La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-07-09
WASHINGTON NEWS.
WHY MILES REMAINS THERE.
Value of C-rver.'s ships-Enees Abroad of
the La QussinA Battic-Mcthotisi Hook
Conccrn Scandal


Chicago, July IA special to
the Record from Washington says:
Everybody is glad that Captain Sigs-
bee has had u chance TO distinguish
himself. There was an impression
among his friends that Sigsbee should
have had n better detail than an auxil-
larry cruiser: that lie should have had
Mt least a vessel equal In Importance
to the Maine. but everything of that
sort was taken, and the st. Paul was
the best ship In sight. He has done
good service with her and carries
promise from the secretary of the
navy that he shall have the next bat
tleship that needs a commander.
Sigsbee was Mt home Il week or two
ago and said that he was very well
satisfied with his ocean scout; that
she was II splendid vessel. fast, COM
Portable and efficient for the purpose,
but he wanted her armament in
creased in order that he might be able
TO take care of himself when he met n
Spanish cruiser and not be compelled
to use his heels 10 get away. They
gave him better guns, and he started
of hoping for an opportunity that has
finally come TO him.
The President Is very much gratified
Ut Iut tolilliltuts Oh IpTtlSH lTtSs
upon the work of the rough riders at
La Quasina. The United States has
no reputation as military power.
We are generally regarded as qua
ker among nations. and this little dra-
matte exhibition of courage will do
more to attract attention and raise
the estimation of foreign critics for
our army than a dozen ordinary bat
ties.
The detention of General Miles Mt
Washington Is considered another tri-
nmph for "the Michigan outfit" as
Secretary Algcr and his associates in
the War Department are called. ana
the Michigan people In town are doing
n good deal of boasting to-day; even
more than when General Dufficld and
the Michigan brigade secured the
honor of being the first troops to leave
Camp Alger. In their pride and graf
ification they continue to declare that
'Michigan is running the war;" While
Secretary Alger Is not responsible for
these cbulitions and is only looking out
for the interests of his state, the
boasts of the Michigan men cannot be
kept from the ears of General Miles
and aggravatc the irritation that has
existed for some time. The reason the
President asked General Miles not to
go to Santiago was simply that he has
full confidence In General Shafter and
thinks 1t unwisc to divide the respon-
sibility. II the campaign there should
be IL failure or some disaster should
occur General Sliafter might excuse
himself because OF the presence of his
superior. and General Miles might ex-
plain that it wouldn't have occurred
If he had gone before. To avoid any
possibility of such an unpleasantness
1t is thought best to lay the entire re-
sponsibility upon Shafter and allow
him to have his own way.
The Spanish warships bottled up in
the hnrbOr Mt Santiago have been In
formally surveyed and value placed
upon them, which win be added to the
indemnity demanded OF Spain as 4
condition of peace should Admiral
Cervera destroy them to prevent their
capture by the American forces. The
squadron is estimated to be worth
about $12,OO0.000. Ships captured at
anchor in harbors are legitimate prizes
of war. like those taken in naval en-
gagements at sea. While 1t is not TN
usual to destroy warships and fortifi.
cations when their capture by the en-
emy is inevitable. and while Ceryera
has the recent example of the Spanish
admiral at Manila to guide him, the
American government is determined
that Spain shall gain nothing should
Its pride dictate the destruction of the
beleaguered feet. The disposition OF
the squadron. II captured. will remain
n question to be settled when a treaty
OF peace is being considered. It's stat
us will be practically the same as that
of captured territory. II would be
proper for the United Stntes to retain
the ships as additions to our navy or
return them to Spain for n considera.
ton.
At the late general conference in
baltimore an attempt was made to su.
gar over the book concern scandal by
promising that the money received
from Congress should be invested for
the benefit of superannuated clergy
men, but II appears from the festfmo-
ny drawn out mt the SENATE inyestipa-
ton that the managers have applied
the old-fashioned principle that char
ity begins at home and increased their
own salaries $500 a year each on the
strength of the recent addition to their
funds. The total appropriation was
S2SS.OO0. lobbyist Stahlmann received
S1O0.S 800. leaving balance of S1S7. 201
OF this. $f50,OO0 was invested in 4
per cent. municipal bonds of Nashville.
from which the income will be ~, O0O
year. The remaining $4,000 has
been added TO the current funds or
working capital Of the concern, which
Is considered by the management n
sufficient justification for the increase
Of salaries.