, 1899-11-09
WASHINGTON NEWS.

Industrial conditions of Cuba in an in
terview Sunday. General Lee says the
island under the existing protection of
the United States. is improving every
hour. He says there is little friction
of any kind in Cuba, and that the PEG
pie are slowly but surely rebuilding
their war-wasted homes and repairing
their crippled fortunes. He thinks thai
life and property are now secure on
the island. and that Cubans generally
are not abusing their newly-acquired
freedom. General Lee said that this
happy condition of things was due
largely to the salutary restraint eXer-
cised by American military authority.
The native population, he says, is in
experienced in both the theory and
practice of self-government. General
Lee realizes that the United States gov
ernmen Is pledged to grant %independ-
ence to Cuba after it has been thor
oughly pacified. and he feels strongly
that the pledge should be fulfilled rs
swiftly as practicable. Until life can
he protected by II purely Cuban govern
ment, however, he thinks the islands
should remain under the government
of the United States.
Mrs. Mildred Hazen, whose engage
ment to Admiral Dewey has been an
nOunced. is one of the best known
women in Washington society, ms well
as one of the %clcvercst. Her society has
always been enjoyed by the brightest
men in public life, among those who
frequented her mothers home being
Speaker Reed, Representatives Boutelle
and Hit and Adjutant Genera Corbin
The admiral has known his future
bride since childhood, me before his
departure to command the Asiatic
! SuI1u1rnn Inc nftnn viSfta1 fha hnmn nf
Mrs. Mclean. During his absence he
corresponded frequently with Mrs. Ha-
zen. Tho admiral has not yet an
nOunced the date of his marriage, hut
his friends say that II will not be long
before his new home will have n mis-
tress. After their marriage Admiral
l Dewey and his wife will reside during
the winter at his Washington home
and during the summer at her summer
home ut WoOdley. As the wife of the
ranking officer of the navy. Mrs. Ha-
Zen's position will he second almost to
none in Washington. Her fortune and
the liberal salary received by the nd-
miral Will enable them to entertain in
the most lavish and elaborate fashion.
and as both are devoted to society the
residence of the admiral may he PIX
pected to be the scene of many bril-
liant entertainments during the coming
season.
Ellis II. Roberts. treasurer of the
United States. in his annual report to
Secretary Gage. says: The effect of the
new revenue law Is shown in the re
ceipts for the year. in which there
was m Increase in 1898 of S56.!5.3.41g
from customs and S102. 53G.520 from
Internal revenue. The collections of
Internal revenue were larger thai those
for any previous year. with the eXcep-
ton only of 1866. and the total Ordin-
airy receipts, which amounted to S'l5.-
100000, We're also the largest on record.
with the same exception. The net
ordinary expenses We're n little over
SGOJ. OOO,oNN. an amount exceeded only
twicc-in 1863 and 1864. There was n
deficiency of $50. III. 5J9 in ordinary
revenues. Inclusive of loans and the
issue Of notes and certificates the total
receipts of all accounts. by warrants.
We're Sl,O3S,iIl.3iO, and the total dis
bursements S9IG.222. 14S. With the ad-
dition of the proceeds Of the new 8
per cent. loan to the ordinary reve-
nues. there was n fiscal surplus of
500, T9l ,521 for the year. The receipts
from the LOAF represented every part
of the country. OF the ota of nearly
S2OO,OOO,OoO upwards of S125, 100000
came to the office in Washington in the
form of checks on banks in every part
Of the country. Nearly S29.OOO.OO0
We're paid in gold. upwards of $4,000
600 in United States notes, and the rest
In other kinds Oi money. At the close
of the year the treasurer was account
able for 9iT.Il6.39l, against which he
held S9~1T.ST3.925 in cash and credit.
the difference consisting of funds
clIsscd as unavailable.
In view of the current discussion OF
the military agreement between Gen
eTnl Bates and the Sultan of Sulu, the
views of President SChurman of the
Philippine commission on this subject
are interesting. Mr.. Schurmnn was
one of the first Americans to visit ,Iolo,
the seat of Spanish government in the
Sulu archipelago. and had an extended
interview with the Sultan before the
arrival of General Bates. The range.
mcnt entered into between General
Bates and the Sultan was considerably
influenced by this meeting. Although
the text Of the agreement with the Sui.
tan has not been made public by the
Washington authorities 1t N he stated
that 1t practically conforms to the pre-,
viOus convention existing between the
Sultan and the Spanish government,
In this agreement Spain never claimed
any more than an external protector,
ate III the Sulu group, the right to sup
press piracy in its waters and to pre-,
vent the periodic ~migratlons Of oath,
bound MOhammedans who went to the
northern islands under II vow to kill
Christians II thus secure nm entrance
Into paradise. Professor Schurman said
when questioned about the probable
continuance of polygamy and slavery
in the islands after they anne under
the American dominion. that this was
II subject which would have to he dealt
with in the most careful fashion to
bring an ultimately satisfactory solu.
ton. at seems to me" sale he. that
were 1t not for the ignorance displayed
the present hue and cry about polygH
my and slavery In these islands would
be absolutely criminal. In taking ovc
the Sulu group we have acquired ne
rights of any sort there except those
bcqucathed us 10y Spain. She was
bound 10y her agreement with the Sui
tan not to interfere with the religion
or customs Of the Islands, aud 1t would
be most unwiSc FOR us to attempt this
by force when 1t can be ultimately nc