Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-11-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Washington. NoU. 81, 1898.
President Mckinley has called time
on Spain, SO to speak. He has set a
time limit, within which the Spanish
Peace Commissioner must either ac-
oept or reject finally and definitely,
our demand for the Philippines. The
exact iengtl-of this time l5Init is not
known outside Of the Cabinet and
Prooaoty half dozen others who en-
10y Vie Presidents confidence, but
there are good reasons for saying
that it does not extend mach, if any,
was somewhat 10th to adopt this per-
emptory policy, because he disliked
to even appear to take advantage of
our power to compel Spain to do
what we pleased, but the quibbling
eyinced in the answers Of the Spanish
Commissioners, which they took
week or more ineach case to prepare,
convinced him that if they were not
pulled up short, the negotiations were
liable to 60 on indefinitely. Re is
simply tired of keeping this country
on war footing, and waiting for the
Spaniards to agree to formal treaty
of peace,
Chairman Cannon, of the House
Appropriation Committee, is deter
mined that there shall be no delay in
getting the regular appropriation bills
reported to the House, at the coming
session of Congress. The appropria-
ton made the last session Of Congress
for the support of the army only ex-
tends TO December 31st, which makes
it necessary that a new appropriation
shall be made before Congress takes
its Christmas recess. Upon informa-
ton from the war department that its
estimates would be ready by that
time, Mr.. Cannon has called meeting
of the members Of the sub committee
on deficiencies, of which he is chair
man, for the 26tn inst, and if the es~
Inmates are not delayed, this bill is
likely to be ready to be reported as
soon as Congress assemblies. The
sub committee Of the District Of Col
umbia, will hold its first meeting De-
cember 1st, and the present intention
is to report the bill and pass it before
the holidays. The House appropria
ton committee has good record for
hard and rapid work, under the guild
ance of Chairman Cannon, but he
hopes to establish new record at
the coming session of Congress.
The first pension of the Spanish
war has been awarded to Private Jesse
T. Gales, Second Z. S. Artillery, who
lost part of his upper lip and severa
teeth in the Cuban Campaign. Under
present LAWS ST a month was the
most that could be allowed Gales,
who is permanently disabled and dis
figured. He will be given that sum,
but its inadeQuacy is SO manifest that
it is likely a bill will be passed by
Congress authorizing its increase.
Admiral Dewey has notified the
Navy Department that he has con-
tracted with Hong Kong firm to
raise three of the Spanish gun boats,
sunk in Manila Bay; that the work
has already been partially accom-
plished, and that $500, 900 will cover
the entire cost OF raising and putting
them in complete repair. These boats
are of class that will be especially
useful to the United States in Philip
pine waters. They are named respect
lively, Isla de Cuba, Isla de Luzon,
and Don Juan de Austria. The first
two are twin ships, 200 fit. long, 80 TT.
beam, with draft of II fit. inches,
and the other is slightly larger, 21O TT.
long, 30 fit, beam and draws II #.
inches. They all have torpedo tubes
as well as batteries. While it is hoped
that the announcement of satisfactory
progress by the Canadian American
Commission will shortly be followed
by another that treaty has been
agreed upon, it is known that such a
result can only be obtained by ma
terial change in the position the Cana
dians have heretofore taken as to
what should constitute commercial
reciprocity-the real object of the
Canadians in taking part in this COM
mission. The United States has
always been willing to have real COM
mercial reciprocity with Canada, as
with other nations, but strongly op-
posed to the Jug handle article which
Canadians have heretofore sought.
As soon as the Canadians are willing
to give as much as they wish to take,
a treaty can be arranged.
Hon. Fl. S. Foster, member of the
British Parliament, who is visit
ing Washington, quotes President
Mckinley as having said to him, dur