The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-09-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Sept. 18th. 1

w ASHINGION, u, u, sept. 18th, lSgS.
President Mckinley does not be
lleve that the war was badly man
aged. On the contrary, he knows
that it was as II whole, well managed
so well managed as to surprise the
world by the results accomplished in
an incredibly short time. He has
no idea that the most thorough in
vestigation of the conduct of the war
will uncover any mysterious evil, or
that 1t is necessary to find a scape-
goat for some great wrong. But he
does believe that dignified, dispas-
sionate and scientific inquiry, made
by men of broad gage minds and
accomplishments, will be valuable in
showing up weak spots in our present
system of running the quartermaster.
commissary and medical departments
of the army-a system intrenched in
laws that right or wrong, under exist
ing conditions, must be carried out
until the laws are changed. In other
words, that thorough inquiry will
result in pointing out the changes
that should be made to improve the
system. 1t was because of this belief
that President Mckinley concluded
to order the inquiry made and was
requested by Secretary Alger. The
Commission entrusted with the duty
of making this inquiry, will be com
posed of men who are widely known
whose findings will be accepted bv the
entire country. Generals Miles and
Shafter, who are both in Washington.
say they will welcome the closest
scrutiny of their every act, and the
same sentiments are expressed by
Sergt. Gen. Sternberg, and Gen.
Eagan, head of the COmmissary De
partment. The latter is so confident
that his department is all right that
he says he wishes the President would
have the inquiry made entirely by
his political opponents.
Owing to the rapidity with which
money is accommodating in the Treas
ury, Secretary Gage has notified the
holders of the old currency ''sixes,"
which will be payable Jan. /, next,
of his Willingness to redeem them
whenever presented. There are
about 81, 1000 900 outstanding in these
bonds. He has also offered to antici-
pate the October interest on the four
per cent. bonds. 1t will be the special
aim of Secretary Gage to see that the
money is got back into circulation
fast enough to prevent any disturb
ance in business circles.
Gov Shaw, of Iowa, came TO Wash
ington 10 see about getting the vol
unteers from his state mustered out,
but the matter had been determined
before his arrival, by the decision of
the War Department to muster out
one half of the troops from each state
In reply to a question as to the polit-
zeal outlook in his state, Gov. Shaw,
said: THE political situation in
Iowa is about as satisfactory to the
republicans as they could wish An
election is to be held in November
for State Auditor, Treasurer, Attor-
ney General, and two members of the
Supreme Court, and the verdict will
be in favorof the republican ticket by
rousing majority. Our State Con
vention this year adopted about the
most emphatic sound money plank
that has been promulgated any
where" Representative Cousins,
who was with Gov. Shaw, said the
state would send a solid republican
Congressional delegation as a matter
of course.
Commissioner Evans has issued a
statement in answer to the charge
made by Kansas populists, that his
administration of the Pension bureau
was harsh and unjust. He shows
that the average number of pensions
allowed under him has been much
higher than under his predecessor,