The Philipsburg mail., 1899-07-21

The contributions to the Dewey home
fund received up to the 10th amounte,
to Sl}3. making the total so far re
ceived Si.1SD. .Adviccs received show
that contributions in considerable
amounts are being made to newapa
pers. banks and commercial bodies il
all sections of the country. and the in
dicatiOnS are more encouraging thar
at any time since the fund was started
The secretary of state ana Mrs. Hay
entertained the new Spanish minister
and Duchess DArcos Thursday night
mt brilliantly appointed dinner. al
which were present several of the most
prominent members Of the diplomatic
corps and Il few personal friends of the
host and of the guests of hoLor II
was the first appearance of the min
lister in Otici.l society since his an
pointment, and a particular effort was
made that this initial entertainment
should be pleasant. The decorations
were in green and white. an immense
bed of orchids filling the center of the
table.
The new Nicaragua commission will
| meet in this city during the present
week for organizing and will probably
sail for Panama by steamer on lie
10Th inst. After making an cxalnila-
ton Of the Panama canal. it will go
to Nicarauga to confer with the gov
ernment of that republic and complete
the examination that was partly made
by Admiral Walkers commission.
President Mckinley has intimated that
he desires it to have it's report ready
Tor presentation to Congress at the
opening of the next session in order
that there may be no further delay in
the Legislation necessary for the con-
struction of the canal.
Theoretical civil-servicc reforUcrs
who are criticising the recent order
| will be surprised to learn that il was
prepared by Charles Lyman. who was
a member of the civil-Servicp commits
sion. or chief examiner Of that body
| for more than tift en- years. In various
! capacities he was connected with the
commission almost from the beginning
OF its existence, and was president of
the board at the time when Theodore
Roosevelt was member. He was re-
tanned in office by President Cleveland
and President Harrison. and is rec0--
| nized by Civil-Service refOrmerS every
where as the hpSt-infOrmcd EXPERT on
J matters relating to the civil service.
i The action of Aguinaldo in dissolv
Ing the Filipino Congress and declaring
himself dictator is no surprise to the
officials Of the War and State Depart
ments. 1t means that the members of
the Congress who up till now had been
the tools of Agrlinaldo. were inclined
to take matters into their own hands
and accent tho nf off,
by the American commissioners. This
their leader would not permit, although
he has repeatedly declared that he was
powerless to make peace without the
consent OF his Congress- Aguinaldo's
action in declaring himself dictator is
believed TO he IL favorable Indication,
and the last resort of this petty but
troublesome advcnturer.
The appointment of Gonzales de
Quesada, who has been the active man
of the Cuban junta in WASHINGTON as
a representative of the Cubans ut the
capital of the United States. is gen
orally approved. His methods and
statements since he came to Washing
ton at The beginning of the Cuban re-
belliOn have not always been in strict
accord with the highest ideals Of NOR
ality. but he has worked with great
zeal and ability in behalf of his fellow
countrymen. and since the surrender
Of the Spaniards has rendered good
service in trying to reconcile them to
the situation. He is still capable of
rendering valuable assistance in the
tranQuilization of Cuba. and there is
no doubt of his loyalty to the United
States.
In reply to an inquiry on the sub
iect President Mckinley has received
from General Merriam a statement
relative TO the condition of the Ward
ner prisoners. He says when he left
Wardner May 25 he reported the san
itary condition of the prison as be-
yOnd complaint The building was
heated by stoves and there was a
large court yard for exercise. The
prisoners We're comfortably housed
Lnd better fed than the troops. One
man was seriously i'll and he was in
hospital in the town. The latest
sanitary report received by General
Merriam from Captain Leavell, dated
June 10. showed 10 sick. one serious
ly. out of :'33l. One death had oc-
,urred.
lne Navy department has issued a
circular fixing the salaries of navy Off
GERS under the naval personnel bill. Ad-
miral Dewey will receive $13,5OO,
whether on duty at sea or on shore.
The senior rear admral's pay is fixed
Mt $1,000 at sea and SG375 on shore.
Rear Admiral Schley is in this list. but
only receives the minimum amount. as
he is assigned to shore duty. The Jun
ior rear admiralS receive $1,000 while
on sea duty and St,G77 ON shore. Rear
Admiral Sampson is in the Junior list,
but having Il command ut sea receives
the maximum pay. Should Schley be
given an assignment at sea he would
receive $1,000 more Il year than Samp-
son. but as it is now his pay amounts
to but $3.50 more.
Although the members of the COM
mission which was sent to Porto Rico
by the President were not unanimous
upon some important points. they
wisely decided not to submit miurrily
reports. but to omit entirely all refer