The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-27
Chat of the Capital.
Washington Gossip, Political and
Otherwise, for the Readers
of the Gibbs.

~~~~S~-oo-o~-o
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 26-(Spe-
cial) announcement from Senator
] Hanna that he will not remain at the
! head of the Republican national commit
| tee in 1900 has not created any undue ex-
| element among the politicians of prom
| inence in this city. Some time ago
forecasted that Mr.. Hanna would retire
! from this position, for the reason that
! his health would not permit him to con-
tinue in active political work Mr.. Han
| ma is very seriously afflicted with rheum-
| atism, and his physicians have warned
| him against the possibilities OF the excite
ment growing out of the national cam
! paign. President Mckinley would feel
| satisfied If Mr.. Hanna would assume all
| the political duties of national chairman
next year, but as he has been informed
! by the Ohio statesman that he will not
I accept reelection as national chairman,
| he will be compelled to select some other
man for this important work The pres
! ident at this time has only two men IN
| view, viz: Henry c. Payne, of Wisoon-
! sin, and Representative Dick, of Upr1
| In view of the fact that the Wisconsin
| politician is not a vigorous man phys
| ically, Mr.. Dick will probably be chosen
| to manage the Mckinley campaign in
| 1900.
! Chairman Jones, of the Democratic Ma
| tional committee, is giving his colleagues
| a great deal of trouble IN attempting to
dictate policies for the next Democratic
| national convention. Col. Bryan, who I'M
doubtedly will be the choice of the Dem
/ ocrats for the presidency, Is also Inter-
fering in the fight between the different
cities for the convention prize. It would
! be WISE it is thought by the Democratic
politicians here, If the Nebraskan would
permit others to decide upon the next
Democratic convention city, and in some
| instances allow them to force to the
| front certain issues which they believe
| will injure, if not defeat, the Republicans
| in the next house and bring about the
election of a Democratic president.
! =
The situation at this time is favorable
for the selection of Chicago for the next
Democratic national convention, not
| withstanding the fact that Milwaukee,
! Cincinnati, Kansas City, st. Louis and
other cities have made better offers from
a financial standpoint than has the West
| ern metropolis. Chicago will probably
| be named as the Democratic convention
city by the national committee when
| will meet in Washington In February,
| and only the interference of Col. Bryan
! or Senator Jones will prevent Chicago
from winning this prize without any f.
nancial contribution. Milwaukee will
guarantee the committee 100000, as will
! Kansas City and ST. Louis Cincinnati
| is apparently the second choice Of the
majority Of the Democratic committee
men, and this is due to the fact that
| Philadelphia, in the far East, was So
lected for the Republican conventions.
probably at the dictation of President
! Mckinley. The contest next February
will prove that it will not be wise for
either Col Bryan or Senator Jones to I'm
! terfere with the committee In making It's
! choice for 1900
The money of the Philippine islands Is
discussed in a report by the British vice
| consul at Manila, copy of which has
! been received by the treasury bureau OF
statistics. It contains the following
! statements:
Sod Gold-The currency of the PhiIippin ne
| ''onzas" of Charles III. and Ferdinand
| VII predominating. Small gold coins,
with ''FIlipinas" inscribed on them. were
/ current in Spain. The Manila mint was
| open to the public until 1868 for the cola
ing of the above three pieces at a small
! charge. Coined gold principally Amer
lean double eagles was recoined. Very
| few ingots. if any, were used for this
purpose. the operation leaving clear
| profit of is to 20 per cent. This practice
| ceased when exchange declined heavily
| and left no profit.
SilVer-MeXican and old Spanish dollars,
with fractions of the latter. constituted
the silver currency. These Spanish coins,
| which comprised the now rare Dos
Mundos" set and specimens of Ysabel
H., together with the imported Mexi-
cans, were frequently at premium over
| the gold dollar, similar conditions also
existing in the island of Cuba. When,
| however silver began to depreciate the
| gold coin was rapidly exported and re-
placed by Mexican dollars. In 1877 the
gold currency was considered a failure,
time a law was passed by the Spanish
government prohibiting the Importation
! of Mexican dollars, but permitting the
circulation of those that were already in
the island. Smuggling from China of
Mexican dollars dated previous to 1879
was carried on during the Spanish
! and knowledge OF the Spanish customs
! and other officials. Gold consequently
left the island completely. The dollars
fluctuated according to the price of sill
yer; as the fuctuation reached sometimes
! 10 to Is per cent the smuggled importa-
| ton continued until 1t would drop to
! when money was scarce, Manila rates
would rule as high as 10 or Is per cent
| over those OF Hongkong and China,
| whence the dollars were Struggled, which
| attracted contTaband, while in the autumn
| the exchange would fall to par In those
| places there being frequently an export
| of MeXicanS at this season to be again
replaced by Struggled coins when re-
4 CURED.
| In 1897 the money question became Sc
rlous, and at the commencement of the
| Philippine insuTrection some 6,6G0GOO Of
coins of 81 each. 500 fine, IS grammes.
were minted in Spain and sent to the
philippines. They were similar to the
! spanish current dollars, but We're marked
! "islas Ftl1pinas.' and bore the head Of
Alfonso xIII. These dollars were S ,,er
| cent under the value Of the Mexicans
Some seven or eight millions NAV be
| considered as fair estimate of the num-
| Der Of Mexicans circulating in the phil
| lppines at this period Besides this a
| large number of half-dollars was ex
ported for use in Morocce-presuna to
| pay part Of that country's indemnity to
Spain-untl legislation put an end to
| the business. On the arrival Of the
americans a large amount of United
States gold was brought by the military.
| Some difficulty was experienced at the
beginning. as the natives and ChinameT
Of United States gold or silver to the
PhiliDpine or Mexican silver is com
monty accepted at 81 United States for
* Mexican or Philippine: but the ex-
| change varies at the banks and large
commercial houses according to the yal9e
Of the Mexican dollar in London and San
francisco. Mexican dollars irrespectiye
of dates, have been recently imported
through the banks In large olIantities
! There is a shortage of subsidiary coipoero