The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-05-26
Contributions Pouring in on
United States Treasurer
Roberts.
SATISFACTORY NEWS
Continues from General Otis-Vet-
Grams of Civil War Interested
in Speakership Contest.
ESPECIAL Correspondence of The Gazette.

especial Correspondence of The Gazette.
Washington. May 22.-The daily
mail of United States Treasurer has
grown wonderfully since the formation
Of the Dewey Home Fund committee,
of which he is treasurer. Letters con.
tanning contributions for the fund are
pouring in by every mail. Temporary
receipts are forwarded to each con-
tributor, but as O o as the bureau of
engraving and printing can do the
work a handsome engraved receipt,
which will be worthy of preservation
as a souvenir, will be sent to each con-
tributor. National banks in almost
every section Of the country have made
requests to be allowed to cooperate in
raising this money, and the committee
has decided that they may receive con-
t%ributions. The committee has not de-
cided upon the amount to be expended
for the Washington home for Admiral
Dewey. and will not do so until later,
but it has decided that what remains of
the fund after the purchase of the home
shall be invested in good securities for
the benefit of the admiral.
General Otis continues to send salts
factory news. His forces have captured
the last capital of the alleged Filipino
government, and Aguinaldo and his
the mountains to escape capture.
Representative Heatwole of Mime
sofa, who is now in Washington. says
the expansion question has already
become a party one in his state, with
the republicans for and the democrats
against. When asked whether the re.
publicans would gain or lose on that
question, Mr.. Heatwole replied:
"There will be no trouble in carrying
the state for Mckinley next year."
The veterans of the civil war are
taking an active part in the speakership
contest, through their organizations
and otherwise. They are throwing
their influence to Colonel Henderson of
Iowa, the only candidate who is an ex-
votes for him.
Secretary Alger has sent a number of
printed questions concerning the army
canteen to army officers at every post
where a canteen is maintained, with
the request that they be fully answered.
The object of Secretary Alger is to be
able to place facts and figures before
congress that will show beyond ques.
tion whether the canteen is the evil it's
opponents say it is or the benefit to the
soldiers it's friends claim 1T to be. He
has no prejudice either way, and would
have ordered the canteen abolished
under the act of the last congress had
not Attorney General Griggs rendered
an opinion that the act in question did
not affect the status of the canteen.
Major E. F. Taggart of the Sixth in
fantry, who has been doing duty as a
commissary officer in Cuba for some
time, reported to the war department.
last week. He expresses the opinion
that our military authorities over there
will eventually succeed in getting
things upon a satisfactory basis. He
says the first things they have to do,
and the most difficult, are to provide
the masses with an opportunity to earn
a living for themselves and to break up
the influence which, the so-called Gu
ban generals have over them. He re-
CARDS these Cuban officers as a trouble
some and disturbing element, because
they all expect to be provided with Off
ces with good pay and little work. It
is their influence, he says, which has
retarded the disbandment of the Cuban
army; with disbandment they will
have to do something to support them
selves and they are unwilling to do
anything except to hold office.
According to General Clay, chief
clerk of the department of Justice, who
has just returned from a trip to Central
America, taken for his health and in
cidentally to look after some mines in
the interior of the United States Of
Colombia, in which he owns an inter-
est, Uncle Sans dollars are worth
50. 80 each in Colombia money. There
is no part of the world in which Uncle
Sans dollars are not good things to
have around.
Senator Fairbanks, president Of the
can commission, was last week called
to Washington by Secretary Hay in
consequence Of official news from Lon
don connected with the reassembling of
the commission. After comforting
with Secretary Hay Senator Fairbanks
said that he thought the commission
would complete its work when it reas
sembled. He also said that he intend.
ed to carry out his plans for a visit tc
Alaska this summer, to gain informa'
tion about the boundary, but expected
to return to the United States about
the middle of July.