Gilpin observer., 1901-08-22
Observation-Disclosures
WASHINGTON LETTER. i
From Our Regular Correspondent /
Washington, D. G., August 10, 1901.

Washington this week was made the ba-
sis of a number of sentimental stories
alleging that his return was connected
with the revolution now going on in the
vicinity of the Isthmus Of Panama, but
there wasn't even a shadow of official
foundation for any of them. Secretary
Hay very frankly stated that his return
had no official significance whatever, and
it is known that, Notwithstanding the
sensational publications in the yellow
journals, the officials of this government
do not regard the situation on the 18TH
mus as serious, and that the two naval
vessels that have been ordered to the
Atlantic and Pacific sides of the isthmus
have been sent as a matter OF precau-
tion rather than from any belief that
they would actually be needed to-. look
after American interests in that quarter.
The cock and bull story alleging that
Rear Admiral Sampson would not ap-
pear before the Schley court of inquiry,
sent out from Washington early this
week, carried its own refutation along
Will IL. vi COuISC todu pcol Will appear
before the court. In fact he will be the
star witness, Had it not been for him
there would have been no court OF in
quiry, although his name was not men,
toned in Schley's request for the court
nor in the precept of the Navy Depart
ment calling it together Yet everybody
knows that it was his report to the de-
partment, charging Schley with "repre-
hensible conduct" and disobeying Or
ders, that started the controversy that
led to ordering the court. He could not
avoid appearing before the court and
standing up for his side of the contro-
versy if ne wished to do SO, and to say
that he wishes to do SO casts a very seri-
GUS aspersion upon him, both as an
officer and as a man. As sure as the
court is held, Schley and Sampson will
meet before that court and tell their
stories, and the country will have the
opportunity to judge between them.
The following disinterested statement
about Porto Rico was made in Washing
ton by f. ii. Dexter, an American law
yer who has been practicing law on the
island for about three years 1.-THE
United States has been represented by
most excellent officials in Porto Rico,
and Governor Allen has done much to
make Americans understand the condi-
tions in the island and to educate the
Porto Ricans as to real American senti-
ment regarding them, and Acting Gov.
Hunt has been quite as efficient. Capi-
tai is what is needed in Porto Rico, and
it will come much faster il some of the
restrictions now imposed are removed.
A tax OF . per cent. on gross receipts is
levied on the earnings of all purchasers
Of franchises, and this proves bar in
nearly every case to large investments in
street car, gas, electric light, and similar
enterprises. In Porto Rico the market
must b, made for such conveniences of
civilization, as well as the plants erected
is of high grade, and the transfer OF
the island from Spanish dominion has
resulted in damage to this industry
Spain had reciprocity treaties with
Porto Rican coffee special advantages in
those c)untrics, all of which are large
consumers of high grade colfees. This
was lost when the United States &C.
by any similar arrangement between the
United States and those countries. 1t
is needed. Before the war the coffee in.
dustry in the island was much more i'm.
poriant than the sugar industry. AS it
is now, cheap coffee from Brazil can en-
ter the island and find sac Mt price at
which native coffee could not he sold,
because the United States does not i'm
pose any duty upon Coffee The Porto
Rican commissioner has presented an
argument to Secretary Gage IN favor of
the restoration of the duty OF per cent
a pound on coffee shipped into Porto
Rico, imposed by the Foraker Act. He
claims that the presidents free-trade
proclamation did not affect that duty
and that it has been wrongfuliy tus.
pended by the treasury department.
Secretary Gage is considering the claim.
1t is not difficult to understand how
the war in South Africa has increased
the price OF horsenesh, not only in the
United States but everywhere, when one
talks with those who know. y British
officer has recently said that in two
states Missouri and Kansas his gov.
crnmcnt had spent 100000 for horse
flesh, and gcntlemnn from South AZ.
ricn, Mr. l.. O. Munson-now in Wash.
ington, says that shiploads OF horses had
been steadily arriving at Cape Town for