Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-01-25
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.

y
! lot Of Democratic ammunition when
be ordered the court-nlartial of Com.
mlssary General Eagan, for having
used language unbecoming an officer
and a gentleman concerning General
Miles, his superior officer, in his testi.
mOny before the war investigating
commission. There was not the
slightest doubt about what the
president would do in this case, al
though the Democrats pretended to
think that Eagan's conduct would
be overlooked by the president, be-
cause Secretary Alger and General
Miles were not on good terms. The
cOurt-martial will assemble in Wash
ington at once and the standing OF
the Well-known officers who will COM
pose 1T makes 1t certain that the YER
dict will be prompt and just.
Among the presidents callers this
week were number of prominent
Ohioans, who are in Washington for
the purpose of interesting congress in
the Ohio centennial celebration, to
be held at Toledo, IN 1902, and get
ting an appropriation for government
participation therein.
After adopting a amendment lin
iting the amount to be paid to the
Maritime Canal company, Ito S., OOO,-
900, and votingdown several others,
one providing for direct ownership
OF the canal by the United States
government, the senate passed the
Morgan Nicaraguan canal bill.
With half dozen exceptions, the
| Democratic senators, under the lead
OF German, are engaged in a scheme
to force an extra session Of the next
congress by preventing the ratifica-
tlOn OF the treaty OF peace at this
session. They dare not face the con-
sequences of fighting the treaty
openly, or even of open flibustering
against 1T to prevent q vote, but, as
the result of a conference held this
week, they will endeavor to accom-
plish their purpose by Offering a Sc
ries of apparently legitimate amend
ments to the treaty, each Of which
they will discuss. Senator Davis, who
is in charge Of the treaty, has an
nounced his intention to push it to
a vote, if it can possibly be done
Speaker Reed told the Illinois dele
CATION, which called upon him to re-
quest the appointment of Mr. Hop
kins to succeed the late Mr.. Dingley
as chairman Of the ways and means
committee Of the house, that he
should follow the traditions of the
house and give the craftsmanship to
the ranking Republican on the com
mittee-Hon. Serene E. Payne, Of
New York While discussing the
matter Mr.. Reed said that he had a
high appreciation Of the ability and
Judgment Of Mr.. Hopkins, as shown
by the frequency with which he asked
him to preside over the house, but
! that he could not give him the chair
manship of ways and means, even il
Mr.. Payne had no claim thereon, be-
cause Illinois already had two of the
| important chairmauships-the COM
mittee on appropriation and the
committee on foreign affairs. Mr.
Payne is fully qualified to perform
! his new duties, which will include the
floor leadership Of the Republicans Of
| the house.
The attempt to bluff the friends Of
| the treaty into the adoption of some
| sort Of resolution committing this
government against permanent reten-
ton of the Philippines, by claiming
| that enough Democrats will vote
against ratification of tne treaty to de-
feat it, if that is done, is the latest
move Of the 'aunties." Like all their
moves it will fail. Senator Chandler
came very close to voicing the I'M
animous sentiment Of the friends Of
the treaty, when he said: II am
against any compromise. | believe
we can ratify the treaty, but if it Is
to be rejected, it will be rejected by
Dem ocratic votes, and the Democratic
party will have to 60 on record AS
against peace"
! The navy reorganization bill, which
| passed the hruse this week, provides
for the amalgamation of the line and
| engineer officers and for a system OF
voluntary and compulsory retire
ment that is intended to give more
opportunities for promotion of de-
! serving officers. 1t increases the
marine corps to the extent OF 300
men, abOllshes the payment of prize
money, md provides for retirement
on three-quarters pay of enlisted
men and petty officers who shall
have served thirty years in the navy.
The bill also abolishes the grade of
commodore, although allowing the
continued honorary use of the title
A delegation of North Carolina
Democrats came to Washington to
confer with Senator Caffery, of
| Louisiana, before the North Caro-
lima legislature followed the Louisi-
ana method Of DISTINGUISHING negroes
by providing tests for voting which
they cannot possibly meet. Senator
Gallery says he told this delegation,
as he told the people of his own state,
that the method would never stand
the test of the United States supreme
cour0, because it creates a privileged
class.
SenatoriBacon, of Georgia, made
long speech in favor of our immediate
recognition of the independence OF
the Aguinaldo Philippine government,
which contained the following ad-
mission, that ought to make every
man who is, like himself, encouraging
! Aguinaldo to hold out against the
l