The National tribune., 1886-12-23
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
iiOnal Capital

Not long ago the enemies OF Zen. Mics were
whispering rumors that he might be subjected
10 c0ur-martial or at least 20 a court OF I'M
curry. This disagrecable possibility derived
strength from the sharp language upon nam
employed by Secretary EndicOtt IN his annual
report Id has been intimateG that the views
there contained are those Of the Adjutant-
Generals Office. BE that as IL may they re-
feet strongly upon the soldier who has the
double distinction of being the cOnqueror Of
Chief Joseph and Geronimo, two of the greatest
Indian warriors of this generation, aud repre-
senting the two extremes of all that is chv-
alrous and noble and all that is mean and cruel
la the Indian nature. Now, however, turn
in The Kaleidoscope brings on a new comblna-
tioH, with hues much more rosy for Miles. lie
Is 10 have Southern California added TO has De
partmcnt aud Go be allowed 10 remove his
headquarters from Albuquerque 90 Los Angeles.
Such an addition to his geographical command
may fairly be regarded as tribute to his trust
worthiness and vigor, and possibly also, as
reparaton of injustice done 10 him IN the Sec
Rotary s report
It was claimed that Gen. Miles disobeyed
oders in accepting the surrender OF Geronimo
rs prisoner OF war;" by which the latter was
assured. of immunity against punishment for
his atrocities IL was also asserted that Miles
had not given in his report a frank account OF
the events that occurred But il has since been
shown that he never claimed that he had eff
fected an unconditional surrender this
phrase having been interpoated by Gen. How
ard in a moment Of enthusiasm, as comment
of his own on Miless dispatch, which il had
become his duty TO transmit. Hence, IL Miles
technically disobeyed orders in sending his
prisoners ont of Arizona, instead Of holding
them at Bowie, as the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in
structiOus directed yet those instructions We're
given under the misapprehensiOn created by
Howard's dispatch, and in total ignorance that
Miles was bound in honor TO spare the lives of
GerOnimo's crew, and to get them out of harms
way. There was certainly no want of frank
ness on Miless part, but merely a misappre-
hension nj Washington. Secretary Endicott's
report failed TO fully set forth these facts
AS all's well that eads well, Gen. Miles can be
congratulated on the way he comes out of the
controversy. One of his desires, il is true, was
TO get back TO Fort Leavenworth, after the end
of the campaign. since this is more agreeable
than Albuquerque to live in. This he has not
accomplished, but the present arrangement en-
ables him to go TO Los Angeles, which is great
improvement over Arizona.
DEPARTMENT OF THE POTOMAC
The approaching election Of the Department
of the Potomac arouses the interest of the COM
rades TO a somewhat unusual degree. Two
names are generally discussed in connection
with the Office of Department Commander.
These are Mai. Jerome b. Burke, the present
Commander, and Serg't w. S. Odell Senior Vice
Commander of the Department and Chairman
of the Executive Committee Veterans Rights
Union. Both are excellent men, and no one
speaks of them except in terms of praise. The
Order has no more jealous untiring, purely un-
selfish eomrade than Commander Burke. He
has fought for the veterans IN this city for years
hesitating at no sacrifice of personal convent
ence, nor of the claims Of friendship even,
when there was an act Of injustice TO some
soldier to be righted, or employment for him,
his widow or orphans, TO be secured. He has
been particularly active in this respect while
holding the Offices Of Senior Aice-Commander
and Commander of this Department. Hardly
week passes without his making a vigorous
appeal TO some high officer of the Government,
from President down, 20 right some wrong done
a soldier or a soldiers widow, or to restore him
or her TO the place from which he or she has
been uDjustly dismissed.
No less praise should be given w. S. Odell,
who Is equally untiring and unselfsh in his
service to the Order and his comrades, and has
done excellent work in the Veterans Rights
Union. He is gentleman OF pleasing address,
aud well calculated to advocate any cause he
may espouse. The only questions that enter
into the canvass arc as 10 the propriety of re-
electing a Department Commander, where the
single term las been the rule, and whether
hai. Burke would not be of greater service 10
the soldiers at the head Of the Veterans Rights
Union than as Department Commander.
The Department Of the Potomac has been
very fortunate ia lis Commanders. Commander
Burke's predecessor was Maj. n. M. Brooks, a
gallant officer OF New Jersey regiment good,
effective speaker, man of fine appearance and
Of UNUSUAL force Of character. Before him was
the brilliant ID. $. Alexander, Fifth Auditor OF
the Treasury, aud now member Of leading
law firm Of Buffalo. Before him was Gen. S. s.
Burdett, now. Past Commander in Chief and
one Of the most brilliant orators In the nation
His predecessors were all men OF much moro
than average ability.
JUSTICE IN WASHINGTON.
The Capiiai has the following us a double
loaded editorial, under the head of How tc
Make Anarchists -; John ii it, President. aud
Charles Il. Prentiss, Cashier. eight years ago rob
bed the German American National Bank o.
$4,000. The bank failed aud the depOsitors col
little or nothing from what remained Of tbs
assets after Hitz and Prentiss got through witt
them. The bank was originally savings in
stitutiOn. Its depOsitors were generally poor
hard working men and women, every dime o
whose savings represented a separate and dis
tinct act Of selfrestralnt to provide for future
wants, or OF seli-abnegation TO protect de
pendent ones. The robbers OF these poor peo
pie, after Saving of decision for eight wears
last week were allowed 10 90 scot free Judg
Merrick found flaw In the indictment.
appears that the District Attorney failed 1,
aver that the German National Bank, wa
doing business in this District The statut
OF limitation prevents the finding Of new IN
dictments ON the same day, in another cour
of the District, an old lan was called up TO
sentence. He lad si0len five chickens a da,
OF two before. lie got six months in iail Tn
prisoner was 50 surprised at the leniency of Ia
law 10 chicken stoalers that lac heartily thankc
the Judge for showing mercy. Indictments
not iail l0r chicken thieves and he who rot
hen ro0st Is punished, while those who stea
the savings Of the poor, defraud the widow an,
rob the orphan escape. IL Is in such occur
Tcnces that socialists and anarchists find th
ammunition with which 10 FIRE the hearts @
the unfortunate 10 deeds of rapine and blood.
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
There are men who lay claim 20 politica
prcscicnoe who insist that the best man the Re
publicans eau pat on the ticket with Gen Lo
gan in l5S- Is Hon Henry w. Blair the senio
Senator from New Hampshire and the autho
OF the muUh-discussed Blair Billn The part
would certainly have difficulty in finding
better candidate. lie was born in New HAM
shire IN 1894 aud Is therefore young for q
prominent a position AS he has gained in Ma
ti0nal politics He was educated AS a lawyer
was admitted 10 the bar in 1853, aud practice
until the breaking out of the war, when h
entorod the 10th n. H., of which regiment b
became Licutcnant-Coionel. la politics be wa
promoted from the Lower House OF the Legii
latnre 10 The Upper, and from that TO the "a
tional House OF Representatives, where D
served three terms and was then elected 10 "a
Senate, taking bis seat june 20, 1873 He
now on his second term, which will end Marc
g. 1891 His educational bill has made AL,