The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-25
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.

-. ", MaTCil ~, 1ooo.
According to War Department Off
Gals, Gen. Gomez will not receive :
dollar of the S3,000,0O0 about to be dis.
tributed, entirely on his say so, among
Cuban soldiers, by this government
This statement has caused everybody
to wish to know where Gomez got the
money to pay for his present very e.
travagant mode OF living in Havana
ming the negotiations with Il. 7. Por-
ter, who acted as Mckinley's personal
representative, which resulted in the
agreement to pay $4,000, 900 for the dis
handment OF the Cuban army, Gomez
had no money. and that ever since then
he apparently had plenty. Did Porter
make al individual payment of money
to GnmeZG 1T SO, how much, and from
what fund was it derived These are
some Of the questions suggested by the
situation and asked on evory band.
Congress did not appropriate q cent to
pay Cuban soldiers, but there YVES an
item added to the Sundry Civil Bill by
the last Congress, appropriating $1,000
600 as an emergency fund, to be OK
pended at the discretion OF the Presi-
dent. This is the money that will be
used. Ii the claim that Gomez has got
none of it and will get mono of il, he
true. the source from which Gomez ex-
tracted tho wealth to pay his present
enormous expenses IS left a mystery.
But it will be solved. The acting Sec
rotary of War says that the administra-
ton intends to make Cuba repay from
it's this money.
Senator Thurston, of Nebraska, isn't
one of those wild Republicans who re-
gard the Presidential election of next
year as already settled. In an inter-
view, Mr.. Thurston said 1.-THE Frosi
dental battle next year promises to DO
lively and exciting. Mckinley will
probably be renominatcd, and | pre-
sumo that Bryan will head the Demo-
cratic ticket. | believe that the Re-
publicans will win if we stand together
and work hard, but u Democratic
friends will undoubtedly put up a stiff
fight. We mnst not indulge ourselves
with the delusion that we are going to
have q Walk-0ver."
Secretary Alger doesn't appear to
care any more about being CONSTANT
that he did about the welfare of the
soldiers during the war. Several days
before Congress adjourned, A!ger an
nounced that the junket he had intended
to conduct to Cuba and Porto Rico was
off, because his official duties would
prevent his leaving Washington. OF
course, it is we'll known that Alger
abandoned the intended jnDket because
Democratic Senators and Representa-
tives tnaccept invitations to accompany
him. But for consistency sake, it was
supposed that Alger would remain on
duty and make Il bluff of being busy.
Not he. He left Immediately after Mr..
Mckinley did, for a trip to New Eng
land, which was extended to Canada,
and this week he is going to start for
Cuba and Porto Rico, but he won't car
~ any congressman with him. lie
says he is going to pay the expenses of
himself and thetwOmen who will accom-
pany him, but it would require the
vouchers for the payments to convince
the public.
If any proof were needed that Nc
isn't i'm the South solely for rest
and recreation, it is furnished 10y the fact
that he will, during the present week,
meet Gar Reed in person, On
Island, where Mr.. McKin-
Icy will be the guest of ex-Sec-
rotary Bliss, and Mr.. Reed will be the
guest of a rich Wall street banker,
both at the same club house. 1t ia
3tttEu ny lHb- lAStN = i1ltLINS tIlJ Jllt
meeting is his idea, and that he intends
he part Of Mr.. Mckinley that will make
;he position Of the administration on
he Speakership of the next house per-
.ectly clear. The queer part Of the
whole business is that two men who
spent the winter within a stones
brow of each other, in Washington,
find it necessary to meet in the
on an island off the coast of
south Carolina, in order to come to an
understanding.
Private news flom the Philippines in
licates that the administration is again
juggling with the public in regard to
he situation. While no official dis
have been quoted, officials have
alked so as to leave the impression
hat the reports of Gen. Otis, since the
'ictories of the past week have been to
he effect that A%guinaldo's army is about
eady to ask for terms and that a gene
al collapse of the rebellion may be
Doked for at any time. Owing to the
censorship, no private kilograms
an be sen from Manila direct, but
ONE have been sent to Hong Kong by !
oat aud cabled from there which do
OF take such a rosy view of the situa-
ion. According to these, the war is a
,ng ways from being over, and the on
Z effect that will follow tbrashing
.guinaldo's army, which our troops do !
very time they come into contact with !
ny of it, will be to transfer the fight !
~ ground to the hills and bushes,
here it will be difficult for our men to
ct at them except when they choose to |
Q got at, and possibly to other islands c
{ the group. There isa nightly panic :
Manila and most of the white women S
nd children have been sent away for
Of a native uprising. Time will
III which is correct, the official or pri-
ate view of the situation. The Oregon .