Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-09-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington. Sept. 18th, 1898.

Washington. Sept. 18th, 1898.
President Mckinley does not be-
lieve the war was badly managed. On
the contrary, he knows thatit was as
q whole, well managed-so we'll man
aged as to surprise the world by the
results accomplished in an incredita-
BILE short time He has no idea that
the most thorough investigation of
the conduct of the war will uncover
any mysterious evil, or that it is nee
essay to find scape- goat for some
great wrong. But he does believe that
dignifed, dispassionate 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
quartermastor, commissary and med
ical departments Of the army-a sys-
tenn intrenched in laws that right or
wrong, under existing conditions,
must be carried out until the laws are
changed. In other words, that thor
ough 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
that was requested by Secretary AL
ger. The Commission entrusted with
the duty of making this inquiry will
be composed of men who are widely
known and whose findings will be ac
Miles and Shafter, who are both in
Washington, say they will welcome
the closest scrutiny of their every act,
and the same sentiments are express
ed by Serg't. Gen. Sternberg, and
Gen. Egan, head of the Commissary
Department. The latter is so con-
fident that his department is all right
that be says he wishes the President
would have the inquiry made entirely
by his political opponents.
Owing to rapidity with which mon
ely is accommodating in the Treasury,
Secretary Gage has notified the hold
ers of the old currency "sixes",
which will be payable Jan. 1, next of
his willingness to redeem them when
ever presented. There are about $14,
O00, 900 outstanding in these bonds. He
has also offered to anticipate the Oct
ober 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 disturbance in business
circles.
Gov. Shaw, of Iowa, came to Wash |
ington to see about getting the volun-
teers from the 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 question, Gov. Shaw,
said: "The political situation in Iowa
is about as satisfactory to the republi-
cans as they could wish. An election
is to take place in November for
State Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney
General, and the verdict will be in
favor of the republican ticket by
rousing majority. Representative
Cousins, who was with Gov. Shaw,
said the state would send a republican
Congressional delegation, as matter
of couse.
mmissioner Evans has issued
statement in answer to the charge
made by Kansas populists, that his
administration of the Pension bureau
was harsh and unjust. He shows that
tho avaraoe numbar of penSiOnS al |
lowed by him has been much higher
than under his predecessor. and the
average number of reflections much
lower, a showing which would not be
possible if the charge was true. One
source of grumbling has been that
Commissioner Evans has, from the
day he assumed office, given applica-
ton for original pensions precedence
over applications for increase, on the
ground that those who had no pension
should be waited upon before those
who had pension that they wished
increased, but no amount Of grumbling
can make that an unj Just policy.
The five American Peace Commits
sioners, Secretary Day, Senators, Da-
Wis, Frye and Gray, and Whitelaw
Ried, will hold a conference with
President Mckinley this week, for
the purpose of receiving their in
They are to sail from
New York on Sept. 18th. No official
has been made, or will