Gilpin observer., 1902-07-31
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
GOVERNMENTAL PROCEEDINGS

| SHteu lue STOuuuluS VI tue DdlticShAP
Illinois while entering Christlania har-
Dor recently, has found that no blame
attaches to the officers or crew. Ad-
miral Crowninshield approves the re-
| port.
The secretary of the interior has for
warded to the board of health of Hon.
olulu samples of an alleged cure for
leprosy submitted by Brooklyn ply
sician In behalf of a fellow practi-
| toner abroad. The board has agreed
to use the samples in its experimental
research. The boards of health OF san
Francisco and New Orleans also will
be asked to test the alleged cure.
The President has designated Col.
Il. NJ. O'Reilly to be surgeon general
Of the army to succeed General For
wood, who will retire September 7th
next. Colonel O'Reilly will have until
January, 1909, to serve as surgeon gen.
eral. He was appointed from Pennsyl-
vania as a medical cadet in 1864. He
Is a graduate of the medical depart
ment of the University of Pennsylva-
MIA.
1t is learned that the Cuban govern
ment went a little farther in General
Braggs' case than was understood at
first. 1t not only made inquiry as to
| tlC accuracy VI AChNSe
| ing on the Cubans, but complained of
the consul generals criticism. The pa
pers in the case are still before the
President at Oyster Bay, but some ac-
tion is expected soon, either in the way
of recalling the consul general or
transferring him to some other post, II
q suitable one can be found.
The insular bureau of the War De-
pertinent has cabled to Manila for all
the captured insurgent records. These.
| with the records also in possession of
the bureau, are to be compiled by Cap
tain J. X. NJ. Taylor. Fourteenth infan-
try, who translated many of the docu-
ments captured from the Filipinos. The
compilation will make a record of the
insurrection against the United States.
AS the work progresses it may be ex-
tended to include the main features of
the Filipino insurrection against the
Spaniards in 1886.
In connection with the investigation
now going on at the Navy Department
relative to the duties of officers on
shore duty with view to determining
what, IL any. officers can be spared for
sea duty, significant table has been
prepared at the department which
shows that the increase in the sea
going officers in the last decade has
not kept pace with the increased ton
mage of the navy. In 1898 there We're
965 officers and 244.S43 tons displace-
ment of ships in the navy. In 1902
the number of officers has increased
only to 1,O23. while the tonnage had
increased to S27.O22. In 1893 there
were $50 officers on sea duty and 400
on shore duty, against 72O on sea duty
and 303 on shore duty, against I2O on
sea duty and 1903 on shore duty in 1902.
Some weeks ago Senator PenrOse
filed papers with the President, which
he asserted tended to substantiate the
charge made by Mr.. Mealey. the
American who has been in trouble in
Mexico, against United States Ambas-
sador Clayton, to the effect that the
ambassador was directly interested TO
the extent of 100 shares in a mining
corporation antagonistic to Mealeys 5
claims. The papers were referred 30
the State Department. and now the
senator has been informed by Acting
Secretary Hill that the President has
decided to send them TO Mexico invit-
ing Mr.. Clayton to examine them and
make n report. The case of Mealey
was one of the two referred to in the
stirring debate in the Senate in the last
session. involving an encounter be-
tween Senators Bailey and Beveridge.
Eighty miles in an army wagon
drawn by regulation mules over roads
that are not excellent at the best of
times, but were rendered almost i'm
passable in some places by heavy
downpours Of rain. was the experience
OF Elihu Root, secretary of war, a few
days ago. Mr.. Root said that he en-
joyed the trip immensely. Maj. Gen.
Henry c. Corbin, the adjutant general
of the army, who was one OF Mr..
Roots companions, said the same. In
addition to General Corbin. the secre-
tary asked Brig. Gen Leonard Wood
and Col. Wallace Randolph, chief of
artillery. to go with him. OF course.
they accepted. Colonel True. the army
depot Quartermaster in Washington,
said he could get them from Wash
ington to Leesburg and back in sim
gle day, and he kept his word. The
distance from Washington to Leesburg
and back over the route taken by the
secretary's party Is about ninety(our
miles, but part OF it was made in ths
secretary's carriage and In a trolley car.
The journey behind the mule team be-
gan at Cabin John bridge.
Secretary Of War Root has issued an
order in regard to military education
in which he says: "Since the declara.
tion OF war with Spain In April. 1898,
there have been appointed In the line
of the army 1,542 lieutenants, In addi-
tiOn to 2I6 appointed from the military
academy. or these GIG were appointed
from officers Of volunteers under the
act Of February 3 1901; 414 We're ap-
pointed from the enlisted men OF the
regular and volunteer armies. and 512
were appointed from civu life. The
nbuudOnmpnt N Of tho military q
for commissioned officers. which fol
lowed the employment OF the entire
army in active military operations, has
left these 1.542 new lieutcnants sub
stantlally without any means Of acquir-
ing n systematic military education.