Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-09-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent }
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 12, '9s.

aged--so well managed as TO sur
prise the world by the results nc
complished in an incredably short
time. He has no idea that a most
thorough Investigation of the con-
duct of the war will uncover any
mysterious evil, or that it is neces-
sary to find a scrape- goat for some
great wrong. But he does believe
that dignified, dispassionate and
scientific inquiry, made by men of
broad gauge minds and accomplish
ments, will be valuable in showing
up weak spots in our present sys-
tenn of running the quartermaster,
commissary and medical depart
ments of the army-a system in
trenched in laws that right or wrong
under existing conditions, must be
carried out until the laws are
changed. In other words, that a
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 that was
requested by Secretary Alger. The
Commission entrusted with the
duty of making this inquiry, will be
composed of men who are widely
known and whose findings will be
accepted by the entire country.
Generals Miles aud Shafter, who
are both in Washington, say they
will welcome the closest scrutiny of
their every act, and the same senti-
ments are expressed by Serg. Gen.
Sternberg and Gen. Eagan, head of
the Commissnry Department. The
latter is so confident that his de-
partment is all right that he says
he wishes the President would have
the inquiry made entirely by his po-
litical opponents.
Owing to the rapidity with which
money is accumulating in the
Treasury, Secretary Gage has noti-
fed the holders of the old currency
''sixes, which will be payable Jan.
1, next, of his willingness to redeem
them whenever presented There
are about $14,OOO,0O0 outstanding
in these bonds. He has also offered
to anticipate 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 disturbance i'll business circles
Gov. Shaw, of Iowa, came tc
Washington to see about getting
the volunteers from his State mus
tered 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 political outlooR
in his State, Gov. Shaw said: "ThC
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, Attorney Ger
eral, and two members of the Su
preme Court, and the verdict will
be in ravor of the Republican ticket
by a rousing majority. Our Stat,
Convention this year adopted about
the most emphatic sound money
plank that has been promulgated
anywhere. Representative Cous.
ins, who was with Gov. Shaw, sal
the State would send solid Repub
lican Congressional delegation, as {
matter of course.
COMMISSIONS, Evans has ISIS ued (
statement in answer to the charg,
made by Kansas populists, that hi
administration of the Pension Bur
eau was harsh and unjust. H
shows that the average number o
pensions allowed under him ha
been much higher than under hi
predecessor, and the average mum
Der of reflections much lower, ;
showing which would not be possi
BILE if the charge was true. On,
source of grumbling has been tina
Commissioner Evans has, from th,
day he assumed office, given appli
cations for original pensions prece
dence over applications for an in
crease, on the ground that thos'
who had no pension should be wait
ed upon before those who had a pen
sion that they wished increased
but no amount of grumbling caT
make that an unjust policy.
The five American Peace Commits
sioners-Secretary Day, Senator
Davis, Frye, and Gray, and Hon
Whitelaw Reid-will hold a confer
ence with President Mckinley thi
week, for the purpose of receivin {
their instructions. They are t.
sail from New York on the 18th
I