The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-11-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. 81 1895

President Mckinley has called time
on Spain, so to speak. He has set
time limit, within which the Spanish
Peace Commissioners must either ac-
cept or reject finally and definitely,
our demand for the Philippines. The
exact length of this time limit is not
known outside of the Cabinet and
probably half a dozen others who
enjoy the presidents confidence, but
there are good reasons for saying that
it does not extend much, if any be-
You'd Dec. l. The president as some
what 10th to adopt this preemptory
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 Commits
sioners, which they took a week or
more in each case to prepare, con-
WINGED him that if they were not
pulled up short the negotiations
were liable to go on indefinitely. He
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 APP
preparation made the last session
of Congress for the support of the
army only extends to Dec. 31st, which
makes it necessary that q new APP
preparation shall be made before
Congress takes its Christmas recess,
Upon information from the War
Department that its estimates would
be ready by that time, Mr.. Cannon
has called a meeting of the members
of the subcommittee on deficiencies,
of which he is Chairman, for the goth
inst, and If the estimates are not de
layed, this bill is likely to be ready to
be reported as soon as Congress as
sembles. The subcommittee on the
District of Columbia, will hold its
first meeting Dee. /, and the present
intention is to report the bill and
pass it before the holidays. The
House appropriation committee has a
good record for hard and rapid work,
under the guidance of Chairman
Cannon, but he hopes to establish Il
new record at the coming session OF
Congress.
The first pension OF the Spanish
war has been awarded to Private
Jesse 7. Gales, Second L. S. Artillery,
who lost part of his upper lip and
several teeth in the Cuban Campaign.
Under present laws SIT month was
the most that could be allowed Gales,
who is permanently disabled and
distigured. lie 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 aHongkong firm to raise
three of the Spanish gun-boats, sunk
in Manila Bay; that the work has al
ready been partially accomplished,
and that $780, coo 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 Philippine
waters. They are named respective
ly, Isla de Cuba, Isia de LuZou, and
Don Juan de Austria. The first two
are twin ships, 200 it. long, 30 it.
beam, with a draft of II fit. 6 inches
and the other is slightly larger, 210 #
long, 32ft beam and draws IL it. {
inches. They all have torpedo tubes
as well as batteries.
While it is hoped that the an
nouncement of satisfactory progress
by the Canadian American Commits
sion will shortly be followed by
another that treaty has been agreed
upon, it is known that such a result
can only be obtained by material
change in the position the Canadians
have heretofore taken as to what
should constitute commercial reel
procity-the real object of the Cana
dams in taking part in this commits
sion. The United States has always
been willing to have real commercial
reciprocity with Canada, as swith
other nations, but strongly opposed
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. H. S. Foster, member of the
British Parliament, who is visiting
Washington, quotes President Nc
Kinley as having said to him, during
a conversation on the relations be
tween the United States and Great
Britain that 'Ethn fpaIinpS of tho tyyf