Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1899-01-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent t,
wAsnlNoroN, D. @, Jan. ?, '98.


The President and Mrs. Mckinley |
held their first New Year reception,
in the White House, to-day, having
been compelled by mourning to omit
the '98 reception. The reception
was as brilliant as usual, but there
was tinge of sadness in Congress
ional and Diplomatic circles which
conld not be shook off. They could
not forget that the remains OF the
Oldest Senator, both in years and IN
service-Morrill, of Vermont-after
a funeral Saturday afternoon, IL the
Senate Chamber, were on the way
to his state for internent; nor that
the funeral of the oldest diplomat
in point of service, and probably the
most popular personally-Senor
Mathis Romero, late Mexican am
bassador to the U. S.-was only held
Sunday afternoon, and was attended
bv most of them. Senior Romero
first came to Washington in saaRnd. W.
periods had been continuously con-
nected with the Diplomatic Corps
until his death. President McKin-
lev thought seriously of abandoning
the reception, because of these two
deaths so close together, but after
comforting, by proxy, with leading
DIPLOMATS he concluded to hold it.
In view of the critical condition
of affairs in the Philippines for
which Spanish duplieity and Ger
many's secret dealing with Aquin-
aldo are believed to be partly re-
sponsible, delay in ratifying the
treaty of peace will be almost crimi-
nal, e ause it may result in a con-
siderable loss of life and property.
1t is generlly admitted that the rati-
fication of the treaty has no bearing
one way or the other on the final
disposition OF the Philippines or on
the question of expansion, and
seventy senators have promised to
vote for ratification therefore there
is absolutely no excuse tor delay,
and those senators who attempt 1t,
if any do, will invite the public con-
domination that they will almost
certainly receive.
The condition of the U. 5. Treas.
now and one year ago furnishes an
object lesson to the world of the al
most limitless financial resources
of this country. Most nations
emerge from war with their finan-
ces in a more or less crippled condi-
ton. Not so with this country. We
fought a victorious war, all on a cash
basis, and we have a cash balance in
our treasury of about $55, ,000,0 900.
more than we had one year ago.
Here are the exact figures, which
will arouse the envy of the richest
nations Of the world: Cash balance
on hand Jan. 1, 1898 1928, 474, 769 !:
Cash balance on hand Jan. l, 1899
$3.50, 900, 600
n, d nllaf-G ,.,s,l,.k "a ttaas that
beet unfit for use was furnished the
army during the war with SPAN, is
likely to be thoroughly investigated.
The War Investigating Commission
is now working upon it, and the
Secretary of War has ordered a
Board of Survey, composed of army
oflNeers, to make searching investi-
CATION of the cause and report its find
ings as early as possible. Col. Den
by, amember of the War Investigat-
ing Commission. says the canned
beef industry is at stake that if the
charge of Gen. Miles is proven,
American canned beef will be bar
red out of every country in the world
which would be very serious mat
ter, not only to meat packers, but
TO cattle raisers.
Vermonsters in Washington say
they do not expect an extra session
of the Legislature, which win not
meet regularly again until October,
1900, to be called to elect a successor
to the late senator Morrill,. The
Governor win name a successor and
he will occupy the seat until the re-
gular session of the legislature de-
cides whether he or some other re-
publican shall occupy it for the re-
mainder of the term. It is believed
that either Representativ Grout or
Ex-Governor Dillingham; viii be
appointed.
At the last meeting of the Cabi-
net Secretary Hay was instructed TO
disapprove the scrydser cable con-
cession, which was obtained from
the late Governor of Hawaii upon
the condition that it should lapse if
.~.I L. A. II