The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-06-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. June 10th, 1898.


President Cleveland is deeply inter
ested in the efforts that are being
made to ascertain if the careleSsness
of any person was responsible for
the horrible tragedy in Ford's old
theatre, which killed p and injured
sixty-odd clerks in the Records end
Pensions office of the War Depart
ment, although he has wisely refrain
ed from taking any action that might
be considered as interfering with the
properly constituted authorities now
engaged in that task. Great pressure
is being brought to bear on him to
suspend or remove Col. Ainsworth,
the army officer who is at the head of
that office. and upon whom a great
many people are disposed to place
the blame, but Mr.. Cleveland's idea of
tair play is such that it is not proba-
BILE that he will take any action until
there is more tangible evidence of
Col. AinswoIth's guilt than public
clamor for making him a scapegoat.
Ii be be guilty. surely that fact can
hardly escape the c%oroner's jury now
investigating, and the army court Of
Inquiry which will take the matter up
a. the close of the inquest.
The improvement in the financial
situation has been very marked dur
ing the last few days, and the Treasu-
~ officials and others who keep close
watch on financial affairs believe that
the turn has come i'll the flow of gold
abroad and that the situation will con-
tinue to improve. 1t is certain that
the gold in the Treasury is again in
creasing at a gratifying rate and that
there is at present no demand for gold
for shipment abroad. Secretary Nor
ton expresses the opinion that from
now on orr cereals will take the place
of the gold which We have been ship
ping to Europe. and tue fact that the
large amount of gold which the
Rothsehilds contracted to furnish
austria has all been delivered, is also
thought to have been a factor in caus-
ing a cessation in the European de-
nand for gold.
The Government mas lost in actual
cas-, according to Secretary Carlisle's
figures, in carrying out tie provisions
Of the Sherman silver law. nearly ST.
o00. 900, representing the difference
between the amount paid tor the sill
Yer now stored in the Treasury vaults
and its present selling price. If it
really had to be sold at once, the loss
would probably be much greater be-
cause of the further depreciation in
price that wonld follow such a large
quantity of silver on the Market.
Among the consular appointments
.a3 Nl.o -Ant RIO. Shnk
ton R. Bedle. of New Jersey. to be
Consul at Sheffield. England, in place
OF Benjamin Folsom. resigned. MIR.
Folsom. who has held the position
since his appointment early in the
first Cleveland administration. is q
cousin of Mrs. Cleyeland's and as
"Cousin Ben" he figured in all the
republican papers as proof that Presi-
dent Cleveland was not in earnest
when he declared himself opposed te
nepotism. Wonder what those same
fellows will say now that Mr.. Folsom
has voluntarily resigned? The chan.
ees are that they will ignore it entire
Is and say nothing.
Secretary Carlisle has. in one res
pect. Il long lead of all the other heads
of departments. Since taking charg,
OF the Treasury he has replaced mon,
tlan 200 republican officials. outsid,
the classified service. with good dem
ociaIs
Democratic congressman. after
hard and stubborn fight. have sue
ceeded in convincing Postmaster Gen.
eral Bissell that his rule against til,
~cplnr IF raDrbl.aao %1,rth al,,.
postmasters who have served fou
years or more, unless charges are hlel
against them. is a bad one, and it vii
be recalled and all republicans VII,
have been in Office four years or NOR,
will be replaced by democrats Just a
fast as they can be got at in Mr.. Max
wells office.
4 letter received by Mr.. Clevelan,
this week furnishes conclusive proof
If prGof were needed. Of the wisdom
Ct the establishment IN the Pension
Bureau Of a Board of Revision. tin
sole duty of which is to go over all til
pensions tia: have been sranted IN
de- tile las of 1S9u and determiu,
whetl.c2 they We're granted in accord
ance "at' a proper construction o
tlat law. The writer of this letter
Mr.. j. VI. Burnett. is an ex-employ,
Of the office. who voluntarily resigne,
during the last administration be
cause he could not conscientious,
take part in carrying out Raum'
methods. He tells the President of
large number of pensions Illegal
granted. ana gives N dates. an,
tie numbers q the applications, 5
t1a1 his statements may be easily yer