The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-01-13
" ashfngton Letter.
From our regular Correspondence

WASHINGTON, d. G. Jan. 8, 1899.
The President and Mrs. MCKINLEY
held their first New Year reception, in
the White House, having been com
PEELED by mourning to omit the '9S
reception The reception was as bril-
liant as usual, but there was a tinge
OF sadness in Congressional and Diplo-
matte circles which could not be shook
off. They could not forget that the
remains of the oldest Senator, both in
years and IN service-Morrill, of Yer
ment-after funeral Sunday after
noon, In the Senate Chamber, were
on the way to his state for interment;
nor that the funeral of the oldest dip-
lomat, in point of service, and prob
ably the most popular personally
Senor Mathis Romero, late Mexican
ambassador to the U. S.-was only
held Sunday afternoon, and was at
tended bv most of them. Senior Ro-
nero first came to Washington in 1859
and with the exception OF several short
periods had been continuously con
nected with the Diplomatic Corps un-
til 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
concluded to hold it.
Ia view of the critical condition of
affairs in the Philippines for which
Spanish duplicity and Germany's
secret dealing with Aquinaldo are be-
lieved to be partly responsible, delay
in ratifying the treaty of peace will be
almost criminal, because it may result
in a considerable loss of life and prop
erty. 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-
tion that they will almost certainly
receive.
The condition of the u S. Treasury
now and one year ago furnishes an OBJ
iect lesson to the world of the almost
limitless financial resources Of this
country. Most nations emerge from
Il 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 treasury Of about
$55,000,000 more than we had one
year ago. Here are the exact figures,
which will arouse the envy of the rich
est nations of the world: Cash bal
ance on hand January /, 1898, $685.
474,769. Cash balance on hand Janu-
ary l, 1899 $29O,OoO,0oO.
The charge of General Miles, that
beef unfit for use was furnished the
army during the war with Spain, is
likely to be thoroughly investigated.
The war Investigating Commission is
now working upon it, and the Secre-
tary of War has ordered Board of
Survey, composed OF army officers, to
make searching investigation OF the
charge and to report lis findings as
early as possible. Col. DENLY, mem
Der Of The War Investigating Comm s.
sion, says the canned beef industry is
at stake; that if the charge of General
Miles is proven. American canned beef
will be barred out Of every country in
the world, which would be "a very ser
lous matter, not only to meat packers,
hut to cstttle raisers.
AT the last meeting OF the Cabinet
Secretary Hay was instructed to dis
approve the Scrymser cable concession,
which was obtained from the late Gov
ernar If Hawaii upon the condition
that it should lapse il dlsapproved by,
the u. s. Secretary OF State within six
months. This concession gave the
company monopoly of all cable, COM
m,,nication with Hawaii, and its dis
approval leaves the whole matter open.
1t is considered certain that there will
be established by the Government or
by private corporation is yet to be
settled.
The Department OF state has just re-
ceived from Consul General r. E. Pat
terson, at Calcutta, India, a report,
showing the averag mouth pay in u
S. money, of different sorts of laborers
in India. An able bodied farm labor
er is paid from $1S0 to $3.50 a month;
uuskilled cotton mill laborers from
ST go to $3.50, and skilled from "a to
So; household seryents from " 20 TO
SO; common mason, carpenters and
from 81 to 80; hosller