The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-06-29
WASHINGTON.
Washington, Iune 90, 1900
From our Regular Correspondent.


"Too good to be true," is the gen
eral comment upon the rumor tnat
preceded Secretary Alger's return to
Washington, saying that having made
a deal with Pingree to support him
tor the Senatorship, Alger would soon
resign in order to devote his whole
time to trying to get to the Senate.
There are too many pickings in sight
tor Alger to voluntarily resign before
he gets his share of them. Those
Porto Rico concessions are yet to be
given out, and the scheme of enlsting
volunteers for the Philippines without
a regular call for quotas from the
States, which was devised SO as to
leave the appointment of the officers
in the hands of the War Department,
instead of the governors Of the states,
where it would have to 60 if the us
ual course was followed, is an addi-
tionai reason why Alger isn't likely to
resign in the near future.
1t is denied at the War Department
that Gen. Miles is to be sent to the
Philippines SO as to have him out of
reach when Congress meets, as was
rumored several days ago.
The Agricultural Department made
public report that it has just re-
ceived from Lieut.. A. p. Hayne, Cal
ifornia Heavy Artillery, on agriculture
IN the Philippines, which shows those
islands to be anything but desirable
possessions, although the country is
now adding more than million dol
lars day to the original big price
paid for them. The report quotes
Senor Manuel del Busto, formerly
chiet of the agricultural experiment
station, at Manila, to show the social
agnation--the increase IN popula-
tion from I842 to IS4S was less than
four cent. also their characteristics
"the middle and lower classes are al
most of the worst possible type, ire
sponslble and degenerate, morally and
physically, lnsensible OF any contracts
or obligations, written or oral, ready
to cheat and expecting to be cheated,
and amenable to no sort Of persua-
sion, except brute force, from which
they are always ready to escape by
moving their habitate." After recit-
ing the difficulties connected with
clearing ground and getting a crop
planted, the report says: "When this
is accomplished and luxuriant crop
is raised, it is at the mercy of the
first typhoon, which, IN the northern
part of the archipelago, is severe.
These wind and rain storms level
crops, uproot trees, demolish houses
and flood with water everything that
has been left by the wind, turning
plantations into lakes and swamps,
and rendering the primitive roads i'm
passable for long periods" Here is
another extract: Diseases, SO far
hardly known to European doctors.
result from the turning up of this vir-
gin soil. According to competent
medical authority, many of these
strange disorders cause death IN few
hours, while by others, even if the
patient RECEIVERS, he is condemned to
a wretched and lingering existence.
One of the commonest of these dis
eases is temporary or permanent par
alysis, with almost endless compllCa-
tions."
Mr.. William Ryan, Of New York
City, now visiting Washington, said in
reply to questions: "The factional
strife that is gong on in New York
City isn't of much consequence to
the Democratic party at large, for nc
principle is involved in it, and the
whole struggle is for personal aggran-
dizement. The taint of commercial
ism, in fact, is over everything in New
York, and dominates its politics abso
lutely. The mass of Democratic vo
tiers in New York are for w. J. Bryar
for President and for re-adoption o
the Chicago platform. If Mr.. Bryan
is chosen next year he will carry New
York State
1t is regarded as significant that th'
administration should have considered
it necessary for the Postmaster Gen
eral to make public an official denla
of tho choruac that letters Ot the vol