The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-01-12
WASHINGTON.
Fr,m our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 1899.
Mr.. Mckinley is still playing foxey
on the Philippine question, and ne
will probably keep it up until the Sen
ate ratlfies the treaty. The message
he sent with the treaty of peace to
the Senate was purely formal, and
might have been put in four words,
"here is the treaty." although the ad-
mlnlstraton must be in possession of
much information relating to the pres
ent critical relations between our
troops and the Philippine insurg-
ents which the Senate, and the peo.
pie, would like to know Not a word
received from Gen. Otis by the ad-
mnistration since the insurgents in
possession of lloilo virtually dehed
Gen. Miller and mis- troops, who had
been sent by Gen. Otis to take pos
session of the town, has been made
public, except that reinforcements had
been sent to Gen. Miller. Although
the news from Meniia is carefully cen
sored it has made it plain that the sit
uation is alarming and that a fight be
tween the insurgents and our troops is
among the daily probabilities. Should
the natives start revolution against
our authority, it would undoubtedly
result in increasing the sentiment
against our keeping the Philippines
that may account for so much official
reticence.
The treaty of Peace was taken up
last Friday by the Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations, and the expec-
tatlon is that it will be reported to the
Senate some time this week Opin-
ion differs as to how soon vote will
de reached. In fact, there will be
nothing tangible upon which to base
an opinion until the opponents OF the
treaty indicate their intentions. 1t is
claimed that 70 Senators have prom
ised to vote for ratification. Even if
that claim be correct, enough Sena-
tors would be lett against the treaty
to prevent, if they are SO disposed, its
being devoted upon at this session, as
the appropriation bills, not one of
which has yet been passed by the
Senate, the Nicaragua Canal bill and
other measures will all be pressing for
action, with the probability that an
extra session will be necessary grow
ing stronger every day.
Jerry Simpson was in his seat when
Congress re assembled, for the first
time this session. He is the same
old Jerry defeat hasn't soured him
at all. He says he is still in politics,
and expects to be as long as he lives.
He-is strongly opposed 10 the large
standing army provided for by the
Hull bill, and will be heard from be-
fore the bill is jammed through the
House.
Southern men who come to Wash
ington these days nearly all have
something to say about the PROPOSE
tions to admit Confederate veterans
to Government Soldiers 1omes and
the pension roll, and the substance of
the opinions of nine-tenths OF them
is contained in the following remarks,
made by Mr.. A. ID. Mcclure, OF Ga. {;
If any one supposes that the south
ern people have the remotest idea
that the veterans of the Confederate
army, or their friends, expect pensions
OF the United States Government, or
even reception into the Soldiers
Homes, grlevously mistaken notion
is cherished. Our people are not
dreaming of any such idea, tor they
are too sensible 10 entertain any prop.
osition so utterly romantic, not to say
absurd. The old Johnnies are dong
first rate without any bounty from
Washington. Our pension list is al
ready big enough, and there is no
need for further burdens. The whole
idea is Qulxotlc and the very first to
denounce it would be the proposed
benehciares
Whether the public gets chance
TO see the report of the army board
of survey, when is now secretly IN
vestlgating the. charge OF General
Miles, that the beef furnished our sol
dlers in Cuba and Porto Rico was
embalmed" with chemicals, which
rendered it unh, to eat and dangerous
to health, will depend entirely upon
what Secretary Alger says after the
report has been submitted to him,
H,vutio 1htsn