Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-02-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.

FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3Oth 1899
Gen. Eagan's only hope to escape
dismissal from the army. in accordance
with the finding Of guilty on both counts
by the court martial. lies in Presiden-
tial clemency. Although no official
announcement has been made Of the
finding OF the court martial, and none
is expected until the President has act
upon it, the opinion is unanimous that
it was guilty, simply because it could
have been nothing else upon the evi-
3snce presented. Official red tape will
keep the finding out Of the hands of the
President for several days, and he will
take his own time to act upon it after
he gets it. Consequently it is only guess
ing to attempt to say when the result
will be made public, but the great and
general interest in the case makes it
probable that it will not be long delayed.
The House will tomorrow vote upon
the Hull army bill. which has been
amended so as to make any increase in
the regular army above $4,000 men dis
cretionary with the President, and its
passage is certain. That much Of the
talk in the House, against the Army
bill, was tinged with insincerity .especi-
ally that relating to the Philippines.
was demonstrated when Representative
Cannon expressed the opinion that no
member of Congress really desired the
departure from the Philippines Of our
army and navy. Just two members Of
the House-Handy, of Del, and Todd,
of Michigan-had nerve enoug b to stand
up and cay they favored the departure
OF our forces from the Philippines, and
they were greeted with jeers.
The anti expansionists are going to
monopolize most Of the talk in the Sen
ate this week, as nearly every Senator
who is opposed to expansion, and who
has not yet spoken, has given notice of
an intention to speak during the week.
1t is also probable that one of the nu-
merous resolutions declaring the policy
of this country towards the Philippines
will be voted upon and defeated. Sem
ators without regard to their attitude
towards the treaty of Peace, express the
opinion that the treaty will be ratified
when it is voted upon February 9th. in
accordance with the agreement entered
into last week.
Senator Butler presented petition
from the legislature Of North Carolina.
asking that constitutional amendment
for the election of Senators, by direct
vote of the people, be adopted. stating
that the legislatures of twenty-four
states had taken similar action.
The fact that the newspaper publish
ers assembled in Washington for the
purpose of telling Congress how neces-
sary it is, to them, to remove the duty
from white paper and wood pulp, in
clude about as many who publish pro-
lection papers as it does publishers of
free trade papers. reminds one of what
the late Gen. Hancock said of the tariff
VT is. local question"-only these
gentlemen seem to have made that por-
ton of the tariff which affects their
business strictly personal question.
Senator German said in speech that
the war with Spain would probably
make $4,000 new pensioners and that
within three years the annual pension
payments would resch $165.OOO 900.
This years appropriation bill, now In
the hands of the President, is $40,
w less than that.
The opponents Of the seating of Rep
resentativ elect Roberts. of Utah, be-
cause Of his being a polygamist, are hard
at work. Their latest move 10 to try |!
to get the assistance of the wife of every !
man who will have a vote in the next
Congress, in their fight against Roberts.
The General opinion in Washington is
that the women of the country will com.
pei the House to expel Roberts, and
that he would save himself much
trouble by resigning, but nobody ex-
poets him to resign.