Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-01-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MONITOR |

The President and Mrs. Mckinley
held their first New Year reception,
in the White House, today, having
been compelled by mourning to omit
the 1913 reception. The reception was
as brilliant as usual, but there was
tinge of sadness in congressional and
Diplomatic circles which could not be
shook off. They could not forget that
the remains of the Oldest Senator,
both in years and in service-Morr1ll,
of Vermont-aftera funeral Saturday
afternoon. in the senate chamber,
were on the way to his state for inter-
ment: nor that the funeral of the old
lest diplomat, in point of service, and
probably the most popular personally
Senior Matias Romero, late Mexican
ambassador to the Z. S.-was held
Sunday Afternoon and attended by
most of them. Senior Romero first
came to Washington in 1859 and with
the exception of several short periods
had been continuously connected
with 1.-THE diplomatic corps until his
death. President Mckinley thought
seriously of abandoning the reception,
because of these two deaths so close
together, but after comforting, by
proxy, with leading diplomats he con-
cluded to hold it.
In view of the critical condition of
affairs in the Philippines flor which
Spanish duplicity and Germany's Sc
rret dealing with A9uinaldo are be-
Iieved to be partly responsible, delay
in ratifying the treaty of peace will
be almost criminal, because it may re-
suit in a considerable loss of life and
of property. 1t is generally admitted
that the ratification of the treaty has
no bearing one way or the other on
the final disposition of the Philippines
or on the question of expansion, and
seventy senators have promised to
vote for ratification; therefore there
is absolutely no excuse for delay, and
those senators who attempt it, if any
do, will invite the public condemna-
ton that they will almost certainly re-
ceive.
The condition of the L. S. treasury
now and one year ago furnishes an
object lesson to the world of the al
most limitless financial resources of
the country. Most nations emerge
from a war with their finances in
more or less crippled condition. Not
SO with this country. We fought
victorious war, all on cash basis, and
we have a cash balance in our treasu-
~ of about SEQ, CCO,CCO more than we
had one year ago. Here are the ex-
act figures, which will arouse the envy
of the richest nations in the world:
cash balance on hand January 1, 1898
1926, 474,769: cash balance on hand
January 1, 1899 1920, 600.
The charge by Gen. Miles, that beef
unfit for use was furnished the army
during the war with Spain, is likely
to be thoroughly investigated. The
war investigating committee commits
sion is now working upon it, and the
secretary of war had ordered board
of survey, composed of army officers:
to make searching examination of
the charge and to report its findings
as early as possible. Col. DENLY,
member of the war investigating COM
mission, says the canned beef industry
is at stake; that if the charge of Gen.
Miles is proven, American canned
beef will be barred out of every coun-
try in the world, which would be a
very serious matter, not only to meat
packers, but to cattle raisers.
Vermonters in Washington say they
do not expect an extra session of the
legislature, which will not meet regu-
larly again until October, 1900, to be
called to elect a successor to the late
Senator Morrill,. The governor will
name a successor and he will occupy
the seat until the regular session Of
the legislature decides whether he or
some other republican shall occupy
1t for the remainder of the term. It
is believed that either Representative
circuit or Ex-Governor. Dillingham;
will be appointed.
At the last meeting of the Cabinet
Secretary Hay was instructed to dis
approve the Serynser cable conces-
sion, which was obtained from the
late Governor of Hawaii upon the con-
dition that it should lapse if disap-
proved by the US secretary of state
within six months. This concession
gave the company monopoly of all
cable communication with Hawaii
and its dispproval leaves the whole
that there will soon be cable commun
ication with Hawaii, but whether it |
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