Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-12-31
WASHINGTONLETTER
THE PEACE COr1r1IS-
SIONERS.
A Cordial Welcome.
Summary Steps to be Taken.
Crooked Franchises.
SfROULATORS ACTIvE-NUOH TO
BE DONE.
The Increase of the krmv
The Increase of the Army.
(From Our Regular Correspondent. }

WASHINGTON. d. c., Dee. 20, '9S.
President Mckinley gave the Amer
dean Peace Commissioners, who
brought the official copy of the Treaty
of Peace to Washington, cordial per-
sonal welcoms and heartfelt congratu-
. lations on their successful work, and
assured them that the Christmas gift
they brought to he American people
was thoroughly apr eciated. As a
further mark OF his appreciation, he
will give in honor of the Commission
ers State Dinner at the White House.
An addition to the treaty, the Commits
ers brought to the President a full
ard detailed report Of their work.
PLKAsIEG INFORMATION.
The Commissioners were pleased to
learn that the opposition to the ratif-
cation of the treaty by the Senate had
practically all died out, and that the
greatly was likely TO be promptly rati-
fled. Senators who have been quoted
as intending to oppose the treaty have
assured President Mckinley that.
while opposed TO our retention of the
Philippines permanently, they would
vote TO ratify the treaty as soon as Is
was reported to the Senate from the
COMMITTEES on Foreign Relations, to
which 1t will be sent as soon as it goes
to the Senate. which will be- imme-
.distely upon the reasssmbling of Con-
igress.
THE sPANIARDs' MISTAKE.
The Spanish Peace Commissioners
will reahze that q mistake they made
VIII an they refused to sell as q small
island in the Carolines for a cable sta
fion, as soon IS they learn that we have
,Ken possession OF an island-Wake
Island--that will answer every purpose
and costs nothing This island is about
two thousand miles from the Hawaiian
Islands and about thirteen hundred
miles from Guam. being almost on a
direct line between those possessions.
As far back as 1851. Admiral Wilkes
surveyed this island asserted title,
but the island being merely a coral
reef three miles long, has never been
occupied. But It il all right for a ca
ble station, and President McKinle
has sent orders to Commander Tsus-
sig, of the gun-boat Bennington, to
proceed to the island and take formal
possession. 1t is coincidence that on
the 4th of July of this year, q transport
bound for Manila, stopped at Wake
ISLAND to allow our soldiers to get
days recreation on land.
CROOKED BUSINESS STOPPED.
President Mckinley stopped lot of
or Aeked business when he ordered
that new franchise given by the local
authorities in Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines, should be revoked by
military authorities whenever they
were unfair in their terms or likely to
be against the best interest of the
islanders. A. lot of INSCRIPTIONS spec
ulators have been engaged in the pur-
chase of railroad. electric and other
franchises from impecuneous MEM
Ders OF local governments in the towns
on all of the Islands, with the expecte-
-xion that the U. S. would recognize
them. It is the Presidents intention
60 prevent any robbery of the island for
that can be prevented by watchfull-
ness on the part of the authorities.
WANTED ANNEXATION.
Admiral Sampson, who has Just re-.
zurned from Havana, where he has
been on duty as member Of the evac
uation commission, says that while
many Cubans are anxious to set up ar
independents government, the better
classes on the island, including most OF
the men of wealth and prestige in bus.
mess affairs, are practically unani.
.mously in favor of the U. 8, takinc
the island for keeps. instead of only
temporarily. Tbs Admirals own opin,
ZION is that the CuOans are in no condi
tion, at this time, to successfully estaE
e. lish and maintain a government o.
their own. and, while he doesn't say Al
much, the impression one gsthers from
talking with him. is that he doubt
whether they ever will be.
THE INCREASE OF THE ARMY.
Chairman Hull has fled with tn,
Sclerk OF the House, the report of tbs
committee on Military Affairs in favo
of his bill for the reorganization ant
increase of the regular army, which
was not ready when the bill was re
ported to the House just before it
Christmas adjournmenJ. The repor
as very full, giving unanswersble rea
sons, in detail why the bill should b
passed. The following extract from
Che report fully explains the nature O
the bill: The bill 6xes no maximum
strength for the whole army. Assum
Jog that the government will requir
about 100000 men for defense OF tn
frontier, for coast defense and to mail
tain our authority in the islands 10
whose good order and government thi
nation is now responsible, togethe
with . reasonable reserve force.
THE BILLS PROVISIONS.
The bill provides for the require
.ments OF cavalry and infantry, tn