Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1898 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Since the beginning of the war the small telegraph office at the War Department has sent and received 125,000 telegrams, some of which had nearly 2,000 words in them. Besides these messages thousands were delivered by the telegraph companies by messenger, and it is impossible to tell at this time the exact number of telegrams handled. It cost the Government $5,000 to notify Gens. Miles, Shafter and Merritt of the signing of the protocol which provided for the suspension of hostilities. The toll to Manila is $2.25 per word, to Porto Rico $1.84, and Santiago 75 cents. The cablegrams to the generals of the army contained over 1,100 words. Aside from this. Admirals Dewey and Sampson and other naval commanders had to be notified, and altogether it was a rather expensive, though welcome, act on the part of the Government. * * * Instructions to the peace commission, as finally drafted, are clear and precise, and stronger than at first supposed. The commission is always to proceed on the assumption that the United States has conquered Spain. The United States will demand all the Philippine group, claiming that the entire group is indispensable to the establishment of a military base and the opening up of the commerce of the islands to the whole wdrld. At the beginning the President did not want any of the Philippines outside of Manila bay, but finally became convinced that to secure Manila bay the whole group must Ay the American flag. Logical sequences of the possession of the scene of Dewey’s great victory and public opinion were the strongest motives which induced the President and his cabinet to demand the whole Philippine group. « * * Arrangements for the military occupation of Cuba and Porto Rico are now under consideration, but it is not the intention of the President to send an army to Havana and other ports of Cuba now occupied until the healthy season arrives. The intention is to wait until all danger of the Cuban fever is over and to compose the army of occupation almost entirely of regulars. The idea is to send about (50,000 men to Cuba and to have an army of from 10,000 to 12,000 in Porto Rico. This will require a force somewhat larger than the regular army and the deAcieucy will be made up by some of the best volunteers. * * * Permission has been granted by the Secretary of War to the volunteer troops whoserved in the army during the war with. Spain to retain their arms and equipment. Each man will be given the privilege of purchasing his riAc, knapsack, canteen, cartridge belt, and, in fact, everything nsed by him during ihe war. One month’s pay will cover the total expense. As each man will be granted a furlough, this wilt practically be a gift from the Government Which will enable every soldier to band down to posterity the weapon he used in defense of the honor of his country. * * * The proposition to Investigate the accounts of the secretary and treasurer of the Letter Carriers’ National Association, at Toledo has led to gossip which the carriers might well wish had never been started. It brings to fight the fact that the letter carriers have been Contributing to the support of an agent or agency in Washington for the promotion of friendly legislation in Congress—in other words, that they have been putting tip money tomaintain a lobby here. * * * Regular troops are to bq mobilized in the Southern camps preparatory to sending the army of occupation to Cuba and. Porto Rico. All the regiments whichhave been ordered to the army posts occupied by them before the war will be mobilized at Anniston and Huntsville, Ala., and Lexington, Ivy., to get them in readiness for garrison duty early in the fall. * * * » It has been decided that the Mauser rifles captured from the Spanish shall be overhauled at the Government arsenals and sold, it. being believed that the relie hunters will bid more than their actual value. Another batch of live relics will be the horses of the rough riders, whichwill be sold at auction in New York. * * * The dilatory methods of the Spanish and the apparent lack of good faith in securing the “immediate" evacuation of Cuba put the American commission in a position to demnpd that all the terms of the protocol of armistice shall be fully complied with before actual negotiations begin. • * • President McKinley tendered the cabinet and pence commission a dinner on Thursday night, at which the President expressed orally lids ideas us to how negotiations should be carried on. and Ihyre was also a general exchange of views. • * * Ex-Minister Denby of Indiana, who has represented this Government for thirteen years nt the Chinese capital, called at the State Department for the purpose of <•!<*- lug up his accounts with the department. Later he called on the President. • * * President McKinley promptly responded to the Czar’s program of disarmament by calling attention to the fact that the Unitcd States had never maintained a large standing army and had no cause tochange its policy. * * * There have been only two casualties among the naval reserves. One man died of appendicitis and the other fell down a hatchway nnd was killed. Cnpt. Dyer of the cruiser 8.-tltimorc has returned to the Spanish General Miranda the sword he surrendered at Corregidor Islaud. Manila harbor. At Toledp. Ohio, during a large bicycle parade. Miss Lizzie Pr-tmtn. popular young Indy. whs ran over 1 y a hack and killed, bhe was riding in the parade oa u beautifully decoratcJ whooJ*