, 1899-12-07

iority of the Republicans in the House
at this session is so small that the
speaker cannot afford to antagonize
any member of his party, but he
great majority of Republicans believe
the Reed rules are n practical protec-
ton against bad legislation and will
resist any attempt to make a change.
There is certain to be a fight, how
ever. n it will begin on the first day
of the session.
Admiral Dewey called at the navy de-
pnrtment to-day in response to n tele-
gram from Secretary Long to discuss
the question of establishing n naval
station at Cavite or some other point
near Manila. Such n station is now in
operation mt Cayite, but ii Is fOreseen
that the requirements of the navy may
be much greater than those which are
temporarily attended to at Cavite. The
admiral brought with him portions of
his report of the Philippine commission.
This discusses the establishment of n
permanent naval station in the Philip
pines and regards Subig bay, about six
ty miles from Manila, ms preferable TO
Cavitc. as this has n fine harbOr of n
capable depth of water and has many
natural advantages for making this n
strong naval establishment. While Adj
miral Dewey's view will doubtless pre-
vail when n permanent station is es-
tablished. this will be for congress to
deal with and the present purpose is to
use the Cavite station for the current
work OF the warships.
There is n decided modification in
the gossip resultant from the transfer
by Admiral Dewey to his wife of the
property in Rhode Island avenue pre-
scented to him by popular subscription
and the incident. according to his
brother-in-law. John II. Mclean. is
practically closed. Since the publica-
lion of the statement by Admiral Dew
cy in defense of his action, the tide
has turned from criticism to sympa-
thy. People are beginning to realize
that after all the failure on the part
of Il hero to came up to expectations
of the public on n matter of purely
domestic concern Is insignificant com
pared with "A brilliant achievement of
national and world Importance. Report
OF he threatened prostration of the
admiral from the effects of the recent
severe criticism, too. has won sympa-
thy, and the people here appear to be
inclined to allow him to manage his
WI affairs and disturb him no furth-
or. He continues TO receive many let
tiers of sympathy and friendship.
The secretary of war has decided in
favor of Adjutant General Corbin and
the Wal Department staff generally
against General Miles and General
Breckenridge in the matter of general
order No. 143. which sought to give the
inspector generals department enlarged
overs, This order proposed to invest
the inspector general with the right TO
inspect ali staff and army departments.
1t being urged at the time that had
supl 81 ripbt bppu pufprcpI 5uriup tbp
war with Spain there would have beer
no scandals. There Will shortly be
some interesting disclosures in regard
to the relations of rneral Miles TO the
war department. That officer is still
ignored in all military matters, and this
fact, with others of equal seriousness,
will be divulged during the coming ses-
sion of congress-. either at the sessions
of the military comittee or by means of
n special inquiry, which General Miles
friends sny he has been advised TO ask,
to the end TINT the duties and privileges
of the general commanding the army
may be fully defined and recognized.
According to the report of the com
missioner of Indian affairs there are
25,2O2 Indian children enrolled in the
schools provided for them by the gov
eminent, with nm average daily at
tendance of 2O.532. This shows an in
crease in the enrolment of ST. and in
the average attendance of COZ during
the last year. There are several kinds
of schools among which these pupils
are scattered, the most of them being
maintained by the government upon
the Indian reservations. No religious
denominations receives financial as
sistance from the government nova
days except the Catholic church,
which has contracts amounting TO
S116.S62. and this is n decrease from
$359,21J in 1885. An annual a%pprOpri-
alton of S33.lOO is given to Lincoln In
stitute and S2O,O4O to Hampton Insti-
tute. but they are both u~ndenomina-
tional. The statistics presented by the
superintendent of Indian schools show
a great Improvement in the education
nj facilities as well ms the attendance.
Both AVE doubled during the last ten
years. Twenty years ago there were
only about 1000 Indian children in
school.
The caucus of the Republican mem
bers of the House Saturday night wa
II cut and dried affair. The selection
of IL candidate for Speaker by the par
ty in power is usually a very animated
affair, bur months = all the other
candidates who entered the field after
the retirement of Speaker Reed aban-
uoued the ConteSt leaving General
David Il. Henderson of Iowa. The unop-
posed candidate. His nomination was.
therefore, n fOregonc conclusion and he
was nominated by acclHmation. The
officers of the last House, except Col
Onel Russell. the SergCant-at-arms
were renominatcd without opposition.
Colonel Russell was not Il candidate
for reelection, and Colonel Henry A.
Cnsson of Wisconsin was nominated
in his stead, The cuucus was held M
the house of representatives and was
largely attended. II was preceded over
by General Grosvcnor of Ohio. who
was reelected chairman of the caucus.
Mr.. LO~udenslager of New Jersey was
reelected secretary. After n brief dis
cussion IL motion by MIR. Dalzell that
tne Reed rules OF the last Congress be
adopted, was carried.
The alleged remarks OF Admiral
Dewey indicating an intention on his
part to enter politics should the criti-