The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-02
Mr.. COckrell Is the Only Member on the DEM
ocratic Side Inclined to Support the
War Against Women and Children.
The Order Will Be Taken Up To-Day. and
an Exciting Discussion Is Expected.
Convincing Indications that the Democratic
Party and the Mormon Church Are Work
Ing in HarmOny-Vashington Notes.
THE BENET CIRCULAR.
it's Presented In the Senate and Resolution
of In0uirv Offered.

ofInquiry offered.
Special to tho indianapolis Iournax.
WASHINGTON, Oct. L-During the morning
hour IN the Senate, to-day, Senator Hale took
the initiative step in bringing about an investi-
CATION into the Benet confidential order which
was exposed by the Journal on Saturday last
He offered preamble reGting the full text OF
the circular and inquiring of the Secretary OF
War whether the necessities Of the department
required that the order should be issued, and
why it was marked confidential" The object
OF this resolution is twotold; first the intention
is to secure from Secretary Endcott the locs-
tion of responsibility for the conception OF the
doeument. and secondly to secure an authorita-
tive version as to the object OF the order. After
the preamble and resolution were read by the
Secretary Of the Senate. Mr.. Hale who is
chairman of the committee investigating viola
tions Of the civiLservice law, submitted some
observations. He corroborated all the state
ments made by the Journal correspondent as to
his Mr. Hales) first impression when pre-
sented with the original copy OF the Benet cir
cular, stating that he was astounded, and that he
instantly declared il could not be true that any
federal officer. aud especially one connected
document. He said that he could not believe
the military arm OF the government would be
prostituted to political purposes, and especially
that positions occupied by women and children,
widows and orphans of Union soldiers should be
taken for Democratic voters. He declared.
however. that there could now be no doubt
whatever that the order was issued by General
Bsnst, and that it was sanctioned. if not di-
rected by the Secretary of War. He then sent
to the secretary's desk and bad read General
Benet's statement OF the circumstances under
which the order was issued, which was pub
lished in last Saturdays Journal Following
this he had the secretary of the Senate read the
letter published in the Journal from Rock
Island, reciting some of the discharges made OF
women and children under the order. Senator
Hale grew eloquent az he proceeded 10 score the
administration. which was so basey partisan and
selfish. On administration which, for the purpose
OF securing its continuance, would 60 down iu-
10 the workshops OF the government and turn
out poor widows and children of soldiers and
sailors who had lost their lives for the Union
Every Senator on the floor gave hira the closest
attention. The Republicans were aroused TO
indignation beyond measure and the Democrats
sourmed intentionally in their seats. None
OF the latter, however, had the ha-dihood - ,oox
up during Senator Hsle's speech except Senator
Cockrell, Of Missouri. who Is described IN the
annals of the Confederacy as "a cashing oficer
and a brave defender Of the South and seces-
| sion" Senator's Cullom. Chandler. Mandsrson
and other Republicans were on the point OF AJAX
| ing the President Of the Senate for recognition
for the purpose of continuing the denunciatisn
| OF the Benet order, when Senator Hale sat down.
| but Senator Cockrell arose and announced that
| he would object to any further consideration OF
| the subject; under the rules OF the Senate reso
| lutions OF this kind must lay over one
| day on the Presidents table be-
fore action could be taken; tomorrow
| he proposed to submit some observations on
l. IA 49,. I1.-@ @kx.<l
no, only proposed to Justify the issuance of the
| order but to ''snow that this order should have
Seen promulgated before it was. and that every
| position within the federal government belonged
| TO the party in power The Republican Sem
ators named, in one voice. declare the Benet
order the most dabolical political proceeding
ever instituted. and there is no doubt that they
| will make the debate upon the merits Of Sen
ator Hales resolution exceedingly lively for the
| Democratic side of the Senate, Secretary Eudi-
| cott, and the administration generally.
General Benet Ia bat cats-paw in.this affair.
| The prospects are that there will be consider
able debate on the resolution before 1t is finally
| adopted. Senator Hale Gays that he proposes
| 10 have . thorough investigation of the circum-
stances under whiah the order was issued, the
aim Of it. and its operation. Senator Cullom
believes that there have been wholesale dis
| nissals of ex-Union soldiers and sailors their
| widows and orphans in arsenals and armories
| of the government, that places might be gwen
TO Democratic voters. The Illinois Senator is
| expected to make a very vigorous speech. 1t Ia
believed that tho Secretary of War will
do all he can to delay this investi-
| CATION, with a view to permitting the
indignation which Is rising throughout
the country TO subside. The Secretary
has been out OF the city several days, and il
was stated a, the War Department to-day that
| he would not return here for some time. The
resolution of Senator Hale will not be answered.
| OF course, in the absence of Secretary Endicott.
! and iIasmuch as an investigation will not be in
I'D hafn tha Oh 10 arod
| lies within the power of the Secretary of War to
delay the investigation until after the election
General Benet is doing everything he to re-
iieve the mugwump Secretary Of War of the
odium attaching to the circular order. General
| Benet has stated during the past twenty-four
hours to a number of newspaper correspondence
that Secretary Endicott was not responsible for
the order. and that the Secretary did not direct
| its issuance Either General Benet has been
repeatedly misquoted, or he is persstently play
ing with technicalities with view to mslead-
ing the public. As stated in the Journal on
Saturday, General Benet plainly placed the re-
sponsibility OF the order upon Secretary Endi
colt. He stated that Secretary Endieott sen,
for him and told him there had been and there
was such pressure brought by Democratic poll
ticans for positions in the ordinances depart
| ment that something would have
to be done to appease their demands General
Benet stated that he replied to Secretary
Endicott that se would fix it for him; that he
drafted the order. 1t was approved by Secretary
|
Endicott saw the circular before or after it wa:
manifolded and mailed to commandants of the
different branches of the ordinance department
and whether he directed it or not, he stated, ac
cording to General Benet, that he was in a pre-
dcament, and General Benet, according to hi
own words, proposed the order, and it wa!
shown to and approved by the Secretary of Wa
before or after it was sent out which is impA
terial. General Benet proposes to relieve the
Secretary Of War by saying that the Secretary
did not direct the issuance OF the order. but &C
knowledged that Eudicott approved the sug
Restion before it was written and approved th,
order after it was sent This, General Bene
will not deny; he will not deny that the Secre
tary sent for him and told him that he was il
trouble with Democratic politicians because h,
was unable to give them positions at his com
mand and that something must be done to sta,
the camor for these places. Viewed from AL
position, the Benet order is sure TO bring con
demnaton from all Union soldiers and sailor
and their loyal friends. The subject is and ha
been for two days the leading theme of com
ment in Washington