St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-01-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

The situation in the Philippine Islands
is giving the administration great deal
Of concern, and while outwardly 1t is
said that matters will soon adjust them
selves there. the talk on the inside of Off
cial circles Is not so hopeful and buoyant,
The policy of temporizing with the ma
tives will lie pursued for a whlle-untll
troops now on their way arrlVe-and
then If the natives persist In their OPP
position force will be used, and they viii
be forced to surrender or fight. The opin-
ion prevails here that some fighting VIII
ensue. and that the natives will not re-
alize the difference between Spaniards
and Americans until they have had
taste of war and made to feel the strong
military arm of the United states gov
eminent. While everything consistent
with honor viii he done to avert fight,
vet the course pursued by Aguinaldo Is
such as TO satisfy army officers here that
he intends to resort to war to accomplish
his purpose 90 have government OF his
own to govern the Philippines.
The developments Of the past few days
leave no doubt as TO the ratification OF
the Paris treaty by the senate and the
massage of the 800 600, 90 to pay to Spain,
The debate on the ratification is not eX-
pected to occupy more than this week
and part Of next. The present inclina-
ton of senators favorable to the treaty
is to allow the opponents to do all the
talking and then vote
If this line of action Is carried out there
need he no fear of an extra session OF
congress as the appropriation bills can
be passed in time TO get them out Of the
way before the Sd Of March
Trying to Down the civil service
Commission.
The hot fight being made in the lower
branch of congress against making any
appropriation to pay the expenses of the
civil service commissioners greatly dis
turbs the latter and the pronounced sup
porters of the system While the OPP
ponents won in the preliminary fight
and succeeded in getting the appropria-
ton stricken out Of the legislative bill
while being considered in committee of
the whole, the house, when yea and
nay vote was taken, restored the
appropriation. The debate showed that
widespread dissatisfaction exists, not
so much against the civil service system
itself. as the manner in which it is car
ried out The commissioners are not
content to give their time to simply APP
proving the civil service, but are grasp
I 10, al 1f To liN Ill
appointments. and become a vast ma
chine for running the government.
Heads of cabinet complain that they
are embarrassed by the commission, in
that they work so slow as to practically
leave important positions vacant for
many months owing to their inablityto
find persons who can pass the eXamina-
ton they prescribe or attain the stand
ard set Not only is the civil service ma
emery burdensome, but not adapted in
many ways to improve the personnel.
The commission is in constant conflict
with some of the department officials
and there is not that unity of feeling
which should exist to make everything
work smoothly. AS matters now stand
If the several departments would recall
the clerks detailed to assist the civil
service commission, the latter would
come to a sudden end The commission
Theoretically run by clerks detailed from
the DEPARTMENTS, and not by the clerks
paid by the appropriation made by con-
gress for the commission, and steps have
already been taken by some of the exec
utive departments to recall the clerks
loaned the commission, and this will
bring all to a crisis. The fight will be an
interesting one.
Southern Navy Yard- Favored.
The attention of Secretary Long has
been called by New England senators to
the favoritism shown by certain bureau
officials in ordering vessels to the Nor
folk navy yard for repairs instead of Bos-
ton and Portsmouth yards An inquiry
brought out the fact that while Boston
has now only three or four vessels UNI
dergoing repairs, and Portsmouth but
three. there are Sc vessels lying at the
Norfolk navy yard waiting for their
chance to goin a dry dock or be prepared
Commodore Crownishield, chief of the
bureau of navigation, is charged with
being responsible for this condition OF
affairs, he being the officer who issues
instructions as to what navy yard g
ship shall report. 1t Is said by thoSt
who know that the pressure on Commo
modore Crowninshield TO have vessels
ordered to Norfolk Is more than he cal
stand. The officers on the vessels pre-
fer Norfolk to Boston or Portsmouth
on account of the social life at Fortres
Monroe, and bring all their influence t
have their vessels sent to the Norfoll
yard, and that they succeed Is shown b.
the fact that at this time war vessels {
the number of Sc are lying there tw
deep, while New England yards ar
comparatively idle. Secretary Long
looking into the matter and chang
may be looked for very soon.
Salaries Pad to reace C"mmi- sioners.
After the most eXtraVagant storie
have been printed regarding the amour
of salaries paid to American peace con
missioners the truth comes out thu
the sum OF mony set aside for their e2
penses, 1925, 900, was not all used. 1t hf
been charged that Commissioner Da
would receive $4,000 for his service
but 1t is now known that he and Il
other commissioners were allowed the
actual expenses, and each received
addition thereto a check on the treasu
for $1j, 900, a very modest fee conside
ing the magnitude Of their work and t
results accomplished The employees
the commission were allowed IS and
q day for their expenses according
their rating. The commission gave o
formal dinner IN Paris which cost Il
than 500 After all the expenses of I
commission had been paid there W
etflI loft Of he nmount pruNided 9, o.,