The Press., 1899-01-05

washington Jan. 2, 1899.

fairs in the Philippines will doubtless
hasten the ratification of the treaty Of
peace by the Senate. This government
cannot take the steps necessary to bring
Aguinaldo and his ignorant followers to
their senses until the treaty has been rati-
fed. The President is using all his i'll
fiuence with senators to hasten action on
the treaty, which will go to the Senate the
first thing after the reassembling of Con-
gress. Under ordinary circumstances the
committee on Foreign Relations would
keep the treaty two or three weeks before
reporting it back to the Senate, but the
President hopes to have it reported back
to the Senate. inside of two days and to
have it voted upon inside of two weeks.
More than seventy senators have promised
to vote to ratify the treaty, so that it is
only question of getting it to vote. If
the opponents of the treaty will be content
to state their objections in short speeches
and not do any talking against time, the
Presidents wishes can be met, but the
rules of the Senate providing for unlimited
debate will make it easy for them to delay
the treaty, if they are so disposed and are
not afraid of arousing public enmity
therby.
1t is seldom that upon three consecutive
days events like the funeral of Senator
Morrill,, which was held in the Senate
chamber Saturday; the funeral of Am
bassador Romero, from Mexico, which
was held in a Washington church Sunday
afternoon, and the New Year reception
held by the President and Mrs. Mckinley
in the White House to-day, follow each
other. All Of the prominent officials of
the Government including the President
and his cabinet attended all three. The
prominence of the deceased statesman and
diplomat and the great personal popularity
of both, prevented the White House re-
ception being as gay as usual and served
as reminder that last years reception
had to be abandoned because of the death
of the Presidents mother. Had the Pres
ident followed his personal inclination he
would have abandoned this one, on ac-
count of these two deaths, but this recep-
tion is an official affair and it was thought
best to hold it.
The first certificate for prize money, ON
account of vessels captured during the war
with Spain, has been issued. 1t was issu-
ed to Thomas Cheek, whose home Is ip
Washington, and who served as lands
man on converted cruiser st. Paul. The
prize In this case was the Spanish steamer
Restormal, which was afterwards released
by the prize court. Her cargo was con.
demned and sold, and it Is for his share oi
the proceeds that this certificate was is
sued to Mr.. Cheek It is only for $4. 70
but being the first issued some relic hunter
will probably pay more than that for il
and keep it, instead of presenting it fol
payment. Captain Sigsbee's certificate ir
the same prize case will call for more than
5000.
The new 81 silver certificates are now
being paid out by tbe Treasury and will
soon be in general circulation. The de.
sign is entirely new, made with view to
meet the complaints against the old de.
design. The distinguishing features OF
the face of the note are spread eagle
with the U. S. flag in it's talons and the
capitol in the background one very large
numeral and the SEAL both in blue, anC
miniature portraits of Lincoln and Grant
surrounded by laurel wreaths. The back
| of the note is printed in green, and OF
back and front there is more white paper
to be seen than on any other note evel
issued by the government.
Another board has entered the War In
| vestigation field. The positive statements
directly opposed to each other, made by
General Miles and by General Eagan, con
cerning the quality of the beef furnished
the army, has raised such hubbub tha
the War department has detailed mum
Der of army officers to act as board sur
vey and make an investigation and report
on the beef furnished the army. A mum.
Der of minor officers have already In theil
| official reports and In other ways zorro
borated the statement of General Miles
about the beef being unfit for use.
Two Spanish gunboats-the Sandova
and the Alvarado-captured in Cuban
waters, are now lying at the Washington
navy yard, where they are attracting many
visitors. They are twins and quite small
just little more than 100 feet long
Fhe cabinet decided that it was inadvis
| able to allow the concession for mon
opoly of all cable privileges on the Hawa.
| iian Islands, which was obtained by g
company from the government of the Re
public of Hawaii, upon the condition that
it would not be binding if disapproved by
the Secretary of State of the U. s. within
six months, and the concession has beer
officially disapproved by Secretary Hay
which crushed some ''great expectations VI
The preliminary report of the Nicaragua
Canal Commission ought to help along
canal legislation, as it removes one of the
strongest arguments for postponing actor
| for time, but whether 1t will do so re
mains to be seen. If there were only some
way the Maritime Canal. Company couIc
be rightfully and justly eliminated anc
the construction Of the canal dir ectly 10y
the u. S. Government be provided for
there would be easier sailing.