St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-02-08
DIR WASHINGTON LETTER.


mines. the uncertainty hanging over the
ratification Of the Paris treaty for so
many days, the renewed and semi-au-
thorized attack on the administrator
nv General Miles in the matter of EN-
balmed beef" the disposition OF the court
martial case Of General Eagan, the sit-
uation in Washington, especially III au-
rninistration circles, was full OF excite
ment and furnished material for very
decided expressions of opinion as 10 the
future outlook for peaceable Solutlon
of all the matters now confronting lhe
president The latter, while reailzllls
fully the gravity Of the situation IN the
Philippines. maintains the beliet mat
In the end. everything will come to |
satisfactory end and for the best IN
terests of the country. He has expressed
his regrets that nearly all the Demo-
cratic leaders In the senate should array
themselves against the treaty, thus tend
ing to make it party measure. From
the first he has believed the treaty woulu
he ratihed-by the new senate If not by
the present one-and he has labored 10
keep the question out of politics. put
vIthout success. Some Of the Repub-
Ican leaders privately express their
qualification that the opposition 10 the
treaty mainly comes from the Demo
cratic senators, alleging that there could
be no better issue to go to the country
m in the next presidential contest I'M
legs in the meantime affairs in the Phll-
innines take a course different from
what is expected. They ae prepared
thew saw. for some severe lighting there
as the natives will not believe the Aiherl-
cans are any better fighters imam inc
Spaniards, until they have the tact
brought home to them in decisive man
ner. II will take some fighting to make
them respect the American troops, ana II
the insurgents force the issue, oiiclals
here believe the country will sustain the
administration in the course to be pur-
sued. holding on to the Islands uhtil
congress decides what to do with them
Census Bill and the civil service Law
The census bill brought before the
house for consideration and action the
early part of this week, by the chairman
of the committee on the census, dlllers
very radically from the one passed by
the senate, and much interest is mani
tested in the probable outcome OF the
conflict Of views which prevails between
the two legislative branches of the gov
eminent.
The senate bill provided that the cen
sus should be taken under the direction
of the secretary of the interior, by a cen
ans bureau. as in former years, while the
house bh provides for the establish
inent OF a census office, separate aho
distinct from any of the departments
which shall be under charge of Il IL
rector. al d shall have autocrati@ power
as regards the appointment OF all Ms
srbot Juates. The bill does not recognize
the civil service commission, or its rules
in the matter of appointing the seVera
thousand persons to be employ 81, Du
simply provides that they shall he suolec
only to such examination MS may he pre-
scribed by the director, which sinai
relate so.ely TO the character ana litheS
of thu applicant for the special positio
IN which he or she is to be assigned.
The bill carries with 1t an approximate
of 81, 900, 600 for preparatory work.
It is not the intention of the Trainer
of the measure to give the civil serVlf
commission any opportunity TO sele'
the clerks to do the work. CongrcSsihe
have had too much pressure upon thel
for places, and felt the rigor OF the CIV
service law when they have attempte
In secure appointments, to allow an OF
portunity like this to pass without DOR
all in their power to pass the DILL
that appointments can be secured
poijtical influence. While the since
friends of civil service reform VIII ma
vigorous fight not to allow this' or al
hill relating to the census, to become
law without being subject to the CT
service law as regards the appointment
the undercurrent is so strong as to lie
20 the belief that on this question
minority of both the members OF
house and senate will be round IN la\
of a measure which will exempt the
Moves from the operations of the CT
service system.
Cnb,n Affairs Very satisfactory.
The situation in Cuba is such as
afford much satisfaction to the aGnl
,stration. and no doubts are any Ion
entertained as to the disarmament
the Cuban troops and the complete pi
6cation of the island within reasonf
period of time.
The presidents course from the
has been one of Cancellation, and ne
all along maintained that the Gu
leaders could be made to appreciate
diGiculties under which our governn
labors in its attempt to bring order
of chaos, and that in the end they w
fall into line and give the policy
lined their support, The paymen
some money to the Cuban troops w
is to come out of the revenues oil
island, would, 1t was believed, clea
way for better understanding,
result in the Cubans laying down
arms and going TO work to restore
country, which in many sections is
barren waste.
OF Interest to Ex-Unl"n So der
Secretary Alger has done gra
thing for exUrion soldiers, which
numbers of them will appreciate an
very graceful A number of years al
Government established a hospi'
Hot Springs Ark. This was maint
for the benefit of officers solely, IN
that they might have the use OF q
water baths. The secretary OF WI
now directed that all the priVile
the hospital shall be accorded to
old veterans of the Union army WI
need treatment, and they can I
there and be admitted to the hospi'
be accorded every privilege, witho
to themselves. The hospital was
lished through the eXertions o
ererll Logan when he was In the