The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-06-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
lFrom our regular correspondentl

IRON our regular ANlltoppuNfhtti
WAsmlvcroy, jane -, ls99.-There il.
more criticism OF the administration Phil
ippine policy, in Washington, at this time
than there has been at any time since the
beginning of the revolt. 1t does not come
from the opponents Of the administration,
either, but from its strong supporters
men who believe that it was the proper
thing to take the Philippines and to keep
them permanently. Thi. criticism arises
from the knowledge that Aguinaldo's
peace talk was trick which succeeded in
fooling us into the belief that the revolt
was lettering to it, end, when it was real
~ getting ready to put up a harder fight
than eyer-knowedge which the fighting
of the last week has torciby impressed on
the minds of everybody. The critics think
that instead Of the comparatively meagre
reinforcemcnts that are being sent to
Gen. Otis, which will only give him $4,000
men when they all reach him, the Pres-
dent should call for tic $4,000 volunteers
authorized b, Congress, and send them all
TO Gen. Otis. 90 that he would have enough
to put down the revolt in short order
Before the President lett Washington for
New England he was begged to do that,
but he has the idea that because Gen. Otis
had expressed the opinion that he could
whip the Filipinos into subsection with
10000 men, he would, if he calls for vol
unteers, be charged by hi, political oppo-
nents with unnecessarily increasing the
army, and be will try TO get along without
doing it. Some of his best friends do not
hesitate to express the opinion that he is
making a serious mistake, and that the
volunteers will have to be called for before
we see the end of the fighting in the Phil
ippines
The new commission to investigate
Isthmian Canal routes isn't ir any hurry
to start for the scene Of its principle la
Dor. 1t held two meetings in Washington
last week, and after authorizing Admiral
Walker, its President to appoi:t commit
tees to consider each branch Of the work.
adjourned until July 9th, when another
meeting will be held in Washington, at
which it is expected plan for the inves-
tgation will be reported and adopted
Mr.. A. D. Wood, a prominent Honolulu
merchant, is now in Washington. He
says there has been general improve
ment in Hawaii since its annexation. but
that the failure of Congress to extend the
laws of the L. S to the islands has been
the source Of much annoy. He adds that
although the islands were an integral part
of Uncle Sans domain, its citizens aIe in |
reality proceeding as though they were
still OH foreign territory; that letters were |
carried from the t. ). TO the islands for
II two-cent stamp, but the Hawaiian re-
ceivers had to pay an additional three |
cents, to bring it up to tie island postal |
rate of tivecents, before they got them,
and that the same old tariff rates have to |
be paid on imports from the states, and |
will continue until Congress acts. Mr.. |
Wood who knows whereof he speaks, also !
made this statement: ut is hardly worth |
while FOO an American to migrate TO IIa-
wall ia the hope Of lettering his cond-
ton, unless possessed of a moderate
amount OF cash. Living is high, for we
are very largely dependent on other coun-
tries for our food stuff. We get mutton
from Australia and -four and dressed beef
from the |. 5. Though some vegetables
are grown, they do not reach the standard
perfection known to people here, and we
have, therefore, to rely considerably on
timed goods. The agricultural interests
have passed into the hands of big corpo-
rations aud mammoth plantations owned
ny them render the existence of the small
farmer superfuous."
According to the testimony Of Dir. p. E.
Dove, President of the Commercial Tray
eiers National League, before the Indus
trial Commission, the formation of trusts
N this country will result, basing esti.
mates on what is already known, in the
oss OF employment by $4,000 commercial
travellers and reduction OF the pay oil
'''Do more; The railroads will lose s2l,-