New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-02
THAT" CONFIDENTIAL CIRCULAR.
SENATOR HALE OFFERS A RESOLUTION OF
INQUIRY IN REG ARD TO TT.

THE SECRETARY OF WAR TO BE ASKED III
INFORM THE SENATE WHY SUCH AN
ORDER WAS ISSUED AND TO REPORT
ALL CHANGES ALREADY MADE
UNDER ITS PRovIsIoNS-MR.
CoCKRELL TO REPLY TO
MR. HALE TO-DAY.
Washington. Oct. Especially Hale offered
in the Scnac to-day resolution of inquiry touch
inc the extraordinary confidential circular Is
sued by General Bcnet which is likely to lcad
to some nterestin. revelations After quoting
the text of the circular in full, the resolution
read:
Whereas 1t is alleged that in pursuance OF such
order changes and removals Of persons employed by the
cr,opt in the United States arsenais and armories
have been made and that honorably discharged so1er
Of the Union Army and their wives ana children nave
thus been removed; therefore,
Resolved That the Secretary Of War be and is hereby
directed TO forthwith transmit to the Senate full inorna
ton as to the order above named and to state fully what
necessities OF department required thai sail order
should be issued and to further inform the Sena'e why
an order issued from the Military Department OF INC
Government, upon public business, was marked "Cohh
dcntlalr and also report fully all changes that have
been made OF persons employed in the United states
and arnores since said order was issued ana
especially inform the Senate whether at the ROCK
Island Arsenal the wife and children OF former Union
soldier have been removed under said order
Mr.. Hale remarked that he had lot believed
that there was an officer in the War Department,
| from the highest to tho lowest, who would begin
such proceedings as were indicated by that order
There was nothing in tho previous history or
record OF the Secretary OF Wa- that would have led
him Mr. IIalc} 10 believe that the Secretary would
have permitted or authorized the issuing OF sacli
circular, extending party prescription to women
and Children. The small places in the arsenas
had been always regarded and accepted as lit
places for old soldiers Of the Union and for their
widows and daughters where women could be en-
| plcyed; and he ventured to say that IN the
years which had elapsed between the close OF
the war and March, 1885, no question
had ever been asked as to the politics OF one OF
these soldiers or of their widows or daughters.
He quoted from The Ncw-YorS Sun" an editorial
paragraph approving General Bcnets circular.
| and welcoming Mr.. Endcott to the ranks OF the
great. happy and invncible army of spoilsmen .
| Senator Cocllrel objected to the passage of the
| resolution under the rules thus giving Secretary
| Endicott and General Benet another twenty-four
hours in which to recover fror. their astonlsi-
mcnt, and, peradventure, TO find some eXcuNt Tor
their extraordinary war on women ana cmidfeh'
There is some reason to believe that Senator
IIales resolution of inquiry night have been profit
ably broadened so TO include the Engineer
Bdreaa and other bureaus of the War Depart
| ment, as well as the Ordnance Bureau In an
editorial published in an Administration paper
here yesterday, defending the Endicott-Benet
confidential" order, it is asserted that the order
is in accordance with policy that Secretary En-
dicott adopted more than two years ago in deal
| ing with the extensive patronage of the various
branches of the War Department" Several
months ago publications in Western Democratic
newspapers indicated that the large force in the
great quartermastcr's depot at JefiersonN lie, lnd
WAS undergoing process Of "purlhcaton' by
the removal of Republican employees and the
appointment of Democrats in their places. IL is
| rnmored that a like process has been adopted IN
! The Engineer Bureau, and that Democrats are
| favored" in the employment Of men on work 1oI
| the Improvement Of riN ers and h1sbors
From the composuIe with which the puSncation
| Of tie Benct order has been received by orciais
Of the Nar Dera rtEDent, II Is not unfair 10 ihiei
that the staff bureaus of that Departmeh mt nave
been luOeksta nd iUillcstl machines 10 sissist
in the attempt to re-clcct Grover Cleveland
is openly admitted by Administration partlsan'
that the scale was tipped In iavor OF captain
Lawtons recent promotion TO the rank OF Malol
and Assistant Inspector-General, and against ms
| competitor, Captain Bourke by the polllcal III
euence of the Democratic Senators ana Rcprc
| sen,atives from Indiana, who united in urging
Iawton's preferment. Major Lawton is gallant
| soldier and an accomplished officer, but II Is a
fact that his promotion due less to his meri,'
| than TO the Democratic influence eXertcd IN hls
behalf