Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-06-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 20, 1899.

There is something decidedly suspicious
10 the news from the Philippines. NOta line
of press news can be cabled from Manila
until it has been approved by the U. 5.
Military Censor, and il is not likely that
be would approve anything the admins
tratiOn did not wish public. Hence, the
publication of the statement that 1t would
be impossible for Gen Ous to conquer
even the entire island Of Luzon, not TO
mention the remainder of the group, so
that it would stay conquered, without
large increase in his army, was allowed to
pass the Censor for purpose. Not being
in the confidence of the administration,
few persons, even among the most promi-
nent Republicans are-it cannot be POSI-
lively stated what that purpose is, but the
inference is that it is intended to pave the
way for one of two things; call for
volunteers TO reinforce Otis, or to make the
people of this country satisfied with some
dicker that is about TO be made with the
FiIipinos, and which they would naturally
be inclined to be dissatisfied with. The
preponderance of opinion in Washington IS
that it means more volunteers. Orders
have been sent to the civilian members OF
the Philippine Commission that they must
do nothing to interfere with the military
plans of Gen. Otis, which is confirmation
of the reported wrangles in the Commission.
After holding it back for many months,
Mr.. Mckinley has issued his much adyer-
tised order modifying the civil service
rules. IL dosen't appear to please any BODY
Oger-much. IL excerpts total OF some
where in the Deighborhood of four thou
sand places from the operation Of the civil
service rule, but as most Of these PAGES
are already filled by Republicans, 1t Will
make comparatively little new patronage
for the Republican leaders. 1t dosent
touch the Government Printing Office
which SO many Republicans have been
trying SO hard to get thrown open to them.
So far as the party workers are concerned,
the order is likely to do more harm than
good to the Republican party.
Representative Dalzell, of Pennsylvania,
who stands about as much show as Payne,
the New York, anti-Platt candidate, drop
ped into Washington day or two ago and
announced that he was candidate for
Speaker. He could not control three votes
in the Pennsylvania delegation, counting
his own, to save his neck. Bingham is the
dumy candidate of the Pennsylvania dele
cation, and will remain such until Quay
decides who shall get these votes
No surprise was caused in Washington
by Senator Platt's q it-footed declaration
that Mckinley and Hobart would be re-
nominated. So far as Mckinley is con
cerned, Platt has been mortgaged since
early in the present administration his
endorsement of Hobart means that If he
ever had any idea Of helping to get RooSe-
welt seconu place on the ticket, it has been
abandoned, but whether because he wasn't
pleased with Roosevelt or whether the
latter wasn't pleased with the idea OF
second place, is matter of conjecture, but
the former is more likely 10 be tT0e. The
declaration of Senator Penrose, who Is
Boss Quay's man and mouth-piece, in
favor of McKinley's denomination is
nothing more than bid for administration
help for @ lay in this contest to get bis
seat in the Senate. This was doubtless
pleasing to Mr.. Mckinley, whether he
means to help Quay or not, as he found
Quay decidedly uppish" towards the
administration while he was in the Senate.
The administration was very particular
to have the widest circulation given to the
report of the Beef Court of Inquiry. but it
has now discovered that ali of the $500 900
set aside to pay for the IDqniTy has been
used up, and has ordered work stopped on
the printing of the testimony, upon which
that report was supposed to be based, after
it had all been put in type. 1t has all
along been contended by many that the
administration never intended TO make the
testimony public, and this action makes 1t
look as though that contention was correct
Secretary Alger has been putting his foot
IL it again. Several days ago be caused
an order 10 be issued by the War Depart
ment, instructing the military authorities
in Cuba to give clearances TO Cuban vessels
under the Cuban flag, and at the same time
stating that the vessels flying the Cuban
q 4g would not be under American prolec-
ton. AS there is no Cuban government,
there can be no recognized Cuban flag !;
hence the order strikes the average man as
Iudicrous. Somebody called Mr. McKin-
Iey's attention to the order, and he directed
hat it be referred to the Attorney General
for an opinion. This opinion, it is expected,
will knock the order out 1t might answer
for Cuban vessels to 90 from one Cuban
port to another, under such clearness, but
10 any port outside of Cuba, the masters o.
such vessels would be at anybody's mercy
they would have no Consul to appeal to in
case of unjust treatment of any sort, ana
no standing in any court of Admiralty.
Alger's speciality appears to be doing the
wrong thing.
The Dewey home fund isn't growing as
fast as it might It did not re ch total
of 5000 until to-day. Unless it gets
move on, it will not be big enough to buy
Washington house by the time Dewey
gets home.