The Philipsburg mail., 1899-10-20
WASHINGTON NEWS.

The President has announced that
ne has decided to extend his Chicago
| trip to Minneapolis and st. Paul
Secretary Root received Il cablegrain
from General Otis that seemed to ndi-
cate II weakening on the part of The
insurgents in i.,lzon. Ii contained Il
proifer to deliver the American prison
crs who have been for so many months
IN the hands of the insurgents and also
sought permission to parlcy with Gen
cral Otis
The War Department has approved
the action of General OTIS in refusing
10 allow Spanish ships 10 go to ports
controlled by the insurgents 10 take
away Spanish prisoners. The transfer
OF the Spanish prisoners to the Ships
Will he under the direction and control
Of the United States officers. The War
department will allow no cummuni-
cation between Aguinaido and his
agents and the Spnuiards' who may go
to bring away the Spanish prisoners.
The Navy Department has granted
Admiral Schley'N request for sea scrv-
ice ana has notified him to hold him
self in readiness 10 command the South
Atlantic station. The department: will
make the command commensurate
with his rank hy Increasing the nuin-
hcr OF vessels on the station. The De
'rolt Is ON her WAY to join the station
and the Marblphcad and Cincinnati
are likely to be attached. Altogether
there Will be five or sin ships on The
station. South Africa and South and
Central America, where disturbed con
ditlons are prevalent. are within the
province of the station.
Private Thomas McNeigh Company
u, First Wyoming Volunteer infantry,
was tried by general court martial.
convened at linus. i. l.. in June last
on the charge of striking his superior
officer. He was found guilty and sen
fenced to be ''SllOt to death with mus
kerry at such time and place as the
proper authorities may direct" Two
thirds of the court cOncllrred in the
sentence President Mckinley has di-
rected the sentence to be commuted TO
dishonorable discharge. forfeiture of
all pay and allowances and cOntine-
nent at hard labor for the period Of
three years. AlcatraZ island. Califor
mia. has been designated as the place
of confinement
1t has been stated at the department
OF Justice that the attorney general
would hear Wayne MacNcigh in tie
fense of Captain Carter some time next
week. and that the attorney general
would hand his opinion to the PrcSi-
dent without delay. probably before
the 23th inst. Mr.. Griggs has deter
mined to make Mr.. MacNeigh's hearing
n Iny n t.
and others Interested will he permitted
to attend. The attorney general will
explain in his report to the President
the reasons for delay in acting upon
the case. and is expected to show that
personal matters had no influence
whatever
President Mckinley is daily receiv-
ing letters. petitions and resolutions
from various parts of the country urg-
ing his mediation i'm behalf Of DreyfuS
and suggesting that he tender his good
offices in the pending dispute between
Great Britain and the Transvaal.
These have come in such volume that
there has not been an acknowledgment
in many cases. All these cOmmuni-
cations are being turned over to the
State department as they arrive. The
holding that unless the interests of the
United States or the rights of her citi-
Hens are involved. it is not within the
province of this country to NEEDLE in
the domestic or foreign affairs Of other
countries.
1t is stated that there Is strong
probability that General Brooke will
he recalled from Cuba. Generals Lud-
low. Wood and Wilson are agitating
that question and their friends here
are pointing ont to the President the
necessity for Il change. The report is
that Generals Wood. Ludlow and VIII
son are credited with threatening to
resign their civil duties and to ask to
l,e transferred to other posts Of duty
If General Brooke be retained as gov
crnor general after January |. The
differences between the generals. it is
said. refer solely to the management
of Cuban affairs by this government.
Brooke. according to unofficial infor-
nation, is extremely unpopular in
Cuba.
The Navy Department has received
the following cablcgram from Admir-
al Watson. dated Manila, September
Ictu' Ia NuSoH III dIiEli. IIiitI
sharp engagement on the 14th at San
Fabian. I.ingayen gulf. with about 300
insurgents heavily entrenched at a dis
tance of from 100 to 7W yards. The in
sulgents fed. Their fire was weak and
On the Paraglla there were
no casualties. The senior commendS
Davidson highly The Paraguc is one
of the little gunboats turned over to
the army by Admiral Watson. and Da-
the commander. is Il young en-
sign. The scene of the battle WAS on
the north coast Of LuzOn. off the port
which forms HE northern terminus of !
the railroad.
The Swiss minister has been notified
that he cannot ncgOtiatc u rpcprocjty |
treaty similar TO that recently con !
cluded with France. He claims the |
under the ''favorc,l nation"
clause of the treaty now existing with |
Switzerland. but has been ipforned
that if he presses the matter tHe result !
must be the abrogaiiOn Of the treaty..
Switzerland failing to ma kp r,rinrnc