Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-10-03
Washington Letter.
rom our Regular Correspondent.l

WASHINGTON, September 20, 1899.
No man is more deeply interested
In the preparations for AID miral Dew
ey's welcome to Washington, now all
completed, than President Mckinley,
who in addition to being an old per-
sonal friend of the admiral has a
boundless admiration for the man.
ner in which he performed his difficult
duties as commander Of the Asiatic
squadron from the day he entered
Manila bay and destroyed the Span
ish fleet to the day he left for home.
There is also another reason why
President Mckinley is glad that Adj
niral Dewey is coming to Washing
ton. He has another position for
him to fll-that of adviser-in chief
on Philippine affairs which is an
important one, although it will car
ry no official title. The president
has not determined upon Philip
pine policy, further than to put
down the rebellion and to restore
law and order on the islands. He
has absolute confidence in Admiral
Dewey's judgment, and there is little
doubt that his advice will be pow
erful factor in deciding what the
Philippine policy Of the president
will be after peace has been restored;
and the fact chat Admiral Dewey
will be the presidential adviser will
be likely to cause congress, the mem
hers of which have the same conf
dence in him that everybody feels,
to endorse whatever Philippine policy
may be finally deter mined npon.
There is possibility that Admiral
Dewey may JOIN the presidents par
ty III the trip to the west. which will
follow The Washington welcome, but
AS yet 1T is only possibility, because
Admiral Drwey's wishes have not
been ascertained, and the president
desires him to follow his own wishes
in the matter. believing that he has
fully earned that right, al: hough he
will be delighted should the admiral
decide to 90, as will the people of the
section to be visited by the party.
Quite number of officials went
over to New York to participate IN
the welcome 70 Dewey. Assistant
Secretary Allen, of the Navy depart
ment, beng the special representa-
tive OF the SECRETARY Of the navy.
1t was decided some time ago that
no member of the cabinet should 90,
being deemed more fitting that the
entire cabinet should stay in Wash
ington with the president to receive
him.
The publication of a story alleging
a serious difference of opinion be
tween members Of the board OF con-
struction as 70 the speed which the
battleship authorized at the last
session of congress should have was
not warranted by facts. There is no
such difference of opinion. On the
contrary, the board is unanimously
in favor Of obtaining as great speed
as possible Rear Admiral Melville.
who is member of the board, said
On the subject: Each member OF the
board is striving to secure for the
U. S. navy ships that will be super
ior to any yet built. Naturally tho
preliminary designs, tentatively drawn
up by each member Of this board.
will differ, and the problem before
the board will be to secure in the de-
signs that which 1t AS a BODY, deems
to include as many as possible Of the
advantages Of every proposal by any
of it's members. In the matter of
speed, each member of the board
seems to desire as high II speed AS
possible, consistent with the main
tenance Of the other offensive and de-
fensive qualities of the ship"
Owing to Chief Justice Fuller and
Justice Brewer, of the United States
supreme court, being delayed in Paris
by the British Venezuela court Of
arbitra ton, of which they are mem
Oers, the prize case in which Rear
Admiral Sampson and the officers
and men of the North Atlantic squa-
dron are interested cannot be taken
up by the supreme court upon the
day set, October 16, the Importance
of the case being such that it is de-
sired that it shall be heard and
passed upon by a full bench The
case in question grew out of the
prizes captured by the North Atlantic
squadron during the blockade of
Cuba. The amount involved is so
large that the claims were by mutual
consent Of the treasury officials and
the naval officers combined in a case
to be decided by the sn preme court.