Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1899-08-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent:

From Our Regular Correspondent:
Washington, Aug. 2s, 1892 !
The most notable thing In official
circles just now is the confidence ex- I
pressed in an early and satisfactory
peace in tho PHILIPPINES, notwithstand-
ing the cabled reports Of heavy fighting |
last week, which show that the Filipi- |
nos are fighting harder than ever al |
though still getting whipped every |
time thoy face our troops. Some say
that this official confidence is inspired |
by the belief that the moral effect of |
sending large army to the Philippines
which is now being gotten into fight
ing trim, upon the Filipinos will cause
them to end the war by surrendpring 5
and acknowledging U. S. sovereignty
over the islands, There may be some
thing in that, but the fact that Gen.
Lawton in a letter to a Washington
friend, written before he knew that 80
many men would be sent to the Philip
pines, predicted an early peace, togeth-
er with the knowledge that Gen Otis
has been in communication with some
of the Filipino leaders, with the object
of reaching an agreement by which
they would lay down their arms, makes
it more probable that this confidence is
the result of some sort of an under
standing between Gen. Otis and the
Filipino leaders, or rather, an expected
understanding. officials would be only
too glad to make it public If an under
standing for the surrender Of the Fill
pinos had actually been arrived at.
Increasing the army so largely and
sending so many men to the faraway
Philippines and maintaining them there
for an indefinite period has made it GER
tain that the expenditures OF the gov
ernment will be largely increased dur
ing the coming two years, as the gener-
al expectation is that all OF the volun-
teers will serve the full term Of enlist
ment During the last fiscal year the
government expenditures were $50, 600,
900 in excess of its receipts. This in
dicates that more money will have to
be raised. There are two ways Of rails
ing it. More bonds must be issued, or
new taxes must be imposed Neither
is likely to be popular, but it is a ques-
tion of necessity not popularity. Under
the act of Congress providing authori ty
for issuing bonds to carry on the war
with Spain, only half of the $500, 900, OOO
: were issued, and none of the $l00, ,O0O,-
900 in certificates of indebtedness have
been issued, but the fact that tho Treas
ury officials have been quietly lnvesti-
eating with a Wow to the extension OF
the stamp tax indicates desire to try
to raise the money needed by new taxes
rather than by more bonds, although
Secretary Gage says that neither bond,
nor additional taxes will be necessary
and expresses doubts of his legal righ
\ to issue more bonds, II the necessity tt
so should arise, under the law authoriz
ing their issue to pay the expenses o
the war with Spain, which Officially
ended with the signing of the treaty o
peace.
Post Office department. officials are
little uneasy over the reports they hav
received concerning the organization 0
lobby to work Congress in the inter
est Of the fourth class post masters, c
whom there are 10000 in the country
The Post Office department has yer
stringent rule prohibiting the presenc
in Washington for the purpose Of try
ing TO influence legislation of any po
tai empoye, and under that rule th
man who is now getting the fourth-cla;
postmasters into the National Leagu
90 of Fourth Class Postmasters was di
charged. The object of the league is
~ get legislation from Congress raisiu
the pay of fourth-class postmasters, III
they are now raising money to be ust
for that purpose by assessing themse
yes from 40 cents to SO each, accordif
to their pay. The Post Office Depar
ment can prevent postal employees cor
ing TO Washington to lobby before Co
: gressional committees, but it cam
nc prevent their employing lobbyists al
sending them to Washington. WhI
il is remembered that the comparatiy
. ly few printers and book binders in q
u Government Printing Office raised
fund Of $40, 900 during the last sessit
Of Congress to be used in getting tbs
pay raised, and succeeded in getting
for done, it will be seen that the lob
-. fund of the fourth-elass postmaste
w win be enormous il they all 60 into t
IN movement Postmaster General Smi
he intimates that be will oppose the ra
no ing of the fourth-class postmasters pa