Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1899 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

All preparations have been made at th* War Department to enlist the full provisional army of 35,000 men, which will make in all 100,000 men under arms. It is the intention of the officials to call for ten more regiments after the twelve organizations now being recruited are filled. When enough men have been enlisted to give those organizations their full quotas it will be given out by the department that five more regiments will be enlisted, making twenty-seven in all, which is the number authorized by Congress. In fact, there will be no cessation of enlistments, but from this time on all able-bodied men who present themselves will be accepted until the army reaches its maximum strength of 100,000. Recruits for the new volunteer regiments must be from 18 to 35 years of age, at least five feet four inches high, and weigh from 120 to 190 pounds. Recriiiting officers have authority to overlook a variation of ten pounds in weight and a fraction of an inch in height and chest measurement. Owing to the character of the service expected the physical qualifications of the men will be closely scrutinized. Married men will not be permitted to enlist in the new force except in certain exceptional cases, by special permission from headquarters,; when it is shown to be for the direct benefit of the service. Grave apprehension exists among ■'rmy surgeons as a result of reports received during the last twenty-four hours from Santiago. The yellow fever epidemic which threatens that province was anticipated some time ago, although the dread of the doctors has been carefully conceal-, ed and no mention of it has been allowed to get into the reports given out at the War Department. Some time ago the department was advised that the conditions at Havana and at Santiago were not such, even now, as to assure the troops and people there immunity from contagious diseases. It was said the system of sanitation adopted was inadequate, and, coming as it did after the long period ofi utter disregard of all the rules of public, health, it was not to be expected the yellow fever could be kept out. There have been a number of deaths, most of them so sudden that the day which brings the first news of disability often brings later the notice of death. Three officers have died of the disease in as many days. The surgeons report that they are making heroic efforts to stay the spread of the contagion, which has gained a strong foothold. " '

Rear Admiral Sampson has received a body blow from an unexpected quarter, and is to be deprived of his admiral’s pay from Aug. 10, when he was appointed by the President in advance of Schley, to the adjournment of Congress. Acting Controller of the Treasury Mitchell has held that as the Senate did not confirm the President’s appointment he can draw no pay as such, but only since his regular appointment under the naval personnel, bill, by which he becomes junior to Schley. The Controller decides an advancement in rank is not complete until confirmed by the Senate, and hence no pay can accrue until the promotion is legally completed. This decision will tend to stop the Sampson-Schley controversy, for if Sampson is barred out of his extra pay. there would be no advantage in reopening the matter, as he is now a rear admiral in good standing, and draws pay as such, although still junior to Schley. The revival of the story that the War Department has let army clothing contracts to sweat shops in the large cities, notably at Philadelphia, is pronounced by army quartermasters absolutely untrue. No large contracts for made uniforms have been awarded lately, and all those which-are let have a provision that the work is to be done in factories. Inspectors are employed to observe closely the methods of the contractors, and a report that a manufacturer is having his “finishing” done outside his plant leads to a rejection of the material. Under the system adopted by the War Department, the volunteer regiments will be national in character, and yet each command will be made up of men from the same locality, so the regiments will have the necessary local pride in their identity. There will be stragglers in all the regiments, but as a rule the men will be near neighbors and there will be goodnatured rivalry in seeing which section of the country is first in filling up its regiment. The first regiment to be fully organized and drilled will stand the best chance of an early call for active duty. Col. David B. Henderson, the prospective Speaker, called upon the President the other morning by appointment, and remained at the White House for more than an hour. When he left he declined to talk about his conference with the President. Col. Henderson still adheres to his belief that there will not be an early session of Congress.