The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-03-16
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D, c., March 10, 1s

ley made the appointments of Second
Lieutenants in the Regular Army
provided for by the new Army act.
There are necessary many disappoint
ments, as for every Lieutenancy there
were a score of applicants. The APP
pointments were divided pro rata
among the states, the only condition
imposed by the President being that
each of the young men appointed
should be mentally and physically
qualified to fill the position asked for
him. The responsibility for these APP
pointments rests upon the Senators
and Representatives who recommend
ed the men, but as the President
made the requirements plain, it is not
likely that any mistakes were made.
Accompanying the President on his
vacation are Mrs. Mckinley, the Vice
President and Mrs. Hobart, Senator
Hanna, at whose Thomasville, Ga,
residence the party will be the guests,
and several friends. How long the Pres
ington will depend entirely upon pub
lie business. Unless called back by
something urgent he will probably
stay at Thomasvill a couple of weeks,
possibly longer. Although it is not
his intention to transact any routine
public business while away, Secretary
Porter will remain at the White
House for the purpose of making tele
graphic reports to him of anything
important and receiving any orders it
may be necessary for him to give.
In "a statement just made public
concerning the work of the last Con
gress, Chairman Cannon, of the House
Appropriation Committee, gives
more detailed statement of the appro-
priations made than was possible for
him to make earlier, and says: Dur
ing the whole four years covered by
Mr.. Cleveland's second administra-
ton the material and industrial con-
dition of the country was calamitous
and its contemplation does not bring
satisfaction to any American citizen.
But the Fifty-fifth Congress, begin
ming with the administration of VIM.
Mckinley and promptly called in ex-
traordinary session, as promptly en-
acted legislation which has yielded
the additional revenues needed to pay
the ordinary expenses of the govern
ment, and at the same time protected
American labor. With the enact
ment of that legislation, hope and
confidence struck hands and the CON
dition of the whole country improved
and has continued to improve from
that time to the present. Labor is
now universally employed with in
creased wages and with such employ
ment the means are supplied for in
creased consumption. The vast in
crease of the navy, and the creation of
an army of a quarter of a million men,
together with the increase of tax
alton, have not in any appreciate
degree checked our industrial ad-
vance, which began co-incidently
with the incoming of the present ad-
ministration and the Fifty-ffth Con-
gress.n
The Navy Department has no infor-
nation that Admiral Dewey's health
Is in a precarious condition; months
ago Admiral Dewey was given leave
to come home whenever he desired to
his post from choice and because he
desired to complete the work in
which he is engaged. This is strictly
official,
Gen. Brooke, Military Governor of
Cuba, and Gen. Otis, Military Cover
nor of the Philippines, have each
been authorized to enlist a battalion
of natives for the regular army if they
consider it wise to try the experiment.
The officers will, of coure, be Ameri
cans.
Administration officials are not at
all concerned over the renewed re-
port that Germany has succeeded in
purchasing the Caroline Islands from
Spain; they regard it as matter that
concerns only Spain and Germany,
and are consequently Indifferent as to
whether the report is true or other
wise.
Now that Gen. Lawton and the re-
Inducements he carried with him
have Joined Gen. Otis, at Manila, it
is expected that rushing campaign
will at once be set in motion against
the Filipinos and decisive results are
looked for very soon. In late dis
patches General Otis says he has in
formation that the whippings already
administered have made the rank and
file of the Filipinos anxious to give
up, and it is all their leaders can do to
keep them in the field As the cam
paign against them is likely to con-
sist largely of bush fighting, Gen.
Lawton's extensive experience in In
dian fighting will make hisservices in
xoIuab In The sort of a man TawtOn is