, 1899-09-28
WASHINGTON NEWS.

/ lCRhP tAa $780,
War Department does not allow ex-
cept to authorized persons connected
with the federal or state governments.
Another new order of the War Depart
ment directs that hereafter there will
be no more %gratuitous distribution OF
subsistence stores TO persons in Alas
ka. Officers in some instances have
exceeded the regulations in this mat
ter.
The final meeting of the Dewey Ma
tional Home Fund committee was h'ld
at the office of The secretary of the
treasury Friday. An account of stock
was taken and plans perfected for clos
ing the subscriptions before the arrival
in New York of Admiral Dewey. The
committee has received contribution
from about 10000 citizens, represent ne
every state and territory in the Union
These aggregate S21.O63, exclusive Of
the contributions received the 22d. The
fund should he increased to at least
$4,000 to enable the committee to pur-
chase "A home ut the capitol of the ma
ton. which will he II credit to the Civ
erS and n pride to the hero of ManilH
bay. Admiral Dewey has Indicated
to the committee II desire to make
Washington his permanent home.
Here. as the ranking officer of the Unit
ed States navy. he will spend the re-
mainder of his life. The admiral has
expressed his grateful appreciation Of
the intention of the American people
to present him a home. and he will
accept it with the spirit in which II
will be given. The committee must
close the subscriptions before the end
of next week.
The War Department has madep public
an abstract of II report just received
from B%rigadier General james ii. Will
son. commanding the department of
Matanzas and Santa Clara, Cuba. Cen
eral Wilson states that the area of the
province of Santa Clara is S.1I3 square
miles. Its population in 1897 was 35i,-
900; in 1899, from the best obtainable
data on hand, it was 100000; the num-
Der of persons to the square mile thir.
tytve. The births in 1897 and 1898
were 6,400. This shows II decrease of
o~ne-seventh in the population in two
years. The pay of unskilled labor is
40 cents in silver a day. Cost of living;
Rice. Is cents per pound; cornmeal, 1
cents per pound: beans, 4 cents per
pound; dried meat, % cents per pound.
General Wilson states that he made II
tour of inspection of his province be-
tween April 10Th and May 9Th, 1899.
He found the towns defended by
trenches. distractions II block
houses, as in the province of Matan.
Zas. The country outside of the towns
was devastated and not one farmhouse
or hut, so far rs his observation went,
had escaped destruction.
The three big transports. Logan,
Thomas and Meade. which are being
prepared on the Atlantic coast for ser
vice to the Philippines. will carry
about 1000 passengers. for their
safety in case Of accident will have
fourteen life boats. with a capacity of
fifty persons each. and eight life-rafts
which can carry from fifty to 100 per-
son each. In addition there will be
1000 life-nreseryers. There are forty
seven transports on the Pacific. and
none 0f them is allowed n navigating of
ficer. The captain has to do this work,
Notwithstanding that frequently he is
kept ut his post on he bridge for days
without an opportunity to properly fig
ure out his location. The matter has
been frequently discussed ut the de-
partment. but without any relief be-
ing offered. and nowadays it is com
mon for the nervous officials to express
fear of an appalling loss of life. The
transports have been exceptionally for
tunate in keeping their bearings and in
encountering favorable weather, but
the service which neglects to in
crease the safety by detailing navigat-
ing officers for each vessel and in fail
ing TO provide adequate ~life-saving APP
paratus is being generally criticised.
The comptroller of the currency has
received applications for increase of
circulation from four of New York's
banks amounting to about 81, 100000.
This action On the part of The city
banks is not at all unusual at this sea-
son of the year, and so far as known at
the treasury department there is no
concerted movement on the part of
the II to increase their circulation
by any very large amount. as has been
rumored. Fractional silver coins are
III almost as great demand at the treas
ury as are small bills. The revival of
business all over the country has ab-
sorbed the supply of dimes, quarters
and half dollars so rapidly that the
treasury will soon be entirely out of
coins of these denominations. Secre-
tary Gage last year recommended to
Congress legislation authorizing the
coinage of additional fractional silver,
but no action was taken. Both he and
Mr.. Roberts. the director of the mint.
VIII make urgent recommendations
this year that authority be given to in
crease the supply. As there is no lin
itation in law on the amount of these
coins that can he issued. they are be
ing supplied. At the Philadelphia mint
seven coinage presses, one-half of the
capacity of the mint, are working on
nickels.
The Wal Department has issued Il
general order in regard to the examina-
ton of officers of the volunteer army.
an important provision Of which Is that
vacancies of second lieutenants are to
be filled by promotion from the ranks
OF the regiments in which they occur.
The order, which has been communi-
Gated to the commanding officers of all
the volunteer regiments, says: when
ever an officer has been given IA fair
trial and fails to demonstrate his fit
ness TO perform the duties of his rank
he Will be brought before a board of
officers to be appointed by the general
commanding IA separate army or the
military department in which his regi-
ment may be serving on the
dation of the colonel of the regiment.
The board will Nnmine into and ra-