Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-09
PATRICK ECAN N0TRECALLED
The Washington Authorities De-
nounce the Rumors.
ARMIES SENTENCE COMMITTED
Mitigating circumstances Soften the
Presidents Heart-The Omaha
PostofHce Site Still q
Speculation.
WASHINGTON BUREAU, TIE OMAHA Bxs,
513 FoURTRRyrH STREET


513 FoURrBRNrH STREET,
WARRINGTON. d. c., June 8.
The rumor that Patrick Egan, Of Ne
braska, the newly appointed minister to
Chill, had been recalled, on account Of the
manner in which his name has been handled
during the Cronin investigation in Chicago
caused more or less comment throughout the
city, and there was a rush to the white house
and the state department to ascertain what
truth there was in the story. At the white
house the information was to the, effect that
nothing whatever was known OF the matter,
and at the state department Mr.. Blaine was
outspoken in his denunciation Of the rumor.
Mr.. Blaine said the story was absolutely un-
founded; that the department had never had
its official attention called to the connection of
Egau's name with the Cronin case, and that
the department had never for moment
thought Of recalling Mr.. Egan. Mr.. Blaine
added that as the new minister to Chilli is
only half way on his journey it would be alb.
surd to send a cablegram to him in any event
at the present time. The yarn was probably
concocted by some space writer who drew
] upon his imagination for his facts.
ARMIES SENTENCE CoMMUTED.
In the case of Captain G. A. Armes, u. s..
A., retired, sentenced by general court
martial to be dismissed from the service, the
president has commuted the sentence, in
consideralion of the good service which this
ohcer has rendered and OF some mitigating
circumstances connected with the offences of
which he was found guilty, to confinement
within such limits as the secretary of war
may prescribe and the deprivation of the
right to wear the uniform and insignia of
his rank in the army for the period of five
years.
Army and political circles were engaged
to-day in discussing the action of the presi-
dent, and almost without q dissenting voice
his action was sustained. There was a great
deal of scattering criticism over the action
of the court, however in the two cases
which have recently agitated army circles.
Major Lydecker, who was tried for gross
negligence, through which negligence the
city of Washington and the general govern.
ment together lose an enormous sum of
money, was virtually acquitted. The evil
dence before an ordinary jury would have
been sufficient to have convicted him on the
counts Of the indictment, and yet he was let
of with a censure and a ridiculous fine of
300. Major Armes, on the contrary, while
laborng under an excitement which was
quite natural under the circumstances, so
far forgot himself as to assault in a mild way
Governor Beaver, of Pennsylvania, and for
this crime was by the court-martial SEN
fenced to dismissal from the army. Presi-
dent Harrison, no doubt, failed to appreciate
the enormity of Major Armes' crime, and
for this reason he disapproves the senten ce
a
much milder punishment Is sufficient.
These two cases demonstrate the queer
ideas of Justice which are so frequently dis
covered in the findings of a court martial,
and it is believed that they will form the
basis of a new attempt in congress to formu.
late legislation which shall relieve the ju-
dicial department of the army of the ne
cessity of carrying on minor trials in time of
peace.
THE PosToFFICE SITE.
fa1,1 In
more delay in the matter of definitely fixing
upon site for the Omaha public building.
1t was announced yesterday with u good deal
OF positiveness that the committee on public
building sitcs, composed of Messrs. Tichenor,
Bachelor ana Windrim, had finally come to
an agreement, and that their report was
ready to be submitted to the secretary to-day.
When your correspondent made inquiries he
was informed that Messrs. Tichenor, Bache-
| lor and Wiudrim would hold another meeting
this afternoon, ana that there would be no
report made to the secretary until Monday
morning. Secretary Window was kept busy
with routine matters of the department until
very late hour this afternoon. and at 5
o'clock he sent out word to THE BEE cores
pondent that he had had no consultation
with his assistants in relation to the Omaha
site, and he could give no definite idea as to
when he would be able to close up this long
drawn out matter.
GOVERNMENT WASTE PAPER
The public printer has just pl epared ad-
vertisements for proposals for the purchase
of waste paper in the government printing
Office for the next fiscal year. Ordinarily a
| little item of this kind would be considered
| as of no interest, but the general public has
no idea of the enormous quantity of waste
| paper that is annually turned out of the
| greatest printing establishment in the
United States. It is estimated by the ex-
| perts of the Office that the amount for the
fiscal year of 1890 will aggregate 1, 800, 900
pounds. PERRY ). HEATH.
Sold Out to the Lead Trust.
New YORK, June S.-Ths afternoon it
was authoritatively stated that the stock