear in Washing
ton that any trouble will be caused at
Manila by anyopen act ofthe German
| fleet now there, but information has
been received that has aroused appre-
hension that the influence of the Ger
man naval officers, which is said to be
secretly operating among the semi
savage Philippine insurgents, may
cause serious trouble. No official in
formation about this has been given
out, for obvious reasons. 1t can be
| stated. however that President Nc
Kinley proposes that the army sent to
the Philippines shall take possession
of those islands. and hold them, re-
CARELESS of obstacles.
~ !
RATIoNs AND CLoTHlNG-In reply
to criticisms of food and clothing fur
nished the volunteers, Secretary Alger
says that light summer clothing is be-
ing made as fast as possible and that
it is being issued to the men as fast
as it is ready for usei and of the rations
he says, that the army ration is based
upon the experience of the Commits
sary Department in the civil war The
meat ration as now issued consists of
fresh meat six days out of ten, bacon
two days, pork one daV, and canned
salmon one day.
***
DEMOCRATIC OPPosITIoN.-For two
days this week the House devoted it's
time to discussing and acting upon mi
nor war measures which had been IA
vorably reported from the committee,
While the democrats did not actively
oppose any of these bills, remarks
made by Representative Cochran, of
Mo, and others indicated that they
would have done So had they not been
afraid to follow their natural inclina-
tions, Breaking quorum by absent
ing themselves was as far as they dared
to go, and had there not been a con-
siderable number of republican absen-
tees they could not have done that.
k
Coal IN PHILIPPINES-Acc to
advance sheet of consular report
made by E. Spencer Pratt, U. S. Con-
sui General at Singapore, there are ex-
tensive deposits of excellent coal in
the Philippines. Mines are being work
ed near the city of Cebu, from which
English steamers have been ccaled,
and from which there is a railroad to
the sea. Admiral Dewey's feet will
probably test the quality of this coal
shortly.
Xxx
WATsoN's DEPARTURE If the
Spaniards could visit the bureau Of
fees Of the Navy Department directly
responsible for getting Commodore
Watson's feet in proper condition
to start upon its long voyage to attack
the cities on the Spanish coast, they
would no longer believe, as the cable
reports them, that the order for the
departure of this feet was a bluff,
Whatever they may believe now, in
about three weeks Commodore Wat
sons heavy guns will convince the
Spaniards that war, in its most horri
BILE aspect is right at their doors.
President Mckinley meant business
when he issued that order to Commo-
dore Watson, and nothing short of an
abject surrender on the part of Spain
will prevent the order being carried
out to the letter.
*
ANNEXATION VoTE.-The fight
against Hawaiian annexation has been
daily weakening in the Senate. The
anti's have discovered that the major
| ity were out for blood and willing to
remain in Washington just as long
as the anti's choose to keep up their
speech making against annexation,
and that under no circumstances
would Congress be allowed to adjourn
until the annexation resolution had
| hoon voted ,,nnn Sonoo Of tho donon-