The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-04-02
THEYAREMENOHNERVE
Lamont and Miles Want Their
Own Way.
AND SO DOES CAPTAIN B0UTELLE.
Walter wei,man Says One Trouble Of Con-
gress IL Its Lack Of Coursge-Men Who
Are Afraid OF Public Opinion-Ths New
Smoking Rule.

WASHINGTON. April I. - Especial. J.
Onoo the most Interesting incidents Of the
winter Is the quarrel that has broken out
between the secretary of war, Colonel La
mont. and the general of the army. General
Miles. Perhaps II Is not quite fair To call
1t quarrel, though IL comes very near It
Secretary Lamont's letter to the military
affairs committee of the senate opposing
the promotion of General Miles to the rank
OF lieutenant general caused quite sensa-
ton In army and political circles. 1t had
been known for some time that there was
not a very cordial feeling between the two
men. Their differences had never broken
into open rupture, but each felt that the
other was inimical to him. According to
the gossips Secretary Lamont had opposed
the assignment OF General Miles TO the
generally of the army to succeed Scho6eld,
but had been oyerruied by the president.
Both Positive Men.
When General Miles came to Washing
ton, the friends of the two men predicted
clash. Both are positive and fond Of hav-
ing their own way. General Miles soon
began talking In q way which led people
to suppose that he intended to manage the
army as its official head and others knew
that this would not do at all, for Secretary
Lamont is the actual head of the army.
He has never tolerated any undue interior
ence with his authority by the officers Of
the line, and 1t Is q common saying In
army circles that "the little secretary
never heard gun fred, but no Is tho best
soldier OF them all.
When Mr.. Lamont became secretary Of
tal hn
most of his time to politics and to helping
President Cleveland with other features of
his administration and that the officers of
the line stationed In the department would
have free swing to run the army to suit
themselves. IL these officers INDUCED In
any such expectations, they have been
grievously disappointed. Mr.. Lamont has
given exceedingly close attention to the
details of the war department IL Is said
that no secretary of war for years past has
SO fully mastered the work of the Office
and become SO familiar with every thread
and line of army matters. He has had a
mind of his own and has introduced
great many changes In the methods Of do
ing business. IL anything, Secretary La
mont has been more active than ever be-
fore since the appearance of General Miles
in the office of general Of the army and II
Is pretty well understood In army circles
that while Mr.. Lamont remains at the
head Of the department General Miles
business will consist chiefly of Issuing the
orders which arc prepared in the Office of
the secretary and placed on his desk for
counter signature and publication.
The Bold Bouteiie.
Ono of tho boldest men in the whole
congress Is Mr. Boutelle of Maine. Mr..
Boutelle is fast gaining reputation as the
member Of congress who Is not afraid to
stand up and fight everybody else, includ-
| ing his own party associates. When the
Venezuelan Case came up In the house last
| December and a storm OF enthusiasm
l swept through congress, Mr.. Boutelle was
l tho only man who had the courage to in
sist upon little delay and elaboration.
| Again, when the Cuban resolutions were
brought In, Mr.. Boutelle delayed action
by an objection intorposed under circum-
stances requiring tho highest order of
moral courage. Single handed and alone
Mr.. Boutelle opposed the bill to move the
disability from Confederate officers who
had previously taken the oath to support
the United States government. There are
| not many men who would care to adopt
| an attitude sure to make them unpopular
| with their associates and In the eyes OF
| the country, but Mr.. Boutelle Is surely
sincere In all that no does, and no there
| fore commands the respect even OF the men
| who do not agree with him.
One trouble with congress Is the cow
ardce Of its members. 1t is n matter of
| general comment that few senators or rep
resentatives have the nerve to oppose a
measure which Is very popular or for
which there has been an outburst Of public
sentiment Conversely they are afraid to
support bills which have merit In them
selves, but which are under the ban of
popular displeasure This is particularly
| true of the first session of n congress or
before the congressional elections. There
/ are plenty Of measures which cannot by
| any possibility be passed through tho house
| at this session which next winter will have
| no trouble at all. That will be after cleo
ton. 1t Is understood by every one that
the bill to arrange refunding Of tho Pa
| ciiio railroad debt will not DO brought up
for consideration at this session. ~ II Is,
it will have few friends. But noxt session
every one expects 1t to pass by large ma
jority. So also with the bill to legalize
pooling of railroad earnings. Many emi-
nent students Of the economics CT railroads
believe pooling an absolute necessity.
The members Of the Interstate commerce
commission favor II. The bnuCe has once
passed bill for this purpose. But The
friends Of the measure have abandoned
their plan TO push it through at this SEES
sion.
No Smoking Allowed.
| Loud nre the complaints at an order of
the senate which was issued few days
ago. 1t prohibits smoking In all tho cor.
ridors and galleries of the senate wing OF
the capitol. The capitol police arc in
structed TO carry out this order to the let
ter and every few minutes there Is an In
toresting scene as member of the house,
| former senator, a cabinet officer, news
paper correspondent, big visiting politi
| clan or some other person who imagine'
| himself of Importance comes along with
| cigar between his lips and Is 'called down
by tho ubiquitous police. Some way OF
| other the new order docs not appear TO b'
| American Ii Is too freakish md nice
OF course smoking Is not tolerated In an!
OF the galleries OF the senate chamber ant
never was. But to say that n gentleman
on his way from the restaurant to com
mittee room shall not smoke rs he passc
through the corridor Is carrying matters =
a ridiculous extreme. Employees of tn
senate havo to go over to the house end O
the capitol when they want 10 smoke a
the same time the unlawful selling q
liquors goes on In the senate restaurant
every minute Of the day.
WALTER wELLMAN
Capitei Punishment In CaiaDsr.