The Delta independent., 1899-10-20
WASHINGTON NEWS.

Thursday, November 80. has been
designated by the president as the ha-
tiOnal Thanksgiving day.
The task of recruiting the volunteer
army for the Philippines is practicaiiy
completed. 1t was announced AZ tne
War Department Thursday that all the
regiments have been filed except one
OF the additional colored regiments
the Forty-ninth, which needs less than
500 men. These will be secured with-
in 'forty-eight hours.
The annual conference of the arch
bishops of the United States was held
here ON Thursday. All but three
of the clergy of that rank attend
ed. Archbishops Feehan OF Chicago;
Hennessey of Dubuque, Iowa. ana
Chapelle of New Orleans We're the abb
~entees. Contrary to expectations. the
question of Dissertation of the Cathoilc
churches in the Philippines was not
brought up. This and other Philip
pine issues, 1t was expected, are with
in the jurisdiction of Archbishop Cha
pelle, and all matters affecting these
islands must go to him.
Admiral Dewey is making fight for
double bounty for the men behind the
guns who won for him the battle OF
Manila. He has filed n claim for $5o
each for his men. instead Of 500. They
are entitled to the double allowance II
the American force was inferior to the
Spanish force in the Manila bay tight
Admiral Dewey in n report to the Navy
Department claims that the Spanish
fnYna ine1uHinO tho ahnra hnftpr1PS
was superior to the American fleet. II
Admiral Dewey's views are sustained
the aggregate bounty will be about
100000 Unsteady of $4,000.
In his annual report to the secretary
Of the navy, Captain Samuel c. Lem
ley, judge advocate general, submits
some important recommendations
looking to the betterment Of the judi
cial branch Of the naval service. He
calls attention to the great hardship
Of carrying on the records. charges Of
desertion against veterans Of the army
and navy who left their Organizat
at the close Of the civil war without
waiting the formality Of discharge,
and 1t Is recommended that congress
further extend the beneficial provis-
ions Of the act Of August IA. 1888, in
tended to relieve these people.
The war department has been ad-
vised Of the arrival at Fort Myer, Va,
Of the two automobiles built In Chi
caso for the use Of the signal corps
of the army. The automobiles will BE-
fitted out with wireless teleRraphy
outfits, including two specially manu-
factured balloons, which will be used
for the purpose Of lifting the wires
attached to the carriages to such a
height as to escape all distractions be-
tween them and the points to which
the messages are TO be transmitted.
Experiments Of wireless telegraphy are
to be conducted by Marconi and Col
onel Allen OF the slgnal corps at Fort
Myee. The automobiles carry storage
enough to run thirty miles. II these
machines prove satisfactory a number
Of them will probably he purchased
by the war department to accompany
troops in the field.
In view Of the progress the revoIu-
ton in Venezuela has made state de-
partment officers here are discussing
the possibility that ex-President Har-
rison may lose the $4,000 which was
promised him by the present govern
ment Of Venezuela ms his fee for ap-
pearing before the Paris arbitration
has been one OF the characteristics Of
South American revolutions that their
success usually meant a reputation
of all existing contracts Of the govern
ment made by the preceding admins
tration. The officers are inclined to
think. however. there Is only a remote
possibility OF General Harrison losing
his pay. The fact was brought out
that in the event IL became necessary
for our government to interfere to Sc
cure the payment of General Harri-
sons fee. 1t could only he done through
the diplomatic channels.
Rear Admiral Schley called Mt the
Navy Department Tuesday to arrange
with the officials for the detail OF his
staff and some other matters relating
to the assumption Of his duties as COM
mantier of the South Atlantic station
The admiral asked for the detail Of
Lieutenant Commander Sears and
Lieutenant Wells ns flag lieutenant and
secretary respectively. These officers
held similar connection with the nd
mfrnl during the Spanish war. The
admiral was informed that II will re-
lufre two weeks to put the Chicago in
shape for her cruise no II was arranged
that she sh~,lld sail on the 25th in
slant Meanwhile Admiral Schley has
arranged to pay a visit to friends in
GecrH1a. Rear Admiral n. NJ. Far
quhar will hoist his flag on the New
YORK and assume command Of the
North Atlantic squadron In Hampton
Roads next Saturday.
George J. Kinde1 Of Denver had two
lively hours before the Industrial Com
missioa Monday. He was piled with
questions and told Of Determinations
In freight rates against Denver. He
said that the restoration Of free silver
coinage would not help Denver indus
tries unless railroad freight rnte dis
elimination was remedied. He
amused the committee by saying that
he had been a Populist tin that party