Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1898 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

The report of the surgeon general of tin navy shows that on the thirty-one vessels of the North Atlantic squadron commanded by Admiral Sampson there were only twelve deaths out of a total of 5,516 men, which was at the rate of 2.17 per 1,000, and only thred of the twelve died from disease —one from pneumonia, one from consumption and one from alcoholism. Three were killed or died from wounds and six were drownpd. In Admiral Dewey’s squadron of eighteen vessels and 2,261 men there were only six deaths, at the rate of 2.65 per I,ooo—one from cholera morbus, one from appendicitis, one from drowning, one from suicide, one from alcoholic poison and one froir. wounds. This is the most remarkable record that was ever known in any navy in the world. Within a radius of two squares, just to the east of the treasury, lies the great news-heart of our republic. The center of this is the historic" old “newspaper row,” a dingy row of low buildings. At one time nearly all the important newspapers of the country had their offices therein later days many have moved into more modern offices in neighboring buildings, but still within the circle. Here are busy brains and bright; so many mind-mills into which as into hoppers are poured day and night all the notable occurrences of government, prophecies of policies, politics and a perfect hodgepodge of small talk, and gossip, to be ground up into a blcmj flour fit for any and all palates, under the "brand: “Prom our special correspondent at Washington.”

The dome of the Capitol is probably one of the most fascinating things in Washington after one lias come under its influence. It looks so simple at first —so small after one’s ideas gleaned perhaps from pictures in the geography, that it is a while before its grandeur takes effect, but after that point has once been reached. it is only a question of time when you will become thoroughly and completely hypnotized. The dome is no respecter of persons, either; it takes artist and layman alike. It makes the artist think that it is easy to draw. But of all the things hideously misdrawn after the human form, none is more often than the Capitol donie. *

No one will be surprised if Spain repudiates the Cuban and Philippine debts. It is a way she Ims of getting rid of embarrassing obligations. She has repudiated twice before, but she will harm nobody so much as her own people. Nearly all the Spanish bonds are held by Spaniards. The Bank of Spain alone, which is a Government institution, has at least $150,600,000. There is perhaps $150,000,000 held abroad, mostly in France, where they have been worked off among the peasants by unscrupulous stock brokers. No financier in Europe has bought Spanish bonds for an investment since the last repudia tion.

President McKinley was the central figure in a picturesque scene at the White House the other day, when a delegation of Ute chiefs called to pay their respects to the “Great Father.” They were led by Tim Johnson, an old-time brave, who had picked up somewhere the uniform coat of a captain of infantry, and lie was so proud of this bit of finery that it interfered seriously with the dignity of the reception. He was accompanied by Snuce-A-Knock-It. David Copperfield, Happy Jack and Charlie Mack. They all shook hands solemnly with the President.