The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-08-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Finances in Good Shape Says Sec.
retary Gage.
Prosperous Condition Of Agricultural
Interests Pr0babil.
tiles in Regard to Foreign
POssessiOns-Transvaal
Troubles.
WASHINGTON, August 25, 1899.

WASHINGTON, August 25, 1899.
Secretary Gage, whose position en-.
ables him to know more about the f.
nances of the Government than those
who are making sensational statements
to the contrary, says the increase in the
volunteer army will not cause the slight.
est embarrassment to the Treasury and
that no bonds will have to be issued or
new taxes imposed to raise the money
needed to meet every obligation of the
Government as it becomes due. This
ought to put stop to all the wild talk
about more bonds and more war taxes,
but of course It will not: the sensation
alists are bound to have something to
write about, and the anti-expansionists
will try to use financial scare to make
up for lack of real arguments against the
Philippine policy of the Administration,
but there is no occasion for sensible per
sons to pay any attention to them.
Although Secretary Root declines to
be interviewed on the matters discussed
at his conference with President Nc
Kinley, this week, it can be stated abso.
lutely that it was not about a change in
the commander of the army in the Phil
ippines, and that Gen. Otis will remain
in command during the campaign, which
both President Mckinley and Secretary
Root are confident will result in crush
ing the Filipino rebellion. 1t is not be.
lieved at the War Department that the
last ten regiments Of volunteers, now in
course of organization, will be needed in
the Philippines, but they will be hurried
along just as though they were abso-
lutely necessary.
Following is an extract from an author.
lied interview with Secretary Wilson
"The agricultural interests in the United
States are today in as prosperous con.
dition as could be reasonably deeired.
The crops in the Mississippi Valley are
the heaviest grown there. Kansas will
produce 400, ,OOO, 900 bushels of corn, Ne
braska's yield is estimated at O,OOO, 900
bushels. Iowa and Illinois will have
record breaking crops. Agriculture and
horticulture are exceedingly prosperous
| in the mountain States and along the
Pacific Coast. Our total wheat crop will
be short of last years figures, but all
other crops will be superabundant This
prosperity in agriculture has come to
stay. There is nothing ephemeral or
spasmodic about it. The people in the
United States are satisfied with the pres.
ent policies of the Administration. They
are satisfied with the good wages for
labor and with the prosperous manu-.
featuring activities. They are sanguine
of our commercial future. The best
people morally, religiously, patriotically,
| in the United States sustain the Presi-
dent in his effort to conquer peace in
the Philippines, to crush out the insur-
rection and to press the war to an hon
orable and successful conclusion. The
people believe that when that is accom-
plished every effort will be made by the
United States Government to establish
order and to promote good government
in the Philippines"
Representative Dalzell, of Pennsyl-
vania, whose. prominence as member
of the House for number of years gives
weight to his opinions on coming legis-
tation, is in Washington on business.
He predicts that the coming session Of
Congress will be one of the liveliest ones
we ever had, owing to the number OF
Important questions that will haye to be
taken up. He sums up the legislative
probabilities about thusly: A financial
bill, bill providing civil form of gov
ernment for Porto Rico, ditto for Hawaii,
and again ditto for the Philippines.
In view of the war talk between
Great Britain and the Transvaal Repub
lie, the following description of the lat
ter's principal city, from letter to the
Department of State, from the U. s Con.
sui General to Capetown, is timely as
we'll as interesting: Johannesburg is a
busy, hustling city-the only real city in
South Africa from the standpoint of an
American. The buildings would dc
credit to any city. The streets are wide
but the motive power of the street rail-
ways consists of horses and mules, and
as the Beers believe the substitution OF
other power would stop the sale of for
age and horses, the Government will moi
grant concession. Johannesburg has
been built up by the gold-mining in
dustry, developed by foreign capital. and
American industry has had hand in
the development, for Americans occupy
the very necessary and responsible posi-
tions OF managers, consulting engineers
and superintendents; and was glad to
learn that their ability was recognized
by other countries. For 20 miles on each