The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-12-04
WASHINGTON NOTES.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-Washing-
ton merchants are bewailing the sor-
ry prospect Of business this winter.
They say that all the Democratic of.
tice holders will go to boarding their
earnings in fear of the rainy day that
may come almost any time after the
4th of March. This affects every
class OF business except food sellers.
The same state of affairs existed, only
IN more marked degree, just before
and just after Mr.. Cleveland's inaug-
uration. The only enterprises that
seem to prosper conspieuously at
present are the suburban real estate
schemes. Nothing cools that craze.
Mr.. Harrison will be called upon to
ill, during his term of Office, a great
many vacancies in the army. On
May %, 1889, adiutant general Drum
will be retired, and later in the same
year paymaster general Rochester,
quartermaster general Holabird, and
eommissary general McFeeiey will
follow. Surgeon general Moore will
be retired in 1890, and chief of cngin-
eers Benet's time comes in June. 1891.
Several brigadier generals will also
leave active service, with colonies ga
lore. In the navy great many re-
tirements will occur. The amount of
currying for favor that will be done
by the eminent military candidates
for there positions, will be something
pleasantly exhilerating to behold next
season.
There must be something radically
wrong about the treatment which the
private in the United States army re-
cieves. The annual report of the
Acknowledgement to the commanding
general of the army states that the
number Of desertions from the army
for the past year was 2,436. When
the fact is considered that the entire
number of enlisted men in the army
has not averaged during that time
over %, 200 men, it will be seen what
an enormous percentage-more than
one in each ten-the deserters repre-
sent. Army officers have for years
been trying, or pretending to try, to
discover preventative for the deser-
tions from the army, which is getting
more numerous every year. They
have failed. Why isn't it now in
order for a congressional committee
to try its hand?
Secretary of war Endicott, in his
report, says that "from Investigations
recently made it appears that so pei
cent. OF the desertions occur before
the expiration of the second year OF
service In discussing various plans
suggested to prevent desertions, the
secretary says: sit is worthy of con-
| sideration whether the officers in
command of troops at military posts
or captains of companies should moi
be authorized to impose punishment
for minor offense. But in granting
such authority it will be necessary to
specify the extent and character of
the punishment for each offense
otherwise there would be no uniform
rule, nor would it be wise to repose
so large discretion upon n single Of
ficer."
Preparations already on foot for
the 4th of March ceremonies indicate
that the Inauguration of Gen. Harri-
son will be O very imposing one
There will be no lack of money to
carry out whatever programme may
be formulated. 1t is a matter OF
pride with Washingtonians to make
each inaugural event excel its prede-
cessor, and for the time being feel
ings of partisanship and prejudice are
suspended and Democrats and Re-
publicans work together harmoni-
ousiy.