The Elk Mountain pilot., 1899-10-24
WASHINGTON NEWS.

Forthcoming annual message 10 All
other executive branch OF the govern
ment, with Cabinet minister at its
head, to have charge of interstate and
foreign commerce. 1t seems to be pret-
ty well settled that recommendation
will be made for new department OF
commerce, but its full scope Is still
matter for discussion.
The annual report of Major General
Wesley Merritt, commanding the De-
partment of the East, headquarters
Governors Island, New York, has
been made public. The report Is,
strong arraignment of the whole stu
alton in the artillery branch of the ser
vice, being particularly directed
against the ordnance bureau. and, in
cidentally. the Quartermaster's De-
partment the latter for failure to fur
nish what General Merritt considers
proper quarters at artillery posts.
Surgeon General Sternberg states that
ample provision had been made by the
War Department for supply troops IN
the Philippines with medical attend
ants. In addition to those now on their
way to Manila, General Sternberg SAID
ten commissioned medical officers ana
twenty-five contract surgeons are un-
der orders to report to General OTIS.
There are to-day in the Philippines
seventy female nurses. and orders were
given to-day to thirty more TO SAL
from New York for Manila. There are
1.2S9 privates of the hospital corps now
in the Philippines and POO are under
orders.
Commissioner Hermann of the gen
eral land office has decided in n case
arising in Colorado that ii is unlawful
TO take coal from public lands under n
coal declaratory statement. and that
the parties purchasing the coal thus
obtained can be held responsible Tor
the value of the same until the govern
ment has recovered full satisfaction
for the amount of the trespass. This
means that claimants have not the
privilege to mine coal for sale or spec
ulation, and that the purpose of coal
declaratory statement is TO protect tne
claimant in n preference right or entry
of mines opened and improved by him.
The retirement of General Shafter
at San Francisco will not affect that
officers rank in the volunteer estab-
lishment. or cause any change in his
present command. AS the case stands,
General Shafter is Il brigadier in the
regular establishment and n major gen.
eral of volunteers. He retires by law
October 10th. but the War Department
does not deem it eXpedient to relieve
him of his command at the Preside,
and to place in charge there some other
officer whose grasp of the many de-
tails connected with the return of the
volunteers from the Philippines and
the forwarding of the new regiments
would be less complete than that of
General Shafter.
The monthly statement of the ex-
ports and imports of merchandise of
the United States during the month of
September. 1899. together with the in
crease or decrease as compared with
September, 1898. is as follows: Duti-
able merchandise imported. $3.50, ,425,-
521; increase about S10,GoO,oOO. Do
nestle merchandise exported, S109,-
123. .64T: Increase. 19.S0O,OOO. Gold i'm
ports, S2.5T2. OBS: decrease. S14. 300, 900.
Gold exports. S1.O56,749; decrease
about $2.OOO,OOO. Silver imports ST.
04O.914: increase. $4,000. Silver eX-
ports, S3,622.l47 decrease, S1,5O0,000.
The exports of merchandise during the
last nine months are shown to have eN-
ceeded the imports by STG.GO6.TST.
The President has ordered to promo
ton to grade of brigadier general in
the regular army of the following col
onels: Colonel a. C. NJ. PenningtoI\
Second artillery; Colonel Royal r
Frank. First artillery; Colonel Louis
II. Carpenter, Fifth cavalry; Colonel
Samuel Overshine. Twenty-third in
fantry; Colonel Daniel w. Burke, Sew
enteenth infantry. These officers are
to be placed ON the retired list Mt in
tervals of one day each. The War De-
partment was able to make these
changes owing TO the retirement of
General Shafter from the regular
army. After they shall all have been
appointed and retired in order. one va
cancy will be left in the grade of brig
adler general in the regular army. and
It is the common impression that this
place will be given to either General
Lawton or General Macarthur.
Plans are being secretly formed in
Washington for sending Il large Amer
lean expedition to the Transvaal. The
chief promoter of the scheme is re-
tired army officer. Back of the pro-
ject are number of men of extend
ed military experience, mining experts
and capitalists, whose purpose is to
form company and ultimately secure
control of n portion of the vast gold
fields of the South African republic.
Agents of the promoters are now work
ing in the West, and to some extent in
the East with view of securing re-
cruits and a ship for the expedition. 1t
is proposed. as far as possible to have
each recruit to equip himself. The
main body of recruits will be com
posed of hardened frontiersmen, In
dian fighters, cowboys, miners and
daring Adventures, not unlike the
Rough Riders of the Spanish war. 1t
is stated that the plans are so far com
pleted as to enable the expedition to
start upon comparatively short notice.
1t is claimed that the United States
government would be powerless to pre-
vent the starting of the outfit by reason
of the precautions to be taken to prove
that filibustering expedition is not
intended.
In his annual report to the secretary
of the navy, Chief Constructor Hich-
born lays special stress upon the i'm