Evening star., 1898-09-21
A Congressional Committee Would
Have Investigated Them.
REPRESENTATIVE SIMPSON OBJECTED
Admitted That He Desired to Make
Political Capital.


But for the factious opposition of pop
ulists and for democratic indecision." said
an official of the republican congressional
committee today, "a competent committee
of Congress would have been in session at
Washington and the great army camps the
greater part of the summer investigating
and correcting, ard no doubt preventing in
a large degree. the unfortunate conditions
which have existed.
I'm the closing hours OF the last session
OF Congress the chairman of the committee
military affairs, Representative Hull of
Iowa, offered a resolution authorizing the
committee on military affairs to sit during
the recess of Congress and investigate the
equipment Of the army. The republicans
were ready 10 pass the resolution. and.
with an amo Idn-ent providing expenses, TO
conduct the investigation elsewhere. The
democrats hemmed and hawed about II, un-
til Jerry Simpson, the populst, took his
cue and objected, thus killing the resolu-
ticn.
Mr. Simp.on's Motive.
1.-THE most disgraceful feature of the case
was the frank svowal of Jerry Simpson of
the reason which actuated his objection.
He openly stated that he desired to make
political capital out of the sufferings of the
soldiers. Mr.. Simpsons patriotic and broad
gauged remarks they appear in the
Congressional Record were as follows;
'Mr. Sp eaker. L want to say to the gen.
ueman from iowa that We have within the
last month passed bill after bill providing
for a thorough organization of the army.
Inspector generals without number, and we
have all these officers 10 look after the
matters in connection with the army. 1 do
not see any sood TO come out of commit
tee Of civilians to investigate II, and want
the party ir power that appointed the men
to assume the responsibility, and therefore
l object 10 the consideration of this bill.
Mr.. Hulls resolution provided as fol-
lows:
That the committee on military affairs
have power to sit during the adjournment
of Congress, and make such investigation
as to the organization and equipment OF
all branches of the army as il may deem
advisable, and report to the next session
of Congress-
What Could Have Been Done.
Now. the committee military affairs
included in its membership veterans of the
civil war. ex-confederates and Union men,
Their experience made them capable of
judging how the army was being admins
tered, and they could undoubtedly have
been influential in correcting many mis-
takes. Explaining the resolution in the
House. Mr.. Hull said that day:
The complaints that have come to the
committee have been of such a character
that l think it would be well for the COM
mittee to have the right to sit during the
adjournment of Congress to investigate the
equipment of the army, so that We can an
sWer those charges made against the differ
ent departments of the army from our own
knowledge, and not be compelled TO de-
pend entirely on Information furnished us
by the departments involved. Power is
given the committee simply to sit during
the adjournment Of Congress and mawe
lnh inn jcrof fha,r
different departments, such as the commits
sary department, the Quartermaster's de-
partment, the ordnance department and
the hospital corps.
1 will say that this resolution does not
provide for the payment of the expenses of
the committee, and they Will have to pay
their own expenses where they travel. /
did no: want it, for myself at least, to be
thought that We wanted to fix up a Job
but do believe that the House should pass
resolution of this kind, so that the mem
bers or the committee, or a part of the
committee, should be able to go to Fort
Alser, Tampa and Chattanooga with power
10 make proper investigation of the diff
ferent camps
Responsibility for Defeat
Mr. Richardson and Mr. RajIev ouss-
toned Chairman Hull at some length, and
when Mr.. Moody of Massachusetts offered
an amendment to pay the expenses of the
committee Mr.. Bailey said:
Il desire to say to the gentleman from
Iowa that If there is any real necessity
Iof thls am not only willing to see the
committee authorized to sit but L would
be willing to see the reasonable expenses
OF the committee incurred in travel paidi
but inasmuch as the committee draw q
good salary it seems TO me if the sessions
are TO be here the amendment is nor nee
essary.'
1t was then that Mr. Simpson broke in
with his objection. even after Mr. Moody
Withdrew his amendment for expenses In
view OF these facts, which are borne our
Dy the Record, the men who caused the
failure of that resolution must carry a
heaVy load of responsibility"
Democratic Outlook i'm Illinois.
The democratic congressional committee
mas received letter from Mr.. Geo. B. Par
sons states attorney at Shawneetown, H..
relative to the outlook for the democracy
in that state. He says:
Our prosI ects are very bright We shall
certainly carry the lower branch of the
legislature, but owing 20 the large number
of hold-over republican senators NAV not
control both branches on joint ballot
we VIII, l am sure, send nine democrat
lc representatN es to Congress, outside of
Cook county. Notwithstanding We have
nearly 1,OOO democrats from this district in
the army at Jacksonville we shall elect
eX-Representative Robert Williams (candi-
date for Congress) by big majority"