Middletown transcript., 1901-04-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.

conference, few hours after
his arrival in Washington. He
has done so well in Porto Rico,
that President Mckinley asked
him to withhold his resig-
nation for a time, and he con-
sented to do so, and after a visit
to his old home in Massachusetts,.
he will return to the island,
Speaking of the island, Governor
Allen said: "Affairs are moving
smoothly in Porto Rico. The
condition of the island is much
improved and in my opinion is
now better than it ever was be-
fore. A civil government has
been established in all it's
branches and is operating
smoothly. The island has not
cost the people of the United
States u cent, and will soon be
raising its own revenue by inter
nal taxation. The revenues of
the island, since the passage of
the Foraker act by the United
States Congress, have been pro-
duced by the customs duties
levied by that act. Next March
the law will expire, and the
money will come from modes of
taxation to be prescribed by the
local legislature. By that time
the island will be ready to accept
the abolishment of the customs
duties and free trade between
the United States and Porto Rico
will probably follow"
*x*
Hon. Philander Chase Knox,
the new Attorney General, who
will at once assume his du-
ties, will be the eighth Penn
sylyanian to hold that port folio
in the cabinet. Mr.. Knox and
President Mckinley are old
friends. In fact, it was on the
advice of Mr.. Mckinley that Mr..
Knox became a lawyer. His
standing at home is plainly told
by his being President of the
famous Duquesne Club, of Pitts
burg, and by his having served a
term of President of the Pennsyl-
vania Bar Association. Mr..
Knox is in the prime of life. He
will celebrate his 48th birthday
next month. His fitness to be
Attorney General is not question
ed by anyone. The only thing
said against him is what would
be said against most of the sue
cessful lawyers of the country,
under similar circumstances that
he has had rich corporations for
clients-which shows the wisdom
of the Presidents choice, as rich
coporations employ only the best
lawyers.
Secretary Root has just re-
ceived a personal letter from
General Thomas H. Barry, dated
at Manila, February 10Th, which
shows the confidence felt by his
brother officers in General |
Funston's ability to succeed in
the dangerous task it was then
known he had undertaken. Fol
lowing is an extract from the
letter: "The bottom is about
out of the insurrection.
The insurrectos seem to be fall
ing over each other in surrender
ing themselves and arms. We
have Aguinaldo definitely located
with good prospects of running
him down in the near future. He
is now in the town of Palanan,
northeast coast of Luzon, about
one hundred miles north of CAST
guran. Funston is going to
make try for him in few days.
He is going to take desperate
chances, but I believe he will bag
him"
***
General Macarthur continues
to send good news from the
Philippines. The surrender of
armed F'ilipinos is practically a
continuous performance, and no
lighting at all is going on. This
is so gratifying to President Nc
Kinley that he has decided that
the total strength of the regular
army shall only be enlisted up to
bhree-quarters of theone-hundred
thousand men authorized by
Congress, unless later advices
from General Macarthur shall
make it plain that a larger num-
Der will be necessary. 1t can be
stated on the highest authority
that Aguinaldo will not be allow
ID to come to the United States
Is long considered a prisoner,
Il