Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-03-06
House Work is Hard Work without GOLD DUST.
WASHINGTON Letter.
From our Regular CORRESPONDENT. I

PRESIDENT Mckinney was agree2 oily
surprised at the promptness of the
senate in accepting the Cuban amend
ment to the army appropriation bill. pre-
pared by Senators Platt, of Connecticut
and Spooner, of Wisconsin, which re-
moves the necessity for an extra session
of congress, President Mckinley has
at no time desired all extra session: he
only recognized that one would be
necessary if this congress failed to as
sumo it's share of the resi- Onsibility Of
definitely stating the relations that
must exist between this government
and that of the Cuban republic, and
so informed senators and representa-
tives. He is all the more pleased be-
cause he had been led to believe that
this congress would not take the de-
sired action, and only a few days ago
that was the belief of nearly every one
in Washington. Not a little of the
credit for the satisfactory ending of
this matter is due to Senators Platt
and Spooner. They had faith that the
desired end could be reached when
scarcely any one else did, and to their
faith and untiring energy is due the
Cuban amendment, which Senator
Beveridge described as the greatest
piece of constructive craftsmanship
connected with our war with Spain.
So well did they do their work in lay
ing down the conditions in the amend
ment that no criticism of the work
was made by an opposition senator.
The conditions which the Cubans are
asked to comply with are only those
which would natul ally occur to any
patriotic American, and it is not sur
prising that no Democrat has dared to
oriticise them. 1t is expected that
the Cuban constitutional convention
will agree to the conditions, but even
if it DOESN'T no extra session of con-
gress will be necessary, as the Cubans
well know that American control of
the island will continue until they do
As rule the Democratic senators
were contented to state their opposi-
ton to the amendment to the army
appropriation bill. authorizing the
president to establish and maintain q
Senator Turner was a striking excep
ton. If his advice had been followed
there would have been a fillibuster,
and Senator Teller and the POpulist
senators were disposed to join in a
fillibuster, but good sense, toge Their
with the fear that the river and
harbor and other appropriations in
which they were interested would fail,
prevented anything like an organized
fllibuster, and the opposition con-
tented themselves with making
speeches of which they will probably
live to be heartily ashamed.
The senate has unanimously con-
frmed the nominations of all the
naval officers promoted by President
Mckinley except those of Rear Ad-
mirals Sampson and Schley. The
movement to fix those two oflU 5 b.
providing for revival of the ee'ade of
vice admiral and authorizing the
president TO appoint two. was in a fair
way to succeed. when that very indis-
which he ~ us Judgment against
that Of CO. q, #hich passed the
law, and ~ retary Long, W4l
recommends. ~ ,.--4 who is earnestly
trying to carry it out by opposing the
promotion of warrant officers N the
navy because he didn't thiah their
social advantages had been such as to
fit them to hold commissions, WAS
made public. That letter has greatly
angered senators and representatives
and it will not be surprising if it re-
suits in preventing any further pro-
motion for Sampson.
Secretary Root is much pleased
with the rapidity OF the recruiting for
the regular army, under the new law,
as well as of the high-class men who
are Offering themselvesfor enlistment,
and an official statement was issued
by the war department this week say
ing: The department is now as
sured of the speedy enlistment OF
sufficient frst-class men to fill the
new army to the maximum.
The revenue reduction bill which
will become a law is compromise be-
tween the house and senate bills.
There will be no change in the
cabinet of President Mckinley for
some weeks, as Attorney General
Griggs, the only member who will re-
tire, has agreed to retain his portfolio
until April. if no longer.