Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-21
ORDERED TO REPoKr 10 NILES.
The way Secretary Proctor Has Promoted
Col. McKeevsr.


Az INTERESTING STORY FRon rHR var DEPART
NENr-wHy CLERK ENGAGED A NEWSPAPER
CORRESPONDENT WAS pfsnlssEp-ooL- n'KEE-
vKR's oFFExss AND A NOVEL PUNmHxESr.
The War Department and that mart Of the
army that is in Washington are intensely agi-
lated just now over q series Of events that may
prove productive Of even further results. II
that the military administration and Col.
Chauncey McKeever, assistant adjutan,
general, are not exactly in harmony
Several small incidents have occurred
to widen the breach between the two. espe-
cially since the opening Of the present Sioux
campaign. Gen. McKeever, il is well known,
is not an admirer of Gen. Miles, and has lost
no opportunity to express his opinions in such
way that his words almost invariably reached
the ears Of his superiors and produced still
further enlargement His criticisms of the
conduct OF the campaign have been outspoken.
not only 70 his Colleagues and neighbors. but
also to various newspaper men who happened
to visit him, and in many cases rather severe
structures and unguarded expressions were re-
ported as having come from him. The Fact
that Gen. Miles Is in high favor with the Wash
| ington authorities has not tended 10 smooth
matters at all, but has rather had the opposite
| effect.
TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER ROOM.
The first result Of the straining of relations
was made visible about two months ago. when
Gen. Williams, assistant adjutant general, was
ordered to duty here and given the work
formerly performed by Gen. McKeever.
In charge of the A. C. and P. branch
| OF the adjutant generals Office. He was also
given the room used by Gen. McKeever. who
was sent into an Office with two other officers
and given charge Of the military academy
division, consisting Of two men. This was
thought at the time to be direct
the effect would be that Gen. Nc
keever would ask for his relief from this city.
| But such was not the case. Even this warning
did not seem TO stop the flow Of censure from
him and the official world kept wondering when
the final crash would come.
TWO REPORTS GIVEN OUT.
1t came few days ago. By some means or
other couple Of official documents reports
from Gen. Miles and Col. Forsythe in regard
to the Wounded Knee creek fght-came into
Gen. Mckeever's possession. and day or 10
later they appeared in the columns of New
York paper. And now begins another chapter.
The correspondent of that paper. Mr.. Geo.
Rouzer, is or was clerk in the Office Of the
building having held this dual post for some
time 1t was he who, in the course of his
news hunting, ran across Gen. Mckeever
and was given these reports. Think
ing that the Secretary had a right to
| give out such news, he unhesitatingly sent the
matter to his paper and the latter accepted il.
When Secretary Proctor saw this information
| thus spread before the world he began to won
der where it came from, and knowing the situa-
| tions held by Mr.. Rouzer sent for him and
| asked him to tell who gave him the reports.
THE CORRESPONDENT PUNISHED.
/ L. H.
nalist, refused to divulge, but asked permission
to 60 to his informant and secure authority to
use his name. The Secretary took the ground
that upon principle he had the right to
| obedience from clerk. and that even
asking for permission from an officer also under
| his direction to give him-the Secretary-the
information he desired was act of insubordi.
nation, and SO he concluded to assert his right
| in the case by telling Mr.. Rouzer that he
might consider himself discharged. The
newspaper man was stronger than the clerk
and even this threat did not shake Mr.. Rouzer'l
fidelity to his friend. Hence he received a
notice that evening signed by all three secreta.
| rles, by whom he was appointed, to the effect
| that bis services were no longer required.
Mr.. Rouzer then told Secretary Proctor that
| it had been his intention for some time to with
| draw from the government service in order to
he asked that he be reinstated solely
that he might resign and thus
avoid being shown on the records as having
| been dismissed. The Secretary at first refused
to grant this request, but it is understood thai
| influences are being brought to bear on him
| that may cause him to change his mind.
| GEN. M'KEEvER ADMITS L.
| Finally. the last chapter, which is the mos,
int, esting of all. The Secretary found out
who gave out the reports. There was but one
| copy of these documents beside those used Of
| fcially and thesp it known were in the
hands Of Gen. McKeever when last seen.
letter was sent around by the adjutant general
to each of his assistants, asking the question,
point blank: Who gave the reports away.
Gen. Mckeevers Endorsement WAS a
confession that not knowing the matters were
to be kept secret he had let Mr.. Rouzer see the
| papers. As soon he heard of the CORE.
spondent clerks trouble he went to him and
told him to use his name, but all this was toe
late.
| ORDERED TO REPORT TO MILES.
Last evening an order was signed by Secre.
tary Proctor to the effect that Gen. McKeeve,
was thereby detached from his duty here and
ordered to report-just see where-to Gen
| Miles for duty as adjutant general of the di.
vision of the Missouri, to relieve Col. h. c.
Corbin, who is sent to the department Of Ari-
| iona.
Thus the two enemies are to meet. Just
| what will happen in Chicago when the cruel
| wal OScE duo TIC ScHcTul COuuauulnB Tue
division and his adjutant general. who hardly
speak as they pass by, come into each Others
official neighborhood. is at present the topic Of
| conversation in the War Department.
| Col. Corbin will relieve Maj. Gilmore at Los
Angeles and the latter will take station in this
| city.
1t is not known whether Gen. Miles requested
this move, nor is it understood just whose fer
tile brain devised, as a new form of punish
ment, the plan OF sending man to serve his
| enemy.
1t is not thought that the action is the result
OF the giving out of the report, but rather a
elimination of the various acts that have pre-
coded that incident
DISTRICT APPROPRIATIONS.
| The Previous Question Ordered ON the Bill
| This Afternoon.
After the House journal had been approved
| by vote Of 1855 yeas. 11s nays, 152 republicans