The state herald., 1899-11-10
WASHINGTON NEWS.

f, Major General Fitz Hugh Lee, who
arrived In Washington late Saturday
night, discussed the social, political and
| 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 peo-
pie are slowly but surely rebuilding
their war-wasted homes and repairing
their crippled fortunes. He thinks that
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
ernment is pledged to grant independ-
ence to Cuba after 1t has been thor
oughly pacified. and he feels strongly
that the pledge should be fulfilled as
swiftly as practicable. Until life can
be protected by purely Cuban govern
ment however, he thinks the Islands
should remain under the government
of the United States.
Mrs. Mildred Hazen. whose engage
mcnt to Admiral Dewey has been an
nounced. is one of the best known
women in Washington society. as well
as one of the clevercst. Her society has
always been enjoyed by the brightest
men in public life, among those who
tnI Ini
Speaker Reed. Representatives Boutclle
and Hit and Adjutant General Corbin.
The admiral has known his future
bride since childhood, and before his
departure 10 command the Asiatic
squadron he often Visited the home of
Mrs. Mclean. During his absence he
correspondcd frequently with Mrs. Ha-
zen. The admiral has not yet an
nounced the date of his marriage. but
his friends say that 1t will not he long
before his new home will have a mis-
tress. After their marriage Admiral
Dewey and his wife will reside during
the winter at his Washington home
and during the summer at her summer
home at Woodley. As the wife of the
ranking officer Of the navy. Mrs. IIa-
zen's position will he second almost 10
none in Washington. Her fortune and
the liberal salary received by the adj
miral will enable them 10 entertain in
the most lavish and elaborate fashion.
and as both are devoted to society the
residence Of the admiral may be eX.
pected 10 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.
ceipis for the year. in which there
was an increase In 1898 of S5,;:lI,. ilg
from customs and Si02.536.520 from
internal revenue The collections of
internal revenue We're larger than those
for any previous year. with the cxcep-
tlon only of 1866. and the total or,lin-
airy receipts. which amounted TO S5I5.-
9Go.62O. were also the largest on record
with the same exception. The net
ordinary expenses Were a little over
Sc05 100000. an amount exceeded only
twice-ln 1863 and 1864. There was n
deficiency of SS9.lll..lJ9 In ordinary
revenues. Inclusive OF loans and the
issue of notes and certificates the total
receipts of all accounts. hy warrants.
were 81 1,G,S.iol.3i0. and the total dis
bursemenis S9iG. 222aa. las. With the ad-
dition of the proceeds Of the new 3
per cent. loan to the ordinary rcvc-
nues. there was n fiscal surplus of
500. ill .52l for the year. The receipts
from the loan represented every part
OF the country. or the total of nearly
500 DoD.HD upwards of Si2J. 200. 900
came TO the office In Washington In the
form of checks on banks In every part
of the country. Nearly S2o.OOO.OO0
were paid In gold. upwards OF Sa5. .DOO.-
600 In United States notes, and the rest
In other kinds of money. At the close
Of the year the treasurer was account
able for >oiI, Ii'i:soi. against which he
held S9lI,sI3,a25 In cash and credit
the difference consisting OF funds
claSscd ms unavailable.
In view Of the current discussion oi
the military agreement between Gen.
ernl Bates and the Sultan of Sulu. the
Views of President Sclurnnn OF the
I Philippine commission On this subject
are Interesting. MIR. Schurmnn WAS
one Of the first Americans To visit Jolo.
the seat of Spanish government In the
/ Sulu archipelago. and hal nn extended
] llA'lNlfN WIN Nllf SUNNI ltlhlf INV
arrival NJ General Bates. The arrange
ment entered into between General
| Bates and the Sultan was considerably
Influenced 10y this meeting. Although
| the text of the agreement with the Sui.
/ tan has not been mad. public 10y the
Washington authorities ID can bf stated
| that II practically conforms To the prc-
/ ylous convention existing between the
s.I
/ In this agreement Spain never claimed
/ any more than an external protector.
| ntc In the Sulu group. the right TO sup.
/ press piracy IN H. waters and 10 pre-,
| vent the periodic mlgrnilun. ~ oath.
bound Mohnmmcdnns who Went 10 IN,
| northern Islands under vow to KIN
| Christians aud thus secure mn entfnur,
into paradise. Professor Schurmnn sni,l
| when questioned about the pr0hnhl,
continuance Of polyFnny nni slavery
Ia the Islands after they came under
| the American dominion. TINT this wns
n subject which would hnye to h. dealt
4 with In the most careful fashion a.
bring an ultimately satisfactory soln
/ iian. ut seems 20 me-" said lie. "thni
were II not Cor the ignorance displayed
the present hue aud cry about polyga
my and slavery In these Islands would
hc absolutely criminal. In taking ovci
the Sulu group We have acquired u,
rights of amy sort there except ihos,
bcqucaihcd us by Spain. She WA
bound by her agreement with the Sui
tan not 10 Interfere with the religion
of customs ~ the Islands. aud II wuul,
he most unwlse for ~ 10 attempt Till
by force when II rnn hc ultimately ne
cnmpllshcd hy the slower method N