The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-04-14

WEDNESDAY, APRIL IA, 1897.
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor.
PRESIDENT MCKINLEY's announced
policy of reinstating all ex.Union SOL
diers who were dismissed from Office
by the democrats for no other reason
than their politics, is being carried out
in all the government departments as
fast as the heads of the departments
can get around to the cases. In the
cases of the chiefs Of divisions, the
democrats are being given better treat
ment than they gave republicans.
They are allowed to remain in office, in
lower position, instead Of being dis
missed, as so many republicans were
under the last administration.
THE Senate passed without an OPP
posing vote Senator Aliens resolution
requesting President Mckinley to in
terpose to save the life Of General Ri
vera, the Cuban patriot recently taken
prisoner by the Spaniards and con-
demned, by drum head court martial to
be shot. Secretary Sherman, unlike
his predecessor, Immediately presented
the matter to the Spanish minister and
as result of this humane interposi-
ton Ruis Rivera is to be treated as a
prisoner of war. And II Rivera, why
not the faithful staff officer taken with
him7 And why not every private SOL
der taken in this or any other action?
Score one for the American eagle.
A REPUBLICAN Senator, speaking Of
the talk to the effect that the appoint
ment of Hon. Theodore Roosevelt as
assistant secretary of the Navy might
make trouble, said: " Roosevelt may
make trouble in the Navy department,
but if he does it will be in the interest
of better administration of it's affairs,
Just as he has made trouble for the law
breakers of New York city who had
long enjoyed police protection. no.
tice that in all the trouble stirred up by
Roosevelt he has always had the sup
port of those who believed in showing
up and reforming wrong-doing wher-
ever found, and am willing to stand
behind all the trouble he makes in the
Navy department"
Mr.. CLEvELAND's order reducngg
the number of pension agencies, which
was to 60 into effect September l, will
not survive the official death of its au-
thor. Pension Commissioner Evans
has ascertained by investigation that
instead of saving money, as Mr.. Cleve-
land claimed, it would cost more to sup
port the consolidated agencies. He
said on the subject: "While have no
authority to speak for the President, 1
have excellent reasons for believing
that the order will not 60 into effect,
and that the eighteen pension agencies
will remain as they are" Commission
er Evans also says that Mr.. Cleveland's
order placing pension examining sur
geons under the civil service rules will
be revoked, except in the cases Of ex-
aminers who receive $500 year or less.
REPRESENTATIVE Jerry Simpson,
from Kansas, made, last week, an at
tempt to prove that he was bigger
man than Speaker Reed or the entire
House of Representatives, but he only
proved himself an ass, if any proof of
that fact were needed. He thought, or
thought he thought, that he could COM
pei Speaker Reed to appoint the COM
mittees and the House 60 ahead with
miscellaneous business, although ma.
jority had decided that the legislation
of the extra session should be confined
to passing the leftover appropriation
bills and the tariff bill, both of which
the House has done. Jerry made the
point of "no quorum" to prevent the
House from adjourning from Saturday
to Wednesday, but Speaker Reed had
no difficulty in counting quorum, and
Jerry found himself down while the
House laughed and adjourned. Whether
he intends to get himself knocked
down every time the House meets just
for the notoriety there is in it, is yet to
be seen. 1t is evident that Speaker
Reed regards Jerry merely as a repro
duction of ARENAS Wards famous
kangaroo, an amusing little cuss."
a CoNTEMP oRARY repeats the
weighty argument that has been ad.
vanced in defence of the collateral in
heritance tax law passed at the last
session, that it may raise from 500 900
to $4,000 revenue, and supplements
this reason with the conclusive allega-
ton that other States have a similar