The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-06-17
ashingtOn Letter.
From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. G. June 5. 1898

President Mckinley believes, and
every member of the Cabinet agrees
with him, that the war movements
now under way will as soon as they
are successfully carried out, as they
are certain to be, bring the war to
close by compelling Spain to sue for
peace. These movements include the
capture of Santiago de Cuba, upon
which combined attack is TO be made
by the army and navy just as soon as
the troops can he got into position
they have probably already been land
ed-and the capture or destruction OF
the Spanish fleet in the harbor at that
place. Just as soon as Santiago has
been captured, the army and navy
will make a combined move on Porto
Rico, and when that island has been
captured it is believed that Spain will
gladly evacuate Cuba in order to get
peace.
The last cable from Cuba, excepting
the one to Key West, has been cut,
and General Blanco is now not only
cut off from Spain, but from nearly
all of the Cuban cities, as the insur-
gents make it impossible for him to
maintain overland wires from Havana.
The Senate has passed the war
revenue bill. AS passed by the Sen
ate it authorizes the issue of $500, ,O0O,-
600 in bonds and directs the coinage
of the silver bullion in the treasury
at the rate of $4,OOO,OOO month and
the issuing of silver certificates for
that amount. The bill has been sent
TO conference committee, and the
House conferees will insist upon in
creasing the bonds to $500, 900 900, az
provided in the original House bill,
and upon striking out the silver coin
age clause, and they expect to carry
liICll IOlAU III UObII lUStduCcS. uC
final vote upon the bill in the Senate
was 4S to %.
Senator WOlcOtt made manly re-
ply to the implied charge of Senator
Allen that the Bimetallic Commission
uselessly and extrayagantly wasted an
appropriation of 100000 during its
trip to Europe, in which he said: II
desire to inform the Senator from Ne
braska that the three commissioners
spent more than six months in Eu-
rope. travelling where their duties took
them. They were accompanied by
secretary, and the entire expense of
the work accomplished was only $16,-
600. And | desire to add that every
member of the commission, in accept
ing the appointment and performing
his duties, sacrificed thousands of dol
lars. 1t is nndlgnifed and unbefitting
a Senator of the U. S. to stand in his
place on this floor and suggest that
the commission spent money it was
not justified in spending. 1 am get.
ting tired of hearing that sort of sug-
gestion from the Senator from Ne
braska. 1t is not the first, the second,
nor the third time he has thrown
them out. Through him they are
now being circulated in the west by
means of patent insides,' which con-
stitute the bone and sinew and most
of the brains of the populist part"
Mr.. Wolcott concluded by expressing
his belief in the ultimate success of
International bimetallism.
No one in Washington is worrying
over the news given out by the Spanish
government that a large Spanish fleet
is on the way to Manila. Even il it
were trne, wherein it would be differ
ent from any other news given out by
) the Spanish government, it would
carse no worry in Washington. Ad-
miral Dewey is amply able to take
care of any fleet that Spain can send
against him, even without any REIN
forcements, and it is certain that the
cruiser Charleston and the first in
stallment of troops will be with Dewey
before any Spanish fleet can possibly
get to Manila.
The volunteers will not be deprived
of their votes at the Congressional
election, if Representative Lacy's bill,
which has been favorably reported to
the House from the elections COM
mittee, becomes a law, and it probably
will. The bill gives the volunteer
soldier the right to cast his vote for
Congressman, wherever he may be
stationed. The war will probably be
over before the Congressional election,
but some OF the volunteers are likely
to be continued in service until after
that time, especially those who have
gone to the Philippines and those who
+ will go to Porto Rico.
SECRETARY Gage has reported to