New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-10-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.

bflgadier General 5. V. Benet, Chief
OF Ordance U. S. Army, in his anxiety
to help the Democratic party, has got
himself into trouble, as well as the adj
ministration. In 1886 he sent a conf
dental circular to the commanding Off
GERS OF the national armories at Spring
field, Mass, and Rock Island, ILL.,, and
OF the United States arsenals at New
York, West Troy, N. Y, Philadelphia,
Pa, Boston, Mass, and Benicia, Califor-
MIA, ordering them to discriminate in
favor OF Democrats in the employment
and discharge of employees of every
grade. including women and children.
The secret was well kept, and was only
recently discovered by the widow of a
Republican soldier, who, together with
her child, was discharged from the Rock
Island Arsenal. She demanded of the
commandent the reason of her dis
charge and he showed her copy of the
confidential circular of Gen, Benet's.
The matter has created great indigna-
ton here, as it is the first time that any
man has attempted to manipulate Army
affairs in the interests of either political
party. Gen. Benet makes no attempt
to deny or palliate his offence; 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 yet not been fully decided upon, but
the universal sentiment among fair
men is that Gen. Benet and Sec
retary Endicott should be punished for
this gross violation of law.
The idea that Army officers, as class
are more honest than other men has Just
received terrible setback by the dis
covery of great frauds in the building
of the aqueduct tunnel, which is intend.
edto increase the water supply of this
city, which is being built under the SUI
pervision of Army Engineer Officers.
The facts already discovered show con-
that the Army Officers have
been guilty of criminal neglect of duty,
if of nothing worse. Congress proposes
to 60 into a 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-sutfering citizens of Washing
ton add a fervent Amen.
Dan Lamont went over to New York
last week to see if he could not do some-
thing to improve the rapidly waning
fortunes of Cleveland in that State.
His mission was not successful. He
was quietly informed by the local poll
ticians that the best thing he could do
for Cleveland was to keep his hands off
and go back to Washington.
Justice Matthews, who has been quite
i'll, is now much better, and his physi.
clans hope that he will be able to take
part in the opening of the Supreme
Court next Monday.
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 Nation
al League, where an enthusiastic meet
ing was held. Among the speakers
were Senator Dolph, Representatives
johnson, Houch, Perkins, aad other.
The big ball started West from here.
It will 60 through West Virginia, Ohio
and Indiana, and there is possibility
OF its going as far as the Pacific coast.
Clerks in the departments here have
all received circular letters from the
Democratic National Committee, asking
them to contribute to the campaign
fund. This, in addition to the personal
solicitation of the local Democrats,
makes the Government clerks life any
thing else but pleasant one just now.
The House has not had quorum for
a week past, and little business of pub
lie Importance has been transacted. It
is not thought that the House will again
have quorum present until after the
election.
Senator Chandler s resolution provid-
ing for an investigation of the Louisiana
election brought on a sharp, personal,
and political debate in the Senate, in
which Senator Coke tried to see how of
ten he could violate the rules of the
Senate by using unparliamentary Ian
guage. Senator Gibson made q speech
on the same subject the day before, in
which he virtually admitted that the
elections in his state Iouisiana, were