Gilpin observer., 1899-01-26


said to have been more notable for their
uniqueness and appropriateness than
any that have been seen here for n
long time. The table was arranged us
Il fortification and the cakes ices. jel-
lies and other edibles were nodded up
on military designs -cannons, mortars,
knapsacls, muskets, canteens, swords,
saddles and all sorts of army en-
blems were used, and the ices were
served in cartridge shells.
General Leonard Wood has expressed
the opinion that for some time the
1900 men now in the province of San,
tiago should be continued. but that
after Il time 5000 would be sufficient
for the service. He considered. how
ever, that a military force would be
necessary to the maintenance of order
| for some years, and said it should be
sufficient effectually and quickly to
check any trouble before it could gain
headway. This remark applied TO the
| island as Il whole, and he thought as
many as 10000 troops should be sta
toned throughout Cuba.
At the request of the President, Pro-
fessor William T. Harris. supcrintend.
ent of the Bureau of Education. has
prepared a plan for Il public school
| system in Cuba, the result of careful
investigation of the conditions on the
island, which has been put in the
| hands of the President 1t will receive
| the attention of the Cabinet at the
next meeting. and preliminary steps
will be taken in the immediate future
The President is greatly interested in
the matter. He desires that the schools
| shall begin with the revival of industry
and trade, and relies upon the school
system to be an early object lesson to
'n1n IN, Ii
| government which the United States
proposes to give them.
The retaliation clause in the agricul-
tural appropriation BIZ; now under CON
sideration in the Senate committee pro-
vides that whenever any government
shall impose unreasonable restrictions
| upon foods imported from the United
| States, or shall refuse to accept the
certlilcate of the food inspectors of the
| United States, the President shall
| have the authority to direct the secre-
tary ofthe treasury to inspect any arti-
| Gle of food imported into the United
States from that country in order to
determine its purity and wholesome
ness. He also has the authority to
examine toys and any other articles
which may be suspected of contain
| ing poison or being in any way injuri-
Gus to the public health.
1t is understood to be the purpose OF
the administration, in the advent that
Congress fails to act upon the army re-
organization bill after ratifying the
| peace treaty, to ask the passage of a
| joint resolution in the nature of an
| emergency measure. continuing the
authority conferred by the war legis-
lation, to keep the regular army up to
/ n strength of 10000 men. So far $4,000
| men have been enlisted into the ranks
| of the regular army under the author
| ity thus conferred This force of co.
900 would have imposed upon it the
duties now performed by about 150,-
600 soldiers. The entire Second Army
corps, now at Augusta. Georgia, how
ever, is for the time being idle. and the
Indications are that the number of
| troops required to garrison Cuba will
be much smaller than was anticipated.
The House last Tuesday passed the
naval personnel bill without division
| on the final passage, thus accomplish
| ing what the officers of the navy have
| striven for during more than Il decade.
| BY its provisions the line and the engi-
| neer corps are welded into an ANAL
gamated line. staff officers are given
J positive rank, but their command Is
, limited to their own corps and sys-
TEN of retirement on three-quarters
pay, as of the next higher rank. of for
ty officers n year, is established. which
is designed to remove the congestion
in the lower rank. at forty-tive. The
bill also practically equalizes their
pay with that of army officers. Three
| important amendments We're adopted;
one creates judge advocate corps an
other abolishes prize money and n
third provides for the retirement on
three-quarters pay of enlisted men and
| petty officers in the navy after thirty
years service.
| Secretary Hay has taken the Nicar-
aqua canal matter n..hand and is hold
| ing daily conferences with members
of the Senate and House committees,
| trying TO persuade them to agree upon
measure that will be acceptable to all
concerned. There is good prospect
of passing the Morgan bill through the
Senate this week. but it will be very
! materially amended, and when 1t
comes out of the mill its author will
scarcely be able to recognize 1t. Sec
retary Hays plan is TO have the canal
built by the government of the United
States. without the intervention of any
| private corporation. He Is confident
Great Britain VIII cordially waive any
| rights it may have by reason of the
Clayton Bulwer treaty, provided proper
assurances are offered that the canal
will always be open to commerce and
that British vessels will have equal
right of navigation with those of the
| United States. Secretary Hays long
residence in London and familiarity
with the sentiment of her majesty's
government enables him to speak on
this subject with confidence.
Major w. +. DAILY, chief surgeon
with General Miles, and whose report
on sickness in the Porto Rico cam
paign liz considered the strongest sub