The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-01-05

1t crosses all three OF these main
lines. 1t Was bill in by the Atlantic
Coast Line for y3,1l0,000. There is
a belief however that there is an I'M
derstanding between the Atlantic
Coast Line and the Southern By
witch one system will take one end
of the road and the other system the
other end.
Spanish evacuation of Havana is
now complete. The Spanish flag
gave place to the Stars and Stripes
on the 1st of January, and Ameri-
ca has now assumed her formal
guardianship of Cuba. How long
this guardianship is to last or wheth-
er not the island will eventually pass
under civic control of America are
questions which time and future cir
cumstances will determine. Present
conditions and circumstances, how
ever, are not very promising for
fulfilment of the Cubans' dream of
self government. While the ex-
pressed policy of our administration
is to maintain military control of the
Island until the Cubans become cap
able of self government, when will it
be considered that such condition
exists. 1t is perhaps safe to predict
that the Cubans themselves will not
be considered competent judges of
this matter.
The Peace Commissioners have re
turned from Paris with the signed
Treaty, which will probably be taken
up by the Senate for ratification dur
ing the following week. The indi-
cations are that the Treaty will be
promptly ratified.
The PHILIPPINE question was not
only a disquieting one as between
America and Spain, but promises to
be even more disquieting as between
America and the Fillipinos govern
ment. The Insurgents under Aguin
aldo are growing very suspicious of
the Americans, and if their suspic
ions should lead to open outbreak,
the task of suppressing them will
not be the easiest one We have had
to tackle since TIE beginning of the
war with Spain.
Congress took recess for the hol
idays and only reconvened yesterday
There is an unusual amount of i'm
portant legislation to be disposed Of.
in fact more than Can be disposed of
during the short time remaining of
the present Congress. The question
of an extra session of the Fifty. sixth
Congress to be called Immediately
after the expiration of the present
Congress is being agitated, but there
seems to be strong opposition to i,
from the Republican side. The AID
ministration has not made known
it's plans in this respect, but the
question of whether or not its effect
would be beneficial to the Rtpubli.
can party will no doubt be the de
termining factor.
Why was it the Commission ap
pointed by the President to recon
mend certain legislation in Hawaiian
Islands, advised the adjustment Of
the Postal Savings Bank system il
that country? There has always beer
a strong demand for the establish
ment of a system of Postal Savings
Banks in this country, and never
was the demand stronger than to
day. Congress will be called upor
soon to answer whether or not it will
meet this popular demand. Its &C
ton on that clause of the Hawaiian
Commission report recommending
abolishing the system in Hawaii
will be fair indication of the posi-
ton of Congress on the establish
ment of the system in this country
We hope the banks will not be pow
erful enough to prevent the stel
toward progress and in the interes
of the masses of the people which i
would take in establishing a system
of Postal Savings Banks in thi
country.
We notice that number of Dem
ocratic newspapers have stated tina
it is the purpose of the machine t.
abolish the Railroad Commission anl
create a new commission with abou
the same powers and duties. Oh
course the purpose of this is to ge
the present commissioners out of of
fee and make three new jobs fo1
Democrats. We also see 1t stated il
this connection that Ex-Governor
Jarvis is to be the chairman of this
new railroad commission. It is SAT,
to say that Jarvis will never favor
any reduction of freight and passen
ger rates that would be anything
like just between the people and thu
railroads. Was it not Jarvis, wht
acting as visiting statesman, wen
to Raleigh and fooled or hoodwinked
the legislature into robbing the stat,