WORK OF CONGRESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1404, 26 January 1899, Page 28

WORK OF CONGRESS.

AMERICA’S ARMED FORCES. [TER SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.] Auckland, January 18. Congress has already accomplished a considerable amount of work, and it is expected work of immediate necessity may be completed without the necessity of an extra session, which had been expected. Secretary of War Alger has already learned what he may expect at tlie hands of Congress. That body looks with disfavour upon Mr A lger s dream of militarism, and will not arrange for an immense standing army. The President has been obliged to interfere to some extent for the cake of placating Congress, and instead of establishing a standing army of 100,000. men, the Administration must now rapidly arrange for the mustering out of about 50,000 volunteers. The friends of the navy are contending that at least a fair share of the appro-« priation made by the present Congress® should be for the navy which so ficently distinguished itself during the war now jiist concluded. Secretary Alger’s motives in advocating an increase of the army are distrusted by a large class of citizens already dissatisfied with the management which allowed the soldiers to suffer and perish from hunger when a rich nation was anxious to and did pour out money like water for their comfort and convenience. It is expected that the Peace Treaty will be rushed through Congress and will reach the Senate by January 4th. Spain is in need of money, and Congress will be urged to arrange at once for the twenty million dollars due that unfortunate nation.