Middletown transcript., 1899-06-03
WHSHINGFeN IiEFFER.
From our Special Correspondent.

~ - w tOit TUG otCptroCHthtlNEoO VI AS uAA'
aldo, when they left bis line, after theiI
recent stay Of several days in Manila,
conferling with the American Com.
missioners, that neither they nor any
others sent by the Filipinos would be
again admitted to rur lines unless they
came authorized to make an uncondir
tional surrender. This means business
and, in order to put Gen. Otis in bet
ter condition to force compliance with
his terms, more regular troops will be
hurried to him as rapidly as possible.
President Mckinley is just as much
averse to calling out more volunteers
as ever, but he recognizes the fact that
it may become necessary to do 50 in the
near future, and if the necessity arises
he will meet it. Among the Presidents
recent callers was Hon. John Barrett,
who was appointed Minister to Siam by
Mr.. Cleveland, and who has just re-
turned from Manila, where he spent
ten months studying the situation. Mr..
Barrett said: 81 was not originally in
favor of the permanent retention Of the
islands, but tie more I studied the
question of our standing, politically
and commercially, in the Pacific, the
more convinced | became that our
control there was essential to our pro-
minence and prosperity in the far East.
We stand to-day as one of the great
powers Of the Pacific. Ii we should
withdraw control over the Philippines,
we should abdicate a position that
stands second to none and come after
Great Britain, Russia, Germany and
Japan. The vast interests Of our
Pacific coast forbids this. The East,
and especially New England, should
turn in and CO. operate in this move" !"
Of the present situation, Mr.. Barrett
said:"Next to the rainy season, the
worst thing our troops have to contend
against in the Philippines is the news
of the anti-imperialist agitation in this
country, which is being seduluously
gathered, and finds its way to the in
surgents. They think this movement
means great deal, and that if they
keep on long enough, the agitation in
America will come to their rescue y
Upon a subject in, which practically
everybody in the Q. S. is deeply inter
ested, Mr.. Barrett said: "All this talk
about Admiral Dewey's health is mis-
leading. / saw great deal Of him,
and spent a day with him just before I
came away. He is not i'll in the sense
that he needs anything more than rest
and quiet. II is not generally known
that he never left Manila Bay from the
time he entered it until his final de-
parture a few days ago. In all that
time, the other officers and his aides
made many trips TO Hong Kong AMI
other points for rest and recreation"
The Civil Service order which has
been SO long deferred by more import,
ant matters has been Issued by Presi-
dent Mckinley. Ii excepts something
like four thousand positions from the
Civil Service rules-positions which
every member of the cabinet agrees
should not be under those rules. II
does not except the employees Of the
Government Printing office. There is
some talk about another special order
being issued, excepting those employees,
but nothing official can be had to that
effect,
The Dewey Home fund is not grow
ing as fast as was hoped from the indi-
cations when the movement was first
started, but it has grown steadily.
Contributions have been made by Pes
ident Mckinley, Vice President Hobart
and many other prominent men. The
fund has just passed the SIS 900 mark.
The failure of the Cuban soldiers to
apply for their share Of the money sent
to be distributed among them has caas-
ed no uneasiness in Washington. The
general sentiment in official circles
is Indifference as to whether they take
the money or not, and no serious trouble
is anticipated from the disgruntled
leaders who have persuaded the poor
devils, who need the money so badly,
to go away from Havana without it,
rather than surrender their arms.
The South Carolina Congressional
delegation has been urging the Post
Office Department to reopen the P. o.
at Lake city, S. c., which was closed |
after the brutal killing of the colored
Postmaster, but Postmaster General
Smith has not decided to accede to |
their request, but has sent a special
agent there to look over things and to
report whether the Office should be re-
established. Inasmuch as jury, made
up from that community refused to
convict men who were clearly proven
to have participated in the killing of
.he postmaster, it would not be sur
Drising should the Department decide
10 allow the Post Office to remain clos
ID for awhile longer, as a reminder of
he crime committed here.
Senator Aldrich has called a special
Meeting Of the Senate Committee on
of which he is chairman, for
Tune 9th. under authority given by the
senate at the lest session Of Congress.
1t this meeting, subcommittee will
le named, composed of all the Republi-
an members, which will consider the | !
Insncial bill prepared by the House
,aucus Committee, several weeks ago,
The Committee will meet in New York
nd it is hoped will accent the Hill nre.