Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-02-28
WILCOX Bill AMUSES
As, THE PR0TESTATI0NS
OF WAR FRIENDSHIP
United States Knows Its Friends
ROOseVelt'S Order Against Lobby
ing, for Higher Salaries
Are Satisfied.

Washington, Feb. S.--The anxiety
Of various European powers to make
It appear that they were friendly to
the United States during and just be.
fore the war with Spain, and to dis
parage the British contention that the
English Government prevented COali.
ton against the United States. causes
considerable amusement in official
Washington, where the exact facts are
known, although not publicly discuss
ed. The United States Government
was fully informed of every move
made by Austria and other powers dur
ing the critical period before the
Spanish war. so the present efforts in
so many directions to show that exist
ing friendship for and appreciation o.
the United States is not entirely new.
naturally cause somewhat amused
comment
Necessarily the United States is not
proclaiming, officially. its knowledge
that Great Britain was friendly. and
in a number Of ways aided u.s. but the
fact remains that, even though British
anxiety to make us feel under obliga.
tiOns is somewhat tirCsome. Great
Britain was our friend. The Uniteo
States often received information OF
great importance from British sources.
Some of the information touching the
whereabouts Of the Spanish fleet came
from English sources and in other
ways the English showed that their
sympathics were with the United
States. And the officials Informed OF
this are not hoodwinked or deceived
by latter.day representations OF long
existing affection for the United
States.
The order of President Roosevelt
issued the last OF January, prohibiting
Government employees from lobbying
for higher salaries has not attracted
as much attention as 1t has really de
served. 1t Is regarded by civil ser
vice refOrmers as doing much to per
feet the classified service. It re.
moves the objection that has been
raised to the continuation of clerks in
office permanently. for that Is what
the merit system really does, that II
creates a class whose influence might
be harmful. Clerks and other Govern.
ment employees can no longer combine
10 force Congressman. through fear Of
the influence of associations, TO pass
legislation that, ordinarily. Con,
gresham might think urwse. The
order has created dissatisfaction
among those to whom 1t applies, but II
has aroused no storm of Congressional
al or public protest. Perhaps, the
comparative inattention given to It il
the best evidence Of its wisdom. 81.
lence, in this case, indicating public
approval.
II There Is to he no general salary
grab, although many congressman and
Senators are convinced that they
should be better paid. and would vote
themselves more pay If they We're not
afraii their constituents would OBJ.
ject. While Senators and Congress.
men will not get more pay. the pas.
sage by the Senate OF the Hoar bill
making substantial increases in Judi
cial salaries probably means that
those Jurists will be well paid here.
after, for the House Is likely to follow
the S5nate's lead. In this connection
the effort OF Delegate Wilcox of Ha.
wall to curry favor with the President
by introducing a bill increasing the
Chief Executives salary simply causes
amusement. Wilcox came here as the
representative of the native party in
Hawaii, but he has since concluded
that II Is more polite to stand with
the party in power, so he is now a
Republican" but the Republicans do
not recognize him cordially.