Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 1899 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

(From our regular correspondent.) Senator. Daniel’s speech against imperialism and expansion, which occupied three hours and a half, was a masterly argument for continuing in the steps of the founders of this government, and as an oratorical effort has not been surpassed at this session. * * * Although the Republican House Caucus decided not to try to push any financial legislation at this session, the extreme, gold standard men are trying to force action on the Hill financial bill. A resolution has been offered, fixing Feb. 14th, for voting on that bill, and pressure is being brought to bear on the Committee on Rules, to have that resolution reported back to the House.

The House Judiciary committee has reported a resolution declaring that Gen. Wheeler, Col. Campbell, Col. Colson, and Major Robbins vacated their seats in the House when they accepted Commissions in the Army. The attempt to have the committee take the same action in the cases of Representatives who are members of several existing Government commissions, was a failure. The Committee decided that Congressmen may serve on Civil Commissions without forfeiting their seats. * * *

Commissions in the Cavalry branch of the regular army, are vainly sought after by. many West Pointers, but James Fuller McKinley, son of Abner, and nephew of the President, whose only military experience consisted of a few weeks service as a private in the Bih Ohio Volunteers, has been nominated to be a 2d Lieut, in the cavalry branch of the regular army. The nomination is likely to be confirmed, simply because tb<r.‘ is nothing against the young man but all the same it ought not to be.

Mr. Keegan, a representative of the International Mechanics Union, who was among those heard by the State committee on Education and Labor, on the eight hour bill, made some startling charges. He charged that the Cramp Shipbuilding company and.the MaximNordenfeldt Gun company, being unable to fill at the price specified contracts for guns and gun carriages, awarded them by the government, bad the work performed by government employees at Wash ington Navy Yard, and received in cash, the difference between the cost of making and the contract price. He charged that under the arrangement specified, the Cramp Company had received $17,000, as the difference between the cost of making the gun carriages and the contract price, and that the MaximNordenfeldCo. had received $2,400 each for guns which were made by government employees, at a cost of SI,OOO each, thus pocketing a profit of SI4OO on, each gun, without engaging in the work of making them. Senator Kyle was directed to personally investigate these charges.

Senator Gorman knew when he began his fight against the treaty that the securing of thirty-odd votes against the ratification of the treaty, would permanently reject the treaty, because of the certainty of its commanding more than the necessary two-thirds in the Senate of the next Congress; therefore it was unimportant whether he secured them or not. But he has accomplished the principal object for which he fought. The speeches made in the Senate have aroused the » people of the country to the danger that lies in our permanent possession of the Philippines and make it certain that public opinion will prevent the carrying out of the imperial policy that has been buzzing in the heads of Mr. MoKinley and some of his chief advisers. Gorman thinks that public opinion could not have been so speedily or so thoroughly aroused in any oth-

er way, m it has been by the fight he and those who acted with him, hare made. They were not strong enough in votes to amend the treaty, but the result shows that there are more ways than hanging to kill a dog. If imperialism hasn’t been killed, it has been badly crippled. * * * Americans like fair play in a fight Gen. Miles has stood up like a man and charged that contractors supplied our troojpe with embalmed beef, and offered to furnish proof of the charge. Secretary Alger, and his gang are skulking around trying to stab Miles in the dark, being afraid to order him court-martialed, because that would give him an opportunity to produce the proof he has of his charge. The repprt of the War Investigating Commission, now in Mr. McKinley’s possession, is relied upon to give Miles several stabs. Mr. McKinley has been asked to remove Miles from the command of the army, but he is afraid to do so, because in that case, Miles would have a right to demand the cause, and if a cause were given, to demand that a courtmartial decide whether it be a just one. A sneaky way of ousting Miles has been evolved by Alger. It is proposed to amend the Hull army bill by providing for a revival of the grade of Lieutenant General and then nominating Merritt, or some other Major-General to the position. Merritt would not be much more satisfactory to Alger as Commander of the Army than Miles is, as his contempt for Alger which dates away hack to Alger’s court martial during the civil war, has never been concealed, and their relations, since Alger became Secretary of War, have been confined to strictly official matters. It looks as though the administration would be compelled to give Miles a chance to prove his charge, by ordering some sort of a Military Inquiry. Mr. McKinley is said to have promised that much.

I have private funds to loan on real estate at low rates for any length of time. Funds are always on hands and there is no delayno examination of land, no sending papers east—absolutely no red tape. Why do you wait on insurance companies for 6 months for your money? I also loan money for short times at current bank rates. Funds always on hand'

W. B. AUSTIN.