The Elbert County tribune., 1899-06-29
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
AND DEPARTMENT NEWS


the principle laid down by Secretary
Hay in his tentative boundary line
| that America Will not grant. temporar-
| ily or otherwise, any port facilities TO
| the Canadians. 1t Is asserted here On
authority that England has been forced
10 Weld to CANADA and that the United
States and England are wider apart
to-day In the controversy than at any
time since the adjournment OF the
Joint high commission. The news Is OF
the most unexpected character.
Admiral SchIey applied for sea duty
shortly after he returned from Porto
Rico, where he served as a member of
the Porto Rican evacuation commits
sion, and although there Is no COM
mand at the present time that could
be given him II is probable that there
will be one in the near future which
the admiral would be glad to accept.
Ii is possible that Admiral Kautz. who
has lust arrived In the United States
from Samoa. will wish to relinquish
command of the Pacific squadron IN
which event Admiral Schley will prob
ably be selected to succeed him. Adj
miral Howison who Is in command of
the South Atlantic station. Will return
to New York in his flagship. the Chi
cago. October 9TH. and will in the ordi-
nary course OF events retire October
18th. This Will make another very de-
sirable command open. and II seems
certain that between the two Admiral
Schley can easily be provided for. Ad-
miral Schley, since his detachment
from the flying squadron, has been
acting as president of the naval ex-
nmining board. which il considered
one of the most responsible and de
sirable positions In the navy.
An executive branch Of evgornment
with the title. a Department Of Colo
NAL Affairs and Foreign Commerce. or
something similar to IL. Is deemed by
the administration absolutely neces-
sary to meet the new conditions which
confront the United States, as a resul;
of.the war with Spain. The word ''Co-
lonial' Is rcpugnant. for political rea
sons, to some members of the Cabinet
because it smacks of Imperialism. and
II is possible that some other title will
he adopted. The meaning. however,
will be the same. Preliminary to rec
concentrations to Congress upon this
subject. data are now being compiled
concerning control OF colonies by sor-
eign powers. and extension of our conf
merce to foreign fields and members of
Cabinet and subordinate officials Of the
administration are giving much
thought and time to details of the pro-
posed new department. American con
suls on duty in colonies belonging
to foreign powers. especially those of
Great Britain. are to be called upon for
full reports upon lists of questions now
preparing for submission to them.
Robert T. Porter who is looked upon
as the probable head of the proposed
ftuI I.ft t.1
1t Is reported. be consulted in regard
to plans for extending foreign com
merce. which is to become feature of
the new department.
The reports thus far received from
regimental and post commanders con
cerning the moral effect of canteens in
the army are practically unanimous In
favor of the maintenance of such in
stitutions for the sale OF beer. tobacco
and soft drinks to the soldiers. Sev-
eral of them show that the habits and
the discipline of the troops have been
greatly improved by the establishment
of canteens. particularly because 1t has
driven away low dives that were for
merly found In the neighborhood of
military posts. where the soldiers not
only got nll the poisonous liquor they
could drink. but were drugged, robbed
md sometimes murdered. II Is the
unanimous testimony thus far that the
soldiers prefer beer to whisky as
beverage. and that the use of malt
liquors is beneficial to their health
The sale Is so regulated that II Is i'm
possible for them to get drunk The
hard drinkers nre compelled to use II
in moderation, and the great majority
of the enlisted men prefer clean.
cheerful club room, where they can
play cards. checkers and other games
and read the newspapers and mnga-
zines to the wretched drinking places
and dance houses which formerly
tempted them. Tho reports testify
that the health and the discipline. as
well as the morale. of the troops under
the canteen system have greatly i'm
proved. There have been fewer cases
of drunkenness, fewer court-martinls
and fewer men on the sick list from
alcoholism and kindred complaints.
A conference of influential western
Republican representatives IL to br
held in Washington for the purpose of
formulating u plan for the distribution
of the patronage of the next House.
the formation of new committees and
the enlargement of some of the old
by representatives from the western
and northwestern states that materi-
ally assisted In the promotion of Colo
mel Henderson's candidacy for speaker.
and 1t Is supposed that they have his
acquiescence. One of the most import.
ant features mapped out Is the selec-
fion OF committee on insulnr affairs,
to which Is to he referred nll matters
pertaining to Porto Rico. Hawaii and
the Philippines. The suggestion il
being made that only the strongest
men in the House should he assigned
to 1t. So far as can be learned the
combine" as II is called. will not at
tempt TO dictate the members who
shall he selected for the new commit.
tee. 1t Will also he decided to dis
tribute the patronage of the House
pro rata among the states according
to the number of Republican repre-.
sentatives from each. The combine
viii control 102 OF the 1Sl Republican
votes in the next House. more than n
majority and sufficient to dictate the
action OF the caucus. More important
thnn any struggle for patronage In the
next House are the suggestions TINT
are trnnspiring concerning the policy
ol Colonel henderson which Will guide
him when he shall have been selected
speaker.
The revival of the Sampson Schl.v
controversy, which hinges so far as
the Santiago engagement is concerned
upon the loop which the BROOKLYN
Admiral Schley's Gagship-made ana
the adrlirars remarks concerning tI,o
texas, makes Spanish version OF the
aHair Interesting at this time. One
OF the captains under Admiral Cor
vera who was among the prisoners
taken from the wrecks. in discuss,,,y
the plans of the Spanish commnndcr
said. shortly after the bnttle: .Tbor,'