Gilpin observer., 1899-07-06
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
AND DEPARTMENT NEWS.

Formal orders have been issued as
signing Captain Taylor, commanding
the the Indiana, to the duty of COM
mander In chief of the North Atlantic
station during the absence of Rear Ad-
miral Sampson.
The new regulations prescribing the
uniforms of naval officers have been
issued. Few material changes are
made In the existing dress, but for the
first time In many years provision has
had to be made for distinguishing the
admiral from other flag officers.
The American Federation of Labor in
this city to-day received a telegram
from Edward Boyce of the Miners
Union in Montana, asking cooperation
and support in n national labor conven-
tion to be held at Chicago to protest
against the action of the military au-
thorities In Idaho. President Gompers,
while expressing sympathy with the
oDJect of the convention, declined to
nave the American Federation drawn
officially into action in this particular
movement.
Secretary Alger, Adjutant General
Corbin and Colonel Bird, assistant
quartermaster general, in charge of
transportation, had an hours consul
tation with the President Wednesday
relative to the question of reinforce
ments for General Otis. A definite
decision was reached to continue the
recruiting of men at all the recruiting
stations for service in the Philippines.
Secretary Alger said when he left the
White House after the conference that
General Otis would have 10000 men
when the rainy season closed for the
resumption of active operations.
A dispatch was sent to General Snaf.
ter by Adjutant General Corbin Thurs
day morning directing him to dispatch
every available transport to the I'hil-
ippines at full speed with the troops
he has on hand, regardless of orgauiZa-
dons. The dispatch instructed him not
TO delay for anything, so that sutfi-
clent number of transports might az
rive at Manila to bring the volunteers
back on schedule time. For this pur-
pose, too, several additional trans
ports have been chartered, as the de-
partment proposes to get the volunteers
home from the Philippines us expedi-
tiously as possible.
The board of officers appointed by
General Brooke to investigate and
make recommendations regarding the
army ration has completed its work.
The report has been received at the
War Department and recommends that
no change be made in the ration itself.
A slight modification in the manner in
which men may use savings is suggest
ed. General Brooke does not indorse
this section of the report, but says that
it will 1,o in, cti 1,I
in the field. 1t will hardly be satisfac-
tory to the commissary department,
and its adoption is therefore considered
very doubtful. 1t relates mainly to n
system by which the savings Of the
men on ratiOns allowed shall be invest
ed and presents n credit instead Of
company fund. A credit system would
involve a great deal of work and would
necessitate the employment of a large
clerical force.
The special correspondent Of the
Chicago Record says: The indications
that Secretary Alger will be forced out
of the cabinet are becoming stronger
daily. One of his colleagues who has
not taken part in the discussion an
nounced to-day that he would soon be
relieved of his portfolio. The secretary
and his friends in Michigan evidently
realize the delicacy of the situation.
The President is much embarrassed,
and his political friends are taking the
Alger matter up In earnest. Some of
the younger members of the chosen cir
Gle. including Representative Dick of
Ohio, held n conference last night to de-
wise means to dispose of Alger. They
are In favor of the advancement OF
Assistant Secretary Meikeljohn, but ad-
init that they believe the chances are
more favorable to the appointment of
General James ii. Wilson of Delaware
as secretary of war in the event of Mr..
Alger's retirement. Secretary Alper's
friends say that he will not leave the
cabinet voluntarily.
The first orders We're issued Friday
for recfliting the e'trOops under the
clause authorizing the enlistment of
$4,000 men. The order contemplates
enlisting men for the three skeleton
regiments in'the Philippines. Recruit
ing officers have been Instructed to en-
list men with this understanding. One
of the members OF the Cabinet, speak
ing in connection with the campaign In
the Philippines, said tonight: ."rhe
President has given General Otis to un-
derstand that lie Is to have all the
men necessary to the conduct of opera
tions against the insurgents. General
Otis has been told this in so many
words. the President having said to
him in effect that II he (Otis) did not
have enough men. II was his own fault.
The President also realizes that the
better the men are cared for and their
health preserved. the more capable
they will be of doing effective work,
and before the rainy season began,
General Otis was instructed to prepare
for II and in various ways was given
to understand the Presidents desire
that the soldiers should be well cared
for and well fed'
The expense OF the war with Spain
and our present war In the Philippines,