The Washington critic., 1890-04-16
cAN sucn rn1Nes nr. MR. cunrIs2


Rumora Anent the Carnegie dinner
and other Pan A merican Events.
Uo,l,p0ion Correspondence of the 81 Lodi
RoDB5iic.
The members Of Congress are in a
hiph state of indignation because they
were not invited to witness the review
of troops in the White House Lot yes.
terday afternoon. Not only were they
not invited, but when they tried to gain
admission to the grounds they were for
bidden to enter aud were threatened
with policemen's clubs If they did not
90 back. The members of the press
were treated in the same way. A bar
rier was put around the grounds, car
riages were given the right.of way next
to the fence, and behind the carriages
people who desired to see the review
could stand and try to look through
the carriage windows or climb on the
wheels and try to look over
Mr. William Elroy Curtis, who has
been the valet-in chief to the Pan
American Congress since their arrival
in this country, is the author, 1t is
understood, of this proceeding. He
wanted to have 1t an entirely exclusive
affair. He kept the newspaper men
rigidly out of the grounds, and they
would not complain, as members Of
Congress were also kept out, only Mr.
Curtis put his own stenographer on the
Presidents reviewing stand, and Mr.
Curtis himself dictated to him during
the proceedings. Mr.. Curtis, it should
be observed, in addition to being the
valet-in.chief, man of all work and
general roustabout for the Pan Ameri.
cans and Secretary Blaine, is also n
correspondent of Chicago paper. He
secured q scoop yesterday.
II is probable, however, that his
action in denying Congress admission
to the grounds will cause him trouble.
If he had denied Democratic Con
gressmen, but let in the Republicans.
of course he would have been all right
but he kept them all out, and conse-
quently they are mad, and to-day they
are talking of investigating him. If
they do there will be some rich de-
velopments. Curtis had charge of the
Pan Americans during the great spin
around the circle last fall. He carried
the purse for the Secretary of State,
and paid all expenses. 1t is common
talk here that he made considerable out
of the journey. 1t is alleged that at
certain cities, where the Pan Americans
were entertained by the citizens without
cost to the Government, that Mr.. Curtis
estimated the cost of the entertainment,
put the amount in his pocket and
charged the State Department with the
full amount, just the same as If he
paid 1t out for the entertainment of the
couDtry's guests.
There are also some notorious wine
scandals. At the great Carnegie Bel.
schaZZar feast, of which Curtis had
charge, 1t is said that a certain wine
firm in New York paid him SO, 900 tc
print the names of their wines on the
bill of fare. This he did. Itis alleged
that he made contracts of somewhat
similar nature with other wine concerns
some of which contracts conflicted with
each other and made him a great dea
of trouble. 1t has been common gos
sip in Washington for some time back
but now that he has offended Congr ss
men by depriving them and members Of
their families admission to the Whit,
House lot to witness the review they arr
talking of reveneing themselves upoG
him by investigating his conduct. which
beyond all doubt has been public anC
national scandal for some time back.
His selling of his name to a wint
house here in Washington for an ad
vertisement Of cheap wines was referred
to in these dispatches several months
ago. From all accounts he has beer
doing the same kind of thing ever sine,
he fell in with the Pan Americans
Blaine gave him the title of the execu
tive officer Of the International Con
gress, and he takes charge Of all pro
ceediDgs in which the an-American
are engaged. He understands thor
oughly how to cast an anchor to wind
ward. and as Blaine has been engaged
in that kind of business himself in tn,
different periods of his life, it is pre-
sumed that he has very active sym
pathy for the business instinct of hi
assistant 1t is to be hoped that Con
gress will order the investigation
Some rich and racy proceedings woult
undoubtedly be brought to light will
but very little labor and at very littl
expense.