The Press., 1898-05-26
Washington Letter.
Washington, May 8, lsSa

There ls more expectation than war news in Washington, so far as the public Is concerned. That is why the hourly rumor finds believers no matter how wild lt may be. There Is news-lmportant news-but 1t Is of contemplated move ments rather than of battles fought and things accomplished consequently 1t comes under the ban of the censorship which has been established by the govern ment and Is not allowed to be made pub lie. It relates to the movements of our warshlps which are trying to get that Spanish fleet which Is dodging around Cuban waters cornered where 1t will be bound to fight, and there are reasons for expecting the success of the efforts.
 Talk Is again prevalent of postponlng the invasion of Cuba until fall. The reasons given are that the rainy season will begin in Cuba about the tenth of June during which 1t will be impossibleto to carry on an aggressive cam paign, and that 1t will require several months time to mAnu- fRcture the amount of ammunition that will be needed by the army. The fact that this talk is emi-officially encouraged instead of being rebuked, makes 1t pro- bable that it is intended to throw the SpanlArds on their guard. II Is only the Spanlards who have contended that mili- tary operations could not be carried on in Cuba during the rainy season the in- surgents have proven to the contrary by
 
 during that season. U. s. troops may be landed in Cuba any day. What else are the troops being hurried south forH
 Speaker Reeds vote In the committee on rules, of which he Is chairman will decide whether Q special rule shall be re- ported to the house for the consideration of the joint resolution for the annexation of Hawaii, the other four members of the committee being equally divided. AL though Speaker Reed is opposed to annex alton and will probably vote against the resolution, it is expected that in deference to the wishes of hia party he will vote for the rule. If he does, the resolution will At once be adopted by large majority.
 President Mckinley must have succeed cd in getting exceptional men in his cabi- net. When everybody else Is engaged in trying by hook or crook to get pointer on the plans of the army and navy, the members of the cabinet decided that 1t would be best to conflne such knowledge to the president and the secretaries of war and the navy, and in accordance with that decision requested the president not to discuss intended movements at cabinet meetings. The gentlemen who have thus cut themselves of from opportunities to know everything going on and to go on say they did not do so from any lack of interest, but from fear that they might, If they know the plans, in an unguarded moment say something that would serve as foundation for publications that might result in frustrating those plans. A fAcetiOus congressman says the memr bors of the cabinet merely advertise their ignorance of war plans to escape being questioned by their friends and families, especially their wives. Though spoken in jest there may be some truth in that idea
 Although the senate has devoted practI- cally an entire week to the consideration of tho amended war revenue bill, 1t has not acted upon @ single one of the disputed clauses of the bill, each of them having boon passed over "by request" as reached. The only real fight that is likely to occur will be over the substitute offered by Senator Allison, restoring the bonds and interest bearing certificates of indebted mess, as provided for in the bill as it passed the house, in place of the issue of greenbacks, the coinage of the silver seiginorage, and the Issue of silver certifi- oates, put in the bill by the silver ma- jOrity of the senate finance committee. The disputes over all the other clauses are upon details rather than principles, and can easily be settled. It Is still be- lieved that majority Of the senate will vote for bonds, although political pressure is being used to combine all the silver votes against bonds. It is claimed that enough democrats have pledged them selves to defeat this movement; and one sIlver republican-Mantle, of Mont. ,-Is also counted for bonds.
 The administration thinks it will be a good policy for congress to clinch the friendllness expressed for this country by the officials of France by making an un- usually large appropriation for American representation at the big Paris Exposition in 1o00-somethingI like $1 .00O, ,O0O.
 
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