Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-03-25
OUR wAsTaNaTos LETTER.
SCANDALS PETIT LARCENY By ARMY
FFICERS.-CAROUSING AT
FCNERAL.-THE END OF
OFFICIAL. MOURN
ING-CABINET
CHA&GES.
CFrcm our regular Correspondent.)

CHARGES.
(FrCm our regular Correspondent.)
A most disgraceful scandal has
been brought to light by General
Sturges, commandant of the Sol
diers' Home near this city. The
Home consists Of number of build
ings, in beautiful park, and is de-
signed for disabled and superanu-
ated soldiers of the regular army.
1t is paid for and maintained from
a fund which has been deducted
from the small pay OF the soldiers.
The scandal consists in the fact that
some high army officers have been
supplying their tables from the
garden and dairy of the Soldiers
Home-a theft as culpable as if
they had taken from the premises
of citizen farmer.
The publication of the sO-called
Cocktail scandal" growing out of
the unseemly revelry, of the Con-
gressiOnal committee that accom-
panied the remains of Garfield to
Cleveland, making it more picnic
excursion than funeral, has
brought the matter before the COM
mittee who have been auditing the
bills of the Garfield obsequies. AS
usual the committee will present
two reports. Che majority report
will recommend the payment of the
entire amount, cocktails, wines
and all other refreshments. The mi
nority report, which will be signed
by Blackburn, Sunset Cox and
Others, will contain such criticisms
of this bill of expenses as cannot
fail to elicit exciting and angry de-
bate. Thesenate committee that ac-
companied the funeral train are
only too happy to think that they
are out of the scandal. Mr.. Bright,
their sergeant-at-arms, refused to
yield to numerous opportunities to
load the cars with wines, brandies
and cigars, and gave his charges
the barest necessities IN the way of
refreshments. The arrangement
did not suit some the of Senators at
the time, but they are exceedingly
thankful of late that in their case,
conventional decorum was relig-
iously observed. 1t is well under
stood that Mr.. Thompson, who
superintendent the arrangements for
the entertainment of the Repre-
sentatives, acted upon explicit in
structions from influential quarters.
But Mr.. Thompson himself is not
distinguished for asceticism and it
was no difficult task to induce him
to supply the luXuries that now reel
in the bills.
To- day six months of official
mourning for the late President ex-
pires, and certain formal Observ-
ances that have been kept In army,
navy and official circles will be dis
pensed with. The President will
no longer use mourning paper, and
it is expected that with the conclu-
sion of Lent there will be a short
but brilliant season of gayety before
Congress adjourns.
There are rumOrS of Cabinet
changes, and an apparently well
founded report that the name of
William Z. Chandler will be sent
in this week as the successor of
Secretary Hunt to the naval port
folio. Mr.. Hunt has been quite
sick for several days, and it is said
that Chandeliers name is only with
held on account of his illness. 1t is
very doubtful if Mr.. Chandeliers
nomination will be confirmed by
the Senate. The Democrats will
vote against him en- DaGSSe and prob
ably number of Republicans will
vote with them.