Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-05-11
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
AND DEPARTMENT NEWS.

Cuba has been provided with new
flag by the United States government
1t Is designed for Cubnn-Owned vrs-
sels engaged In the cOastwise trade. II
is not desired to give these vessels
the right TO use the American flag. hs
that would be- II step In the direction
or annexation. nor IL II deemed nd
visible to nll0w the use of the flng OF
the Cuban revolution.
An order has been made by the
Navy Department for the immediate
dispatch Of the converted yacht Vixen
to Blueiiells. Nicaragua. The Vixen IL
now at Norfolk fitting out for cruizc
to the Philippines via the SucZ canal.
1t IL said at the Navy Department that
no ndvices of late date have been re-
ceived from Bluciields tending to show
the existence of crisis there.
1t has developed after the Presidents
return from Philadelphia. that 1t had
been decided to permit Captain COgli-
lnp to retain his command OF the
Raleigh. Before the President left for
Philadelphia 1t was determined to re-
move the captain after the Presidents
visit. and the Inference now drawn IL
that In his Interview with the CHIEF
executive the gallant captain present
ed his ease In II new light that war
rnnted more lcnient treatment.
The President has commuted TO three
years the life sentence of Clyde
Bennington. convicted In California. III
1898. of robbing the United States
mails. This c0mmutntiOn IL granted III
consideration OF the valuable aid rcn-
dered the government by the prisoner
In the prosecution of his colleagues. In
the ease OF Ellsworth l.. Defrancc. colt
victed In Nebraska In 1888 for high.
way robbery of mail messenger AMI
sentenced for life. the President has
commuted the sentence t. fifteen years.
Postmaster General Smith has made
ruling that the sign u. s." or other
sign Indicating the carriage of the
malls must be carried only by such
cars on street railway lines ms actually
mt the time are transporting the malls.
This decision Is In respOnce to re-
quest from the .Amnlgnnntcl .\ssocia-
tion of Street Railway Employees, who.
In convention In Louisville. Wc,lnes-
day. tclegraphed President Mckinley
protest against the indiscrimnate
use of these signs by street ear lines
with the apparent design of intimidnt-
ing employees. .,t.
The government has been 'no,lnrd
that the Spanish government will. aell
Mt public auction. ut Havana. the flont-
ing dry dock OF steel which was there
when the peace protocol was signed.
Recently the Navy Department bid
$3.50. 900 for the dock. but the Spanish
government believed that more money
could be secured if they offered 1t for
sale ut public auction. Only two pri-
vate concerns are known to be con-
templatlng bidding. One of these Is
the Simpson Dry Dock Company Of
Philadelphia and the other Is Il New
York firm. II il not likely that the
Navy Department will bid.
1t is said by friends of President
Mckinley that he is becoming as much
of an invrteratc smoker as was Cen
eral Grant, and that his present ncr-
vous condition Is due to ovcr-indul-
gencc in tobacco. A partial excuse Is
found on the ground that almost
every officer who has returned from
Cuba or Porto Rico or the Philippines
has brought the President a box or
two of cigars. They have been of the
finest tobacco prOcurnble and have
proved n temptation that could not be
withstood. The President declares
also that smoking gives him relief
from neuralgia. from which lie has
been suffering recently.
Secretary Long cabled to Admiral
Dewey Tuesday that Rear Admiral
Watson had been given orders to re-
port to him and to succeed him In
command Of the ASintic station when
he determined, return. He was d.
rected to come heMe on board his flag
ship. the Olympia. This completes the
~ 4 II ms tnp
fore his departure from San Fchncisco
next Tuesday Rear Admiral Watson IN
expected to nominate the officers whom
he desires to serve as his flag licutcn-
ants and flag secretary during his
cruise. The advisability of welcoming
the Olympia with the entire North At
lnntic squadron is one of the PROPOSE
tions now heing mOoted. and 1t Is like
ly that the necessary official orders will
be issued after the Olympia leaves Gi-
braltar.
President Mckinley has decided to
leave the city next Monday and to re-
main away for two and possibly three
weeks. According to his present inten-
ton, the President will spend his va
cation at Hot Springs. NirGinia. He
Is suffering from Il slight attack of
rheumatism and Is also feeling the
strain which has been upon him for
many months. He Is anxious to enjoy
perfect rest and at the same time avail
himself of the hot baths, which will
remove the rheumatic tendency. The
President and his wife will be domi-
ciled at the Homestead hotel, as none
of the cottages ut the Springs are yet
ready for occupancy. The hot springs
are only eight hours railroad ride
from Washington, so that the Presi-
dent could return ut once to the cnpi-
tol IL any occasion arises for his pres
ance here. During his absence the
President will transact only such bus
mess as absolutely requires his per-
soral attention.
There Is growing belief among
prominent members of Congress that
the President will call Congress to