Gilpin observer., 1899-11-30

the approaching session OF ConEI2MN
Secretary Longs program would SaN
been much more extensive but for III
fact that there are already outstanding
contracts for ships under constructed
to the amount of S1S,000,00O. and tf3l
great expense of keeping in repair TIL
vessels now in commission. AnothqII
consideration which has prompted TIL
secretary to keep the recommendationl
down to about $26.O00,000 is that theIi
are only three concerns in the countril
which can build vessels of the battldl
ship type.
There is n decided modification
the gossip resultant from the transfei
by Admiral Dewey to his wife of til
property in Rhode Island avenue prd
sented to him by popular subscriptlol
and the incident. according TO M
brother-in-law. John II. Mclean.
practically closed. Since the publica
tion of the statement by Admiral Dew
ey in defense of his action. the tidgl
has turned from criticism to sympi
thy. People are beginning to realiza
that after all the failure on the paI
of hero to came up to expectation
or the public on matter of purel
domestic concern is insignificant conf
pared with n brilliant achievement I
national and world Importance. ReNoY
of the threatened prostration of tn
admiral from the effects of the recenl
severe criticism, too. has won sympa
thy. and the people here appear to bi
inclined to allow him to manage hi
own affairs and disturb him no furth'
er. He continues to receive many let
tiers of sympathy and friendship.
Admiral Dewey called at the navy.sieI
partment to-day in response to telel
gram from Secretary Long to discuss
the question of establishing n nava
station at Cavite or some other Doinl
near Manila. Such station is now in
operation mt Cavite. but it is foresee1
that the requirements of the navy man
be much greater than those which ar.
temporarily attended to at Cavite Thd
admiral brought with him portions of
his report of the Philippine commission
This discusses the establishment of a
permanent naval station in the Philip
pines and regards Subig bay. about six
ty miles from Manila. as preferable to
CaVite. as this has fine harbOr of u
capable depth of water and has many
natural advantages for making this a
strong naval establishment While Ad-
miral Dewey's view will doubtless pre-
vail when permanent station is es-.
tablished. this will be for congress to
deal with and the present purpose is to
use the Cavite station for the current
work on the warships.
If Mr.. Roberts of Utah is requested
to step aside when the remainder of the
memberS-elect are sworn in on the first
day of the Congress. as will probably
be the case. there is nothing i'm the stat
utes or in the rules to prevent him
from going before justice of the
peace or any other magistrate and tax
ing the oath of office as a member Of
the House of Representatives. While
1t is customary for members to be
sworn in by the speaker. it is not COM
pulsOry. They can take the oath oNof- |
flee at any place and at any time. AND
on several occasions members elecS
have been sworn in at their own
homes. Mr.. Roberts can outwit his op-
ponents by going tomorrow to any ju-
dicial officer in Brooklyn. where he is
now stopping. or any other person au-
thOriZed to administer Oaths. and being
sworn in. If he takes no such step tye
House will undoubtedly ask hir< to
step aside until the other members are
sworn in, and then send his credentials
to the committee on elections. Just as
it Is customary to do with the creden-
tials of members whose seats are con-
tested. Then the leaders of the crusade
against Mormonism in Congress. will
have an opportunity of presenting their
Indictment They are confident that
public opinion has been aroused so that
few members will dare vote in favor
of seating Roberts, Notwithstanding
constitutions and statutes and rules
and precedents. At the headquarters
of the League for Social Service in the
United Charities building one day last
week a wagonload of petitions. signed
by hundreds of thousands of men and
women, against the seating of Roberts
was unloaded. and about bushel We're
received in the mornings mail.
The secretary of war has decided in
favor of Adiutant General Corbin and
the War Department staff generally
against General Miles and General
Brecknridge in the matter of general
order No. 143. which sought to give the
inspector generals department enlarged
powers. This order proposed to invest
the inspector general with the right to
inspect ali staff and army departments.
1t being urged at the time that had
such right been enforced during the
war with Spain there would have heen
no scandals. There will shortly We
some interesting disclosures i'm regarS
to the relations of General Miles to the
war department. That officer Is still
ignored In all military matters. and this
fact, with others of equal seriousness,
will be diyulged during the coming ses-
sion of congress. either at the sessions
of the military comittee or by means ~
II special inquiry. which General Nils
friends say he has been advised to ask.
10 the end that the duties and privileges
of the general commanding the army
may be fully defined and recognized
The alleged remarks of Admiral
Dewey indicating nm intention on his
part to enter politics should the critl-
cisms of his recent real estate transac-
tions continue are attracting some at
tcntion here. Left to his own prefer
pucps there Is no uupstion thot tbn nj :