The Press., 1899-08-31
Number 22.
Washington Letter.
Washington, Aug. %, 1899.

There will be no Cuban annexation at
present, with the consent of this admins
tration. That has been made certain by
proclamation, signed by President Nc
Kinley, which will be made public by the
war department, after 1t has been publish
ed In Cuba. This proclamation tells the
Cubans that the will of congress, as ex-
pressed In the resolution accompanying
the declaration Of war against Spain, will
be carried out to the letter at the earliest
practicable moment; and points out that
as soon as the Cuban census, upon which
work Is about to begin, has been COM
pleted, elections will be ordered for local
officers In all the provinces of Cuba. It
also promises that the U. s. troops will
be withdrawn as fast as the Cubans can
establish satisfactory local governments.
This does not, of course, necessarily mean
that Cuba will never be annexed to the L.
s.; only that the administration means to
turn Cuba over to the Cubans as soon as
possible. Then, IL a majority of the Gu
bans desire annexation, they can ask for
1t, as Hawaii did, this is wise move on
the part of the president. 1t will shut off
the charge that this government was not
acting in good faith toward the Cubans,
which has been so frequently made, both
In Cuba and in the u. s.
Secretary Root is rapidly acquiring a
reputation as one of the hardest working
members of the cabinet, as we'll as one of
the most difficult for the newspaper men
to work. He is at all times extremely
courteous but it would be as easy to ex-
tract information from a wooden figure
as from him, except upon the rare occa-
sions, when he desires to give it. Cir
cumstances are still keeping alive the
rumor that Gen. Merritt is likely to go to
the Philippines as commander of the army,
although 1t has several times been de-
MED by war department officials. Gen.
Merritt, was with the president again at
Pittsburg, and Secretary Root will neith-
er affirm nor deny the rumog.
There is much more in the case of DIR.
Bedloe, who has been suspended from the
office of U. s. consul at Canton, China,
than has been told by officials of the state
department, or by the newspaper corre-
spondents in the east. All that is posi-
lively known Is that DR.. Bedloe issued
American papers to the steamship:Ab-
bey. which was seized by Admiral Dewey
for carrying arms and ammunition to the
Filipinos, and that the Chinese govern
ment has charged DIR. Bedloe with Issuing
American certificates to Chinese subjects,
allowing them to go to the Philippines.
Diplomatic secrets are usually well kept,
but there are leaky diplomats. Hints
have been dropped by one Of the latter
that the direct cause of DIR. Bedloe's sus-
suspension was a complaint from the gov
ernment of nation that is greatly inter-
ested In China, that DIR. Bedloe was mix
ing up In some international political mat
ters that were entirely outside of his legit-
Innate sphere as U. s. consul. DR.. Bedloe
Is now on his way to Washington. Upon
his explanation to the state department
his restoration to duty depends.
General Miles has always had high
opinion Of the fighting qualities of COL
ored troops, and it is largely owing to his
influence that the additional regiment,
which Secretary Root has decided upon,
and which will bring the volunteer army
almost up to the limit set by congress, will
be composed of colored men, unless there
Is difficulty in getting sufficient number
of them to enlist, and that isn't looked
for.
The navy department promptly vetoed
the proposition to take the old frigate
Constitution cold Ironsides" - from
Portsmouth, N. H., where she has been
used as a receiving ship since 1881, to
New York, to be used in the naval well
come to Admiral Dewey. The vessel is
cid, and the department considers far too
valuable as patriotic relic to be risked
by even the short voyage from Ports
mouth to New York.
According to F. P. Metzger, chief clerk
of the general land office, 1t Is mistaken
idea to suppose that there is no desirable
public land open to settlement under the
homestead law. Speaking on the subject
he said: There is as good an opportu-
nifty to-day for settler to get farm in
the west, by merely pre-empting it as
there ever was. No better located or
richer land was taken up fifty years ago
than awaits settlement to-day. The man
who wants farm of rich land on which
to make his home can get it, and the gen.
eral land office is ready to advise those
desiring to settle on this land, and tell
them where they can locate. Particular
ly good land will be found in Washington,
Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Min
nesota and the Dakotas. Not only can a
good farm be secured, but farms can be
had with timber on them worth $4,000.
This timber can be sold, as it is near
enough to streams or railroads to get it
to the market. This land is constantly
being taken up and there is enough of It
to last for long time to come. The
general land office Is doing more business
to-day than ever In its history" This
may be surprising Information to many,
but 1t is official.
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