The Elbert County tribune., 1899-07-20
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
AND DEPARTMENT NEWS.

An order las been Issued by tine
President extending the protection ana
privileges Of the American nag to the
shipping Of Porto Rico and the Philip
pines. Ali ships owned by residents or
these islands Mt the time OF the ex-
change OF The ratification OF treaties
are Included.
Upon Invitation OF MFR. Mckinley.
Governor Roosevelt visited the White
House Saturday. There were various
rlmors a1ioat MS TO the purpose or the
governors visit, but he declared fhnt
the President had asked him to come
TO Washington only because OF Ms De
sire to consult him concerning the or
gnnizatioD Of the new volunteer force
for the Philippines.
Admiral Crownlnsbield. chief OF the
Bureau OF Navigation OF the Navy De-
partment. viii 20 TO England the lat
ter part OF the month TO make n specini
examination OF the system OF English
naval barracks. with view OF adopt
ing n similar system In this country.
Instead of barracks the United States
has used receiving ships. The expense
attached TO maintaining these vessels
Is great In view OF the shortnge or
officers at the present time the receiv-
Ing ship problem demands n solution
A delegation representing The Ma
tional Temperance Society and other
kindred organizations called upon the
President Tuesday to ask his consid-
Grafton OF some points in reference to-
the Interpretation given by the attor-
ncy general to the recent act OF Con
gress affecting the army canteen. The
delegation recorded It's dissent from
the opinion of the attorney general
and presented lcgnl opinion on the
subject prepared by Colonel Ell Ritter
OF Indianapolis. The members OF the
delegation, after their call, reported
the President MS saying that the opin-
lon of the attorney general was given
without any previous knowledge on his
part, that he would look into the mat
ter personally.
General Otis has cabled the War De-
partment that 1000 men had volun-
ieered for service In the two volunteer
regiments to be organized In the Phil
lpplnes. This Is encouraging news TO
the authorities. as previous informa-
tlon Indicated that General Otis would
be unable to organize these regiments,
and that II they were filed at all. the
volunteers would have to be sent from
the United States. II was proposed at
one time TO enlist friendly natives TO
complete the organization of these two
regiments. but General Otis hns In
formed the War Department that II
would be inadvlsable to attempt the
experiment mt this time. indicating
that the Fillpinos In and around Ma
Mia are not yet to be trusted.
Commissioner Wilson of the Internal
Revenue Bureau has issued circular
absolutely prohibiting banks from af-
fixing stamps to checks unstainped
when presented. and requiring them TO
return, the same to the drawers. In his
circular to collectors the commission
er says: You are directed to notify
the banks that are guilty OF stamping
unstnmped checks that II the practice
is not Immediately discontinued they
will he reported TO the United States
district attorney for prosecution" The
previous instruction to the effect that
there was no objection to the nfiixing
by the bank of the requisite stamps TO
an unstamped check presented for pay
ment Is revoked. AS the law Is now
generally understood, II is held that
there Is no further need of such per-
mission. This action was taken upon
information that certain bnnks had
adopted the practice Of not requiring
stamps. ns an advertisement to secure
patronage as against rival banks.
Spain will, upon the signature of the
present treaty. release all prisoners of
war and all persons detained or I'M
prisoned for political ofrenses, In con
nectlon with the insurrections in Cuba
and the Philippines, and the war With
the United States.'' Though seven
months have passed since the signing
of the treaty of peace between the
United Stntes and Spain, containing
this provision. Spain has taken no
action. so far as the authorities have
been advised. looking to the release of
the Cubans and Filipinos imprisoned
at Fernando, Philippine islands, and
AT other Spanish penal prisons. Minis
ter Storer. mt Madrid, has been ;n-
structed by Secretary Hay, at the in
stance of Senor Quesada. the repre-
sentative of Cuba In Washington, to
call the attention of the Spanish gov-
ernment to the provision of the treaty
cited above and to request that the
Cubans and Fllipnos still In confine.
ment be granted their liberty without
further delay. Senor Quesada said
recently that he thinks there are
about twenty Cubans In Spanish
prisons. The number OF I'illpinos
held by Spain is not known. In some
circles here there tx disposition to
believe that Spaln's delay In libernting
the prisoners she holds Is due to the
delay of the United States to secure
the release of Spaniards held by the
Filiplnos. Immediately upon the sig
nature of the treaty of peace the spies
held by this government were released
and since. In accordance with the
terms of the treaty. this government
has undertaken to obtain the release
of all Spanish prisoners in the hands
OF the insurgents In Cuba and the
Philippines" Under Instructions
which. at the request of Due de Arcos,
We're recently repeated General Otis
has been cooperating with the Span
ish commissioners at Manila to secure
the release of the Spanish subjects and
soldiers In the possession of the Fill
pinos, and the fact that he has made
no report as TO the progress of the ne
gotintions leads the authorities TO be-
lieve that success has not yet crowned
them.