The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-08-11
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Aug. sth, 1898.

ON'3
Just when the administration is
bringing the war to a successful close
by forcing the acceptance of its terms
OF peace by Spain may seem an map
propriate time to entertain suspicious
of the intentions of that administra-
tion, but those who keep their eyes
open cannot ignore facts. Several
men known to enjoy Mr.. McKinley's
confidence have said that he Gid not
wish the treaty of peace that is to be
negotiated by commissioners repre-
senting the U. S. and Spain to be
completed in time to be discussed in
the Congressional campaign, for fear
that it might become political ques-
ton and thus cause its rejection by
the Senate. What does he expect
that treaty to cCntainl Evidently
something that he thinks the people
will not approve and which would, if
known during the campaign, be like
ly to cost the republican party votes.
This seems to justify the criticism of
the terms of peace because of their
not being more explicit as to what
matters should be left for the Peace
Commissioners to determine. Mr..
Mckinley and his administration have
been loyalty supported by Congress
and by the people, regardless of poll
tics, in the conduct of the war, but
that support will not be extended to
the treaty of peace, if that treaty in
cludes anything to which SPAN ought
not to be entitled. Spain has been
whipped as bad as any country ever
was, and is entitled to nothing but
what this country chooses to give her.
For many reasons it is hoped that this
suspicion will prove to be unfounded,
but it has been invited by Mr.. Nc
Kinleys own talk.
Interest in the war served the
republicans numerous good turns this
year, not the least of which was pre-.
venting the attention of the public
being centered upon the big deficit
the government closed the fiscal year
with. Although the government
received from the sale of the Pacific
Railroads $6A75I,as3, the expendi-
lures for the year were So 3,o47,247
in excess OF receipts, and leaving the
railroad money out of the calculation
the deficit was $9S,a4o,Io3, A very
clever statement prepared by Assist
ant Secretary Howell, of the Treasury
Department, has been made public,
in which an attempt is made Mshow
that war expenditures were largely
responsible for the big deficit. But
even accepting Mr.. Howells esti-
mate; that $s6,ooo,ooo of the
expenditures were made for war pur-
poses, would leave deficit of $4a,-
249,Io5 for the year.
When the war is over there is like
ly to be some plain talk from men
who kept their mouths shut while the
fighting was going on, because they
did not wish to even seem to en-
courage the enemy to believe that the
government was not Loyalty support
ed by all our people in its conduct of
the war. Among the acts of the ad-
ministration that are likely to be fully
ventilated at the next session of Con
gress, whether it be an extra session
or not, are the following, already
plainly touched upon by Representa-
tive James Hamilton Lewis: Why
did the government pay $362,o for
the collier Merrimac, in bad condi-
tion, that only cost $Io2, ,ooop Why
was Senator Hanna's brother paid
$Io2,ooo for yacht that only cost
$4,000 ? Why did the Navy Depart
ment offer Mr.. Vanderbilt $25o, 900
for yacht that only cost him $6o,-
900 How did wealthy New York
er get SIoo, 900 for an old hulk that
was raised out of the mud to be sold
to the government Why were Ger
tain contracts made for transportation
of troops at rate of $I2 man when
responsible bidders had offered to do
the work for $7.2e a man7 These
are specimens of hundreds of ques-
tlons that will be asked, and answers
demanded, when it can be done with
out injury to the country. Unless an
unusual lot of lying has been indulged
in, the administration is responsible
for putting lot of unearned money
into the pockets of favored individuals.
Democrats will probe these stories to
the bottom and let the people know
the truth from the floors of Congress.
AS the official statement of the
terms of peace offered to Spain, is
sued this week from the White House,
has no mention whatever of the $780,
100000 IN Spanish bonds which are
charged against Cuba, it seems that