The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1901-04-18

Washington Letter.

s-@D--eA@& >~1vD0As
Washington, April 8, 1901.
Gen. Miles has seemed to be In high
favor with the administration ever since
his nomination to be lieutenant-general,
but official occurrences of the past week
Indicate that the old feud between Gen.
Miles and Adiutant General Corbin Is still
on, and that the adjutant- general is still
the reigning favorite of the administra-
tion. 1t all came about through the ap-
pointment of chief of artillery, under
the army reorganization act. Gen. Miles
recommended either Col. j. I. Rodgers
of the Fifth rrtillery, or Col. Guenther
Of the Fourth artillery, for the place,
but Adjutant- General Corbin backed Col.
w. f. Randolph, and he was appointed.
It was nothing new for recommendations
of Gsn. Miles to be ignored, and he would
probably have taken no official notice of
this case, but when Secretary Root, with
out the knowledge Of Gen. Miles, pro.
mulgated the order defining the duties of
chief Of artillery. Gen. Miles got his dan.
der up and called the attention of the Sec
retary of war to the fact of his having
been ignored In the issuing of the order.
aud further that the order failed to carry
out the intent of the law creating the Of
fice, which makes the chief of artillery q
member OF the staff Of the lieutenant
general commanding. Gen. Miles claims
that the order, as issued, makes the chief
OF artillery a subordinate of the adiutant-
general, and has requested that 1t be
amended to conform to the law. Secre-
tary Root has paid no attention to that
request. Friends of Gen. Miles fear that
the re-opening of this old feud may result
IN his compulsory retirement, although
he has been assured within the past few
weeks that he would be allowed TO remain
at the head of the army until retired by
age.
Senator Cockrell, who has just returned
from trip through Cuba, talks very in
terestingly of what he saw. Among 9TH
or things, he ssid: II was very agreeably
surprised In finding so much untitled
laud. Comparatively but small portion
of the soil of Cuba Is in actual cultiva-
ton. Many products which would un-
d0ubtedly flourish there are not even seen
Or cultivated: Il is capable of being a
most productive country for all kinds of
fruits and vegetables, as we'll as for sugar
cane and tobacco. The island has large
number Of harbors. From what could
learn Of our officers, who have been In the
various waters around the island, there
are as many good harbors as there are in
all the coast lines of the U. s. AS to the
social conditions In Cuba, one Is agree
ably surprised by visit. did not see a
drunken man during all the time was
on the island. In all my travels through
the cities and upon the island saw no
beggars, with the exception of two very
old colored men and Chinaman, who
were on the platforms at the stations
| ready to receive contributions. SO far as
l could judge, the people were we'll dress.
ed for that climate and all had plenty tc
eat. Gov. General Wood seems to have
been remarkably successful in bringing
order and cleanliness to the island" Sen
ator Cockrell declined to say anything fol
publication at this time about the opin
ions he formed as to the political situa
tion In Cuba, further than that he be
lieved the Cubaps would eventually &C
cept the conditions.
Felix Schuster, governor of the Uniol
bank of London, who has reached Wash
ington In the course of a leisurely tour o
the country. which Is to include the Pa
cific coast, Is evidently very level-head
ed sort Of an Englishman. When asket
to give his Impressions of the U. s. h
replied: "a great many OF your people
come over to England, and it seems to m,
that there ought to be some reciprocit,
In this sort of thing. l have come t,
America to observe the financial an,
trade conditions, but do not care to ga,
anything In detail of my trip. for hav,
been here only short time. Over Ii
England we have harsh names for thos,
people who visit here few days and g
back to their home and write volutely o
the American people. My impressions o
the country thus far have been very ia
vorable." -..
A semi-official denial that negotiation
had been opened with Great Britain for
new lsthmian canal treaty has been givel
out. Secretary Hay is still trying to fin'
out what sort Of a treaty would demand
two thirds vote in the senate, and unit
he does there will be no negotiation
started by this government. Great Brit
ain can, of course, submit propositions o
her own at any time, and they will be re
ceived and considered by this government
4 Members of the commission which tn
Cuban constitutional convention have de
cided to send to Washington will have
good time personally, and that will prob
ably be about the only result OF their trip
They can accomplish nothing in Wash
ington that they could not do In Havan
just as we'll. Although the president doe
not like the idea Of having this commits
sion sent to Washington, because he con
elders 1t reflection upon Gen. Wood TO
the convention to have assumed that any
thing different from what Gen. Wood ha
said would be said by him, he will re
ceive the commission and will listen t
what its members have to cay, and vii
give instructions to have them properl
treated while In Washington. His ow
talk to them will be confined to tellin
, them that the conditions offered by tn
Platt amendment Is an act Of congress
j and as such is not subject to any chang
! or modification whatever by any othe