, 1899-11-09

up the military forces now in the SER
vice of the United States as follows:
Regular army, G4,5SG; volunteers, 3d.
5I4; total, 30, 1GO.
The proposition for n national uni
v~ersity at Washington, under govern
ment auspices, was negatived by the
committee of the National Educational
Association, which has been in session
here. Instead the committee has a sug
gestion contemplating a plan by which
persons who have had exceptional edu-
c%ational opportunities may secure the
advantages afforded by the institutions
Mt Washington.
The postmaster general has issued
an order f%orbidding ~postmasters in the
United States to collect postage due in
excess of the domestic rate on any let
tiers sent by soldiers. sailors, marines,
or other persons in the United States
service in Guam and the Philippine ISL
ands. The order is given immediate
effect and ~pnstmaSterS are directed TO
disregard all ratings of postage due in
excess of the domestic rate, made prior
10 this date.
There are three features of interest
above all others in the annual report
of Admiral Crowninshield, chief of the
Bureau of Navigation, just made pub
lie. First, in an nrraignment of Con
gress because of the failure to reward
the officers recommended for advance
ment as n result of the battles around
Cuba; second. the recommendations for
n change In the present system OF re-
ceiving ships, and third, the sugges-
tons touching the new system of train
ing landsmen.
The Cincinnati ENQUIRER says that
Pension Commissioner ii. Clay Evans
has been offered the governor general
ship OF Cuba by the administration,
providing he would resign as pension
commissioner. In II letter, Commits
sioner Evans stated he positively re-
fused the offer: tina he was doing his
duty. and was not to be inundated
or exchanged" If he should be eX-
changed for doing his duty in the pen
sion office and Sent to Cuba, he might
be exchanged there also.
Dewey is receiving credit here for
another manifestation of sound judg-
mem. At II dinner in his honor at the
Metropolitan Club Saturday night.
Colonel Archibald Hopkins, n friend of
Dewey, was to have read n poetictl
prophecy with respect to Dewey and
the presidency. Everyone expected 1t,
and all Were surprised when 1t was not
delivered. Now, 1t is learned, the adj
miral strongly limited to Hopkins he
would consider the suggestion of his
name in connection with The presiden-
cy rs in bad taste and disrespectful to
him.
For some time negotiations have
been In progress in Washington to-
wards establishing treaty relations be
tween china and Mexico. The neEo-
tiations have been carried on by Am
bassador AspirOz of Mexico and Min
lister WI Ting Fang of China, and are
now so far advanced that the signing
of the instrument is expected to occur
early next wee Aside from Its i'm
portance in being the first treaty ever
negotiated between the two countries,
its terms are such as to yield large
benefits to each of the contracting
parties.
Commissioners Wilson of the Internal
revenue bureau has held that an eX-
press company which buys or sells for
eign exchange is subject to the special
foreign tax of $50 n year, as Il basis
on which 1t transacts such business.
Captain Nicoll Ludlow has been re
tired with the rank of rear admiral in
the navy on his own application, after
thirty years service, and under the
terms Of the personnel bill comforting
II grade in rank in case of such re-
titiHthls 'uIiilh suulpN II u soh-ll-
law of Mrs. Washington Mclean II
brotherin-law of Mrs. Hazen.
a recapitulation of the casualties In
actions and deaths in the regular and
volunteer armies between May /, 1898,
and June -. 1899. contained in the IN
nual report of the adjutant general Of
the army, shows II grand total of 1906
men. The casualty list alone aggre-
gates 3,S5l, of whom 81 officers and
I5S enlisted men We're killed and 1917
officers and =. TGi enlisted men wound
ed. The death list, numbering G,Gl9,
was made up of 22l officers II G,3DJ
enlisted men. OF his total but IS Off
GERS and Hos enlisted men We're killed.
the remainder of The deaths resulting
from various causes.
The Cabinet has discussed the point
involving The right under the law of
our soldiers in the Philippines to send
through the mails To friends in this
country souvenirs of little or no com
mcrcial value. Under II strict conStruc-
ton of the law articles of any CONNER
cial value except books are prohibited
from being sent through the mail. But
the government. realizing that with the
approach of the Christmas HOLIDAYS the
soldiers serving in the Philippines un-
doubleday will wish to send home some
mcmcntOcS of their service, an earnest
effort will he made To overcome the diff
ficultics presented. 1t is probable that
Secretary Gage will formulate some
regulation which will meet the sltua-
tiOn.
The surplus In the national treasury
continues to grow. In spite of heavy
army expenditures, and some officials
begin to fear the embarrassment that
confronted the Harrison alministra-
ton ten years ago The government
has n cash surplus ON hand of S2g3.-
1u3, lO2, and the revenues are inCrcas-
ing mt such a rapid rate II Is possible
the balance will pass the S3OO. 900
mark by the first of the new year. The
government has nearly SS3,OOO.OOO de.
posted in national banks for the con
y]onicncc of %dlsbur,Ing officers. but the
other S2lO,OOO.OOO is locked up I'm Its
vaults, unavailable for commercial
transactions This Is u tremendous
sum TO be taken from the channels of
trade, and financial officials are dis
turh41 by IFS tendency In Increase ruth-