The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-10-06
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.)

WASHINGTON, Oct. I5t, 1885,
Brigadier- General S. V. Benet, Chief
of Ordnance U. S. Navy, in his anx-
iety to help the Democratic party
has got himself into trouble as well
as the administration, In 1856 he
| sent confidential circular to the
commanding officers of the national
armories at Springfield. Mass. and
Rock Island. ILL.,, and of the United
States arsenaIs at New York, West
Troy, n. Y, Philadelphia, Pa, BOs.
ton, Mass, and Benicia, California,
ordering them to discriminate in fa-
vor Of Democrats in the employment
and discharge of employees Of every
grade, including women and chill
dren. The secret was well kept, and
was only recently discovered by the
widow of a Republican soldier, who
together with her child, was dis
charged from the Rock Island Arse
nal. She demanded of the cOmman-
dant the reason of her discharge and
he showed her copy of the cOnfiden-
tial circular of Gen. Benefits. The
matter has created great indignation
here, as it is the first time that any
man has attempted 10 manipulate
Army agairs in the interests Of either
political party. Gen. Benet makes
no attempt to deny or paIliate his Of
fence he says it was done on the
advice of Secretary Endicott, for the
purpose of making places for the
Democratic Congressman who were
bringing great pressure to bear on the
Secretary. Whether this case of the
plainest violation OF the civil-service
reform law will be looked after by
Senator Hale's special investigating
committee, or whether it will be
brought up separately before the
whole Senate has not yet been fully
decided upon, but the universal sem
timent among fair minded men is
that Gen, Benet and Secretary Endi-
colt should be punished for this gross
violation of law
The idea that Army officers, as a
class, are honester than other men
has Just received a terrible setback
by the discovery of great frauds in
the building of the aqueduct tunnel,
| which is intended to increase the
water supply of this city, which is
being built under the supervision of
Army Engineer Officers. The facts
already discovered show cOncluSively
that the Army Officers have been
guilty of criminal neglect Of duty, if
of nothing worse. Congress proposes
to 90 into thorough investigation
of the whole scandal, to find the
guilty party or parties, and to see
that they are properly punished. To
all of which the long suffering citi-
zens of Washington add a feryent
Amen.
Dan Lamont went over to New
York last week to see if he could not |
do something to improve the rapidly !
waning fortunes Of Cleyeland in that
State. His mission was not success
full. He was quietly informed by |
the local politicians that the best |
thing he could do for Cleveland was
to keep his hands off and 60 back to !
Washington.
Justice Matthews who has been |
quite i'll. is now much better, and his
physicians hope that he will be able
to take part in the opening of the
Supreme Court next Monday.
The Republican substitute for the
Mills bill was not reported to the
Senate to-day. as it was generally ex-
pected it would be. The delay is
caused by the Democratic members
of the committee who have not yet
prepared their report. They say it
will be ready in two or three days
if it is the bill will be reported this
week, The tables are completely
turned upon the Democrats. They
have been complaining of the slow
ness of the Republicans in preparing
their bill, and now the Republicans
have cot their bill ready to report
and they have to wait for the Demo-
Gratis. The bill is a very long one. 1t
took the clerk of the committee near
ly four hours to read it aloud.
The big Harrison and Morton ball
was received here Friday evening
by the Republican clubs and rolled
up through the principal streets to
the headquarters of the Republican
National League, where an enthusi-
astic meeting was held. Among the
speakers were Senator Dolph, Rep
resentatiyes Johnson, Houck, Per-
kins, and others. The big ball start