Gilpin observer., 1899-02-02
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES
AND WASHINGTON GOSSIP,

standing army of 100000 men, the MI
nority substitute increasing the stand
ing army to 10000 men and lodging
with the President discretionary pow
err to call out 10000 volunteers for
emergency service, and a proposition
to continue temporarily the regular
army at its present war strength, g.
600 men.
The secretary of war has invited the
members of the military committees of
both houses of Congress to take n trip
to Cuba and Porto Rico Immediately
after adjournment on the 4th of March.
The date of departure now fixed is
March 9th, and the Berlin. which is
the most comfortable of the Transports,
has been ordered to report at New
York for service at that time. They
will go first to Havana, and then visit
Santiago and two or three other OF the
Cuban ports where there are camps of
American soldiers. \ voyage will
then be made to Porto Rico. where the
party will remain for about week,
visiting the principal cities and camps
of that island.
The case of Commissary General
Charles Il. Eagan, charged with con-
duct unbecoming an officer and n gen
tleman, and with conduct tending to
the prejudice of good order and mill
tary discipline, closed Friday. The
taking of testimony was finished and
arguments of counsel submitted. The
trial had lasted three days and CON
sumed less than eight hours of actual
sitting. a session behind closed doors
of an hour or so sutficed for the court
to reach conclusion and embody it in
its report What verdict was reached
is nltOUpthnr mDttpr nf SnpcI1llt tipn
and officially. at least, will not be made
public by the trial board military reg
ulations requiring that its findings go
through prescribed channels and be
kept secret until action be had and pro-
muigated by the proper reviewing au-
thorities. 1t is generally believed that
the verdict will be against Eagan.
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio, In speech
on the army bill Thursday, said the
President had been criticised for not
informing Congress OF his ultimate
purpose regarding the Philippines. The
President was never usurper; he had
never sought and never would seek to
usurp the authority of Congress. The
future of the islands was a matter for
Congress to decide. The blood of those
who might be sacrificed in the Philip
pines would be upon the heads of
those who opposed the Presidents pol
icy. The President had nobly dis
charged his duty when he found him
self by the accident of war in posses
sion of the Philippines. In conclusion,
Mr.. Grosvenor challenged anyone to
deny, first, that the President had devi-
ated from the course mapped out by
Congress: second, that he had usurped
any authority he was not compelled to
assume, and. third, that the settlement
of the Philippines was question for
the future.
The secretary of war has completed
the organization OF q colonial commits
sion to undertake the administration
here in Washington, of all matters of
detail respecting the government of the
territories acquired during the war or
occupied by the United States forces.
The personnel of the commission will
be General Robert =. Kennedy OF
Bellefontaine. Ohio; Curtis Guild, Jr..
of Massachusetts, and George w. Wat
kins of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Up
to this point the secretary and the as
sistant secretary have undertaken
themselves to deal with the admins
tration of insular affairs. but the ques-
tions involved have become 50 numer-
GUS and complicated that IT has been
found absolutely necessary to call for
assistance. The commission will dea
with the bestowal of franchises and
concessions. the distribution of moneys
to be spent in public Improvements and
all Of the troublesome issues that have
arisen and are likely tc arise in Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines.
While formal exchanges have not
taken place, there is an understanding
between the United States and Grcnt
Britain with reference to the Nicnra-
qua canal. This understanding is the
result of recent conferences between
Secretary Hay and Sir Julian Paunce-
fote, the British ambassador. Great
Britain Is willing to abrogate the Clay
treaty and to enter into II
new arrangement which has been sup- -
gested on the part of the United States.
This arrangement. as outlined, is that
the canal when opened shall be neu-
lralized. The United States is TO con.
struct and operate the canal. but nj
the proper time conference of nations
Is to he called and an agreement is To
be entered into whereby the canal
shall be open In war as well as in
peace to ships of all nations on the
same terms. In other words. the canal
IS to be neutral territory for the whole
world. This proposition Is said to b,
'ntlrely acceptable to Great Britain.
That power viii readily consent to ac-
,ept II Ms "A substitute for the Clayten-
Bulwer treaty. on the part of the
United States there seems to be no oh.
lection to It,.
The opposition to the army rcorgani.
.atlon bill on the Republican side OF
he House has become so strong that
Chairman Hull. ON Friday, after Mr..
Henderson of Iowa, one of the floor
eaders Of the majority, had threatened
o vote to recommIt the bill. decided II
would be wise. in order to secure Its
passage, 10 abandon the idea of provid.
ng directly for n regular army of
100000 men. He announced on the
Inf tlI.n