Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1898 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Senator Morrill of Vermont celebrated his 88th birthdny Thursday night by a reception at his residence in Thomas circle. He was born at Stratford, Vt., on the 14th of April, 1810. He lias served thirty-one years in the United States Senate, longer than any other man, and before his first selection was ten years in the House of Representatives. The venerable gentleman is still in excellent health, although he is not so spry and industrious aud enduring as he was when he first came to Washington, forty-one years ago. Letters and telegrams of congratulations pound in upon him. The President, the Vice-President, the Supreme Court, the foreign ambassadors and ministers, the entire Senate and a large numlier of other friends, including every person of prominence Hi public life, attended his reception. • * • The members of the executive committee of the Brewers’ Association, which represents 90 per cent of the brewers of the United States, who came to Washington to resist the imposition of the tax upon beer, have yielded aud have gone back to their homes with an agreement with the Committee on Ways and Means that the proposed additional tax of $1 a barrel will not be objected to, provided a provision is made for a rebate of 7% per cent for beer that is spelled. This would make the tax $1.85 net, instead of $2 a barrel, which would not be felt.’ Beer sells at wholesale at an average price throughout the country nt 10 cents per gallon, and 80 cents a gallon at retail. The committee thinks, therefore, that this allows a sufficient margin for an additional tax. • • * The authorities, besides making an investigation of questions relating to privateering and the neutrality of goods, have been examining the treaties between the United States and Spain to determine what sections would continue in force in ■time of war. It is a general principle of international law that war abrogates treaties between belligerents; but should the nations presupposing war have engaged themselves in such treaties to perform certain specific acts during hostilities such engagement must be observed. * * * There is a great deal of patriotism being expressed through the mails and over the telegraph lines. The President receives bushels of messages every morning from people who commend or condemn him. At the War Department it is said more than 1.000,000 men have offered their services to the Government in case of war, among them four members of Congress—Senator Pettus and Representatives Wheeler of Alabama, Campbell of Illinois and Broussard of Louisiana. V * * The transportation of coal across the Atlantic will be an insuperable obstacle to the operations of the Spanish fleet, and when their present supplies oP coal in Cuba and Puerto Rico are exhausted their ships will be powerless. At the same time aud for the same reason a declaration by this Government that coal is contraband would render our own fleet powerless upon the other side of the Atlantic and for I,ooft miles from our own coast in any direction. * • * William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley met Thursday morning for the first time in several years, when the former called nt the White House with Senator Murphy of Ngw York to pay his respects. It was during the regular hours for receiving congressional visitors, and therefore Mr. Bryan remained but a moment, exchanging compliments, but having no serious conversation. ~ ♦ • * Gen. Miles is of the opinion that 100.000 men could he transported to any point on the gulf or Atlantic coast in the South within forty-eight hours. The fact that this can be done was demonstrated by the feat performed by the railroads during the recent big celebration in Washington, when 100,000 men were brought into the city and taken out again inside of twentyfour hours. * * * Since the Maine disaster letters by the hundreds have poured in at the White House and the War and Navy Departments from patriots who are anxious to volunteer or who have suggestions to offejr, for the defense of the Government or the discomfiture of tin* Spaniards. While the ministry at Madrid was talking peace and offering concessions Gen. Blancd was preparing for resistance, and he recently issued an order for a military census of Cuba and the enlistment of every mau between the ages of 19 and 50 “for the defense of the territory.” * * • Great disappointment was expressed at the War Department over the defeat of the army reorganization bill in the House. The authorities were confident that regulars could do much more effective service in Cuba than the State militia, officered by men of their own number. • • * The Ways and Means Committee of the House proposes a war tax on beer aud manufactured tobacco. It is probable also that« stamp tax will lie imposed on all bank paper aud legal documents. Thd revenue from these sources is estimated aUfIOO,OOO,OOO a year. • * * Representative Wheeler of Alabama introduced in iho Hov.se a resolution extending the thanks of Congress to Consul General Lee for the courage, efficiency and good judgment he displayed in the performance of his duties as consul general at Havana. The stand of the Cuban junta against intervention without recognition of Cuban independence aroused opposition in Congress to turning the affairs of the island over to the insurgents after the Spanish have been expelled. * * * Secretary Gage has denied that negotiations with a syndicate for a loan to the Government had been begun, and has stated that money used for war purposes would be borrowed direct from the peo-