The times., 1899-04-05
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Philippine Situation.-The proc
lamation of the Philippine Commissioners
which was made public yesterday attracted
especial attention In diplomatic circles.
The consensus of opinion was that 1t was
| skiiifully worded and did not leave the
anti-eSpansionsts of the Hoar-H Hale type a
peg to stand upon.
You Americans" said veteran men,
Der of the Diplomatic Corps, may not be
trained in the arts of diplomacy, but yon
have way of getting there at the proper
time. 1t would be impossible to improve
/ on the wording of the proclamation to the
Filipinos. No point is omitted and nothing
| is overlooked. 1t cannot fail to make a
| good impression in the courts of Europe,
| however it may be received by Aguinaldo
| and his deluded followers. | presume that
| the signers of the proclamation had this
point in mind. For raw recruits in the
/ diplomatic field the Americans are doing
| quite we'll
4 am satisfied" said a member of the
| Administration circle last night. that
anti-expansion cannot be made an issue
in the Presidential campaign next year.
/ say this regretfully. believing that we
will certainly need something of the kind
Algerism and Eaganism and all the nasty
| scandals that have developed since this
| Administration came into existence. From
| present indications, however, the trouble
| in the Philippines win be over with inside
| of the next few weeks, and by next year
| it will be impossible to find anyone who
will be willing to admit that he ever Sc
riously opposed the expansion idea. No
party will have the courage or foolhardi-
n N N nj in, nj lat ha
Presidential campaign next year antag-
onizing expansion"
Concerning I9OO.-"Up to the present
time" said Senator Francis E. Warren Of
Wyoming yesterday nothing has occurred
of serious character to lessen Mr.. Nc
Kinleys prospects for denomination next
| year: they are really better today than
| they were year ago. However, much will
| depend upon future events. II the Presi-
| dent is successful, as his friends believe
| that he will be. judging from the past. in
| dealing with the questions to be handled
during the next year, II will not be posi-
| Bile to build up any formidable opposition
| to him within his party.
Two things will be essential to the de-
velopment of serious opposition to the
President. One is public dissatisfaction
with Mr.. Mckinley's policy; the other is a
commanding figure to be united upon as an
opposing candidate. Thus far no such man
has appeared upon the political horizon.
New England might go to the next conven-
tion with Mr.. Reed as its candidate, but
Mr.. Reed has not conducted himself to-
ward the West in such a way as to gain
popularity there. and without the support
of the West he cannot hope to secure the
Presidential nomination. | do not think
that Senator Foraker has any serious in
tention of opposing Mr.. McKinley's renom-
ination. II Roosevelt is to be a candidate
he has yet to develop the qualities essen
tial to such a contest. The advantage of
opportunity and freedom from danger of
mistake are on the side of the President.
And yet no one can say with any degree OF
certainty what year may bring forth In
the world of politics."
The Government Printcr.-'T have
some curiosity" said an official OF the Ag-
ricultural Department recently, "as to
what becomes of the profits the Govern
ment Printing Office receives for special
work. The Public Printer seems to be an
autocrat law unto himself, SO to speak,
but l must confess that l cannot quite
comprehend the system that prevails in
the Government Printing Office. l will
relate an incident that came under my per-
sonal observation. There has been con-
slant demand for Jerry Rusks Horse
Book. which was published a number of
years ago. Recently there came an unex-
pected number Of requests for it, and as
our supply had been exhausted went down
to see the Public Printer about getting out
a new edition. Much to my surprise he
fatty refused to print any more copies,
bluntly notifying me that we had used up
our appropriation for that specific purpose.
By hunting around | found that there was
another appropriation available for the
purpose and so informed Mr.. Palmer. l
ordered $500 copies and asked what the
charge would be. Mr.. Palmer said that
he did not have time to furnish estimates.
By referring TO Our books. however, 1
found that the last order of $500 copies
of this work had cost $3.50. | did not think
for moment, therefore. that any more
would be charged for the additional $500
copies. When the bill came In from the
Public Printer, however, 1t was for sl,SI5.
/ asked for an explanation, but 1t was
refused. Subsequently l had occasion to
have few extracts printed from the book
in pamphlet form. The bill was $500, or
nearly as much as had been charged for
printing the entire work. l am satisfied
that ] could have gone out and had the
work done from new plates for less than
$500. But, OF course. we are not permitted
to go outside except in emergency cases,
when the Public Printer states that he
cannot do the work.
"One explanation given by Mr. Palmer
for his excessive charges is that the Gov
ernment is compelled to pay ten hours pay
for eight hours work, and therefore can
not compete with private printers. This
is offset by the fact that the Government
pays no rent and has other advantages not
enjoyed by private concerns. But assum-
ing that other things are equal, there
should not be difference of over five or
six per cent between the cost OF Govern
ment work and that done by private par
ties And yet the Government Printing
Office has the supreme gall to charge us
over two hundred per cent more than out
side parties would think of demanding
What makes the matter all the more ag-
grayating is that We are compelled under
the law to patronize the Government
Printing Office except in emergency cases.
Just why the Government Printer should
try to soak another department of the
Government passes my comprehension.
What object can there be in it? do not
mean to Intimate that there is anything
crooked. that the profits are not duly re-
corded in the books. but it is certainly
an anomalous situation, and one that
would seem to be deserving of some iaves-
tigatiOn'
Noar's Farce Comedy
tfrom the Chicago Tribune)
Senator IIoar his tsreat roll. ..11..