The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-12-08
Washington Letter.
washington Dec. 5, 1898.


terms of peace. The general tone of the
message is highly commended also the
handling of the more or less delicate
question connected with our requirement
of the Philippines. 1t lie free from rancor
and bombast, although fully recognizing
the unprecedented achievements of the
country In the war with Spain. Its dom
inant note is patriotism of the highest or
der-patriotism such as every good Amer
lean feels, regardless of political affilia-
tion, and can endorse. If the sentiment
in congress is representative of that of
the country, and it usually is, the mes
sage will be generally commended.
While the legislation of the session of
congress, which opened to-day, will have
little direct connection with the newly
acquired territory of the country, several
of the regular appropriation bills, notably
those for the, army and for the navy, as
well as the bill for the increase of the
regular army, will furnish texts for many
speeches on that subject, and the talk of
senators and representatives indicates an
intention to take full advantage of those
texts. Consequently the debates of the
present session are expected to be unus-
ually lively and interesting.
There is disposition among prominent
republican senators to fight shy of COM
mitting themselves, either for or against,
holding an early spring extra session of
congress, to consider financial legislation,
regardless of whether failure of the pres
ent session to pass all the legislation
actually necessary makes an extra ses-
sion imperative. Senator Allison was
asked plainly whether he was in favor
of an extra session to consider financial
legislation, but he adroitly declined to
commit himself, and answered the ques-
tion by saying "The president must de-
eide whether or not the new congress
shall speedily assemble; we have moth
ing to do with the question" He was
also averse to expressing an opinion, say
ing when asked to do so: $50 many
things may happen in the next three
months, that prediction at this time re-
garding an extra session must be neces-
sarily based upon the merest speculation
Secretary Alger says, in his annual re-
port, in favor Of his recommendation that
1t be provided in the legislation for i'll
creasing the regular army to 100, 900 men,
that natives of islands occupied by our
troops may be enlisted: "These men are
acclimated, understand the language and
habits of their countrymen, and their en-
listment will not only give them employ
ment, but also have the tendency to en-
able the government to get into closer
otherwise be able to do. This would also
relieve our own men from serving in
those climates to large extent, and
would, moreover, enable the volunteers
to be mustered out of the service and re-
turn to the avOcations of civil life" That
last sentence will do more to hurry army
legislation than any other one thing.
Every senator and representative is be-
sleged with requests to get this or that
regiment of volunteers mustered out, and
they all know that no considerable num-
Der of the volunteers will be ordered
mustered out until congress provides for
the enlistment of regulars to take their
places. 1t is believed that this peculiar
situation will keep men quiet who other
wise would bitterly oppose the bill pro-
viding for the increase of the regular
army. ........
Senator Hale sees nothing but trouble
and expense in the annexation of the
Philippines, and declares his intention to
fight the ratification of the treaty of peace
to the full extent of his ability, regard
less of what other senators may do. Mr..
Hale's pictures of the calamities likely
to follow the ratification of the treaty of
peace would be truly awful If he could
make everybody see through his eyes.
But it has not been forgotten that Mr..
Hale drew some very weird pictures of
what would happen to this country if it
dared to make war on Spain, which were
a long ways from what actually did hap
pen; therefore his doleful talk isn't fetch
ing any tears of alarm.
The probability OF Nicaragua canal
legislation is going to be good thing for
Washington hotel keepers this winter,
and it may be that some impecuneous
statesman who will be dropped from Un-
Gle Sam's pay roll at the close of the
present congress will also handle some Of
the Panama canal company's money,
which it is understood will be literally
spent to block Nicaragua canal legisla-
tion. The house is the doubtful body;
the senate is known to be overwhelmingly
favorable to the construction of the Mic
aragua canal by this government. There
are signs that the administration will use
its Influence upon the house in favor of
canal legislation.