The age-herald., 1898-08-16

people and recognize their needs better than any else in this country. What ever the intent,oIs S of tte admin tratil n are at this time it is pretty safe to say that when the time comes for the appoint ment to be made that the president will be guided largely by tEe popular dsm2n1 on this subject, and name Fitzhugh Lee as the military governor for the island of Cuba.
 Besides all these matters to be settled there will be the Nicaraguan question to be debated, which will doubtless result in the building of that waterway.
 This glance at what is to be done, and to be done at once or never, will give some tdea to the newly nominated congressman what they will have to do during their first session. If the last congress was historical the next one will be almost equally so and those whose names figure on the roles will be historic ones.
 Two Absentees
 During the settlement of these questions there will be two men whose absence will be regretted by all. namely, Representa- tives Cookery, of Missouri. and Represen- tative Sayres. of Texas. They will be here for the remaining months of this congress- but the fact that they will leave congress- ional life in March will practically put them
 
 son that most of the important work to be done will be continued into the Fifty-sixth congress, when they will have become the governors, in all likelihood, of their re- spective states. The same thing is equally true of Benton McMillin. There are not three men who are better posted upon the history of this country than these three men and whose knowledge of legisla- fxyn Qn6 hor sive. Colonel Sayres who will be become the governor of Texas, is an expert on matters of appropriations and his khowl- edge and breadth makes him as great a power among the republicans as among the democrats. His sterling honesty is recognized by all parties and his advice would be incalculable to the country for the next two or three years.
 MT. Dockery comes somewhat under the scope of an objector, but his limits are not confined within this narrow term. He has the nose of a pinter and the ear Of a deer. He can smell a job mile off and al- ways has the courage of rat terrior to dig until 1t is unearthed.
 Benton McMillin has more general knowledge than either of the two named, and the ability to debate, which Is some- what lacking in Cookery and Ssyres. It is with general regret that his confreres will see him leave congress to become the gov ernor of Tennessee, for if he were ever Rceded to the democratic party he will be neded in the Fffty-sixth congress. He IS member of the ways and means committee, and. representing the minority there, would do much to add lustre to that committee in the important work 1t has ahead of 1t in the preparation of tariffs for Porto Rico, Cuba and the Philippines as well as for Hawaii.
 Others to the Front
 The retirement of these men will have the effect of pushing other men to the front. Cookery and Sayres off the appropriations committee will make Representative Liv- ingston of Georgia the ranking member among the democrats Should the house become democratic and precedent be fol- lowed he would become the chairman.
 Benton MoMillin leaving the committee on appropriations would make General Wheeler second on the minority, with only one democrat between him and the chair manship, and that democrat speakership probability, Representative Bailey of Texas.
 They are making a hard fight against General Wheeler down in his state. so 1t is reported here, but there seems no chance to defeat him. It would be well for those in his district to remember that by constant work and ability as we'll he has crept up to second on the most important committee in the whole of congress.
 Old Controversies
 The Alger-Roosevelt and the Sampson Schley controversies are still occupying the public mind in Washington a good deal these days. In the case of the former opinion seems to be veering around to the secretary of war Roosevelt has many strong friends here, but the sentiment Of the country has been aroused against him on account of his slurs upon the volunteer force of the country. People can not for give cricisim upon the volunteer who leaves everything-home, family and business everything in fact, to go raw and un- seasoned as he Is, to defend the flag and the country. Whatever the motive might be that induced Secretary Alger to make the letter public, there still remains the fact that Colonel Roosevelt got behind the regulars and fired into the volunteers.
 The story put out that Senator Platt was at the bottom of the publication of the letter has been entirely disproved. not only by Secretary Alger's denial, but by the fact that Platt has, not been here and doubtless knew nothing of the letter until he saw 1t fin print.
 Secretary Longs letter Is merely another attempt to bolster up favorite of the bu- -reau of navigation. He unquestionably dces prove the fact that Sampson has the entire confidence of the department. But he does not touch upon the part Sampson played which has sheaped upon him the abuse and criticism which the secretary so sorrows over. The failufe to do justice to Schley, his utter inability to "tote fair''