The times., 1898-12-05
'UNDERHANDED METHODS |
An Effort to Restore a Former
Engineer Commissioner.
THE FIGHT A BITTER ONE

Not Reach the President = The
Choice--secretary Alxer supports
Col. Black.
Peculiar methods are apparently not
lacking in connection with the effort now
being made to have Lieut.. Col. William
NJ. Black reappointed Engineer Commis-
sioner of the District.
Since the return of Col Black from Porto
Rico, a handful of supporters have been
straining every energy in an endeavor to
have the President take up the matter
of his reappointment. At the same time,
friends of Capt. Lansing II. Beach, the
present incumbent of the office, are active
in pressing the cause of the able and
popular young officer. They are aware of
the bitter fight that is being waged to
have him "shelved" and to make way for
Col. Black. They have been much in evil
dence at the White House during the past
fortnight. seeking to offset the Black
movement.
| Many letters praising the fair, able and
conscientious manner in which Capt.
Beach has conducted the affairs of his
Office have been sent to the President.
Just how many of these have been fav-
ored by the Presidents perusal is not
known 1t is learned that the majority
of these letters have been sent to the
War Department. 1t seems surprising
that such is the case, inasmuch as the
office Of Engineer Commissioner is a Presi-
| Dental appointment.
During the past week several petitions
| have also been sent to the White House,
| urging the retention of Capt. Beach as
! District Engineer Commissioner. These
We're signed by 25, 5,0o0 business and pro-
fessional men and friends of Capt. Beach
! in every section of the city. They never
reached the hands of the President, hav-
| ing mysteriously disappeared. Nobody
seems to know where the documents have
gone. Nor can 1t be ascertained who Is
responsible for their loss. The fact of
| their disappearance has caused a sensa-
ton among business men who knew that
| the papers were sent to the White House.
They are naturally very indignant over
the matter. Petitions which are in every
are now being circulated, in an endeavor
/ to have the former signers place their
| names on the list of those who are In
| favor of the retention of Capt. Beach.
| Considerable headway has been made.
| These will be forwarded TO the White
House and an effort made to have them
| brought to the notice of the President.
| 1t is stated that there are more things
behind the disappearance of these petit
tfrr1 ~ nrlla lima pi a m
inent citizen of Washington. who has
| Joined in the movement for the retention
of Commissioner Beach, visited the White
| House Saturday and informed the Prest-
| dent that the reappointment of former
Commissioner Black would result in addi-
| tional scandal sss 5s-s--a $50 H.
When seen by a reporter this gentleman
intimated that If Col. Black We're rein
stated there would be Congressional in
vestigation of his former conduct of the
Office He said he had personally inter-
ested himself in the movement 10 secure
| fair play for Capt. Beach and that he had
| himself canvassed senators and congress
men and found two-thirds of Congress op-
posed to the reappointment of Black, on
account of his previous record. He said
| in addition that Beach is backed by the
entire Iowa delegation, being an iowan
| himself.
| the part of the people, he continued. lin
| favor of the retention of Commissioner
| Beach. He has filled the position with
| credit and his public acts are indorsed by
almost every citizens association in
| Washington. He has been fair to every
class, and certainly the people could de-
sire nothing more. Then, again, one is
impressed with his ability. his integrity
and the conscientious manner in which he
| Tod ha off al of
| 1t is pointed out the support of Col.
| Black is to be found chiefly in the persons
| of Secretary Alger, Senator Mcmillan, and,
| in certain sense, Commissioner Wight.
| Col Black is Pennsylvania. The two
| Pennsylvania senators are known to be
| opposed to his reappointment.
Moreover, 1t is stated that Senator NC
J Millan's backing is based upon dEsire
| for the influence of the latter in behalf
| of the Pennsylvania railroad. The Sc
| cret of Secretary Alger's support has al
ready been stated in these columns. and
consists briefly of the services which
| were rendered that official in connection
with the paving of the alley in the rear
| of his X Street hired mansion. 1t will
| be remembered that the paving was
| done, notwithstanding the protests OF
taxpayers and property owners who are
| neighbors of the Secretary of War, In
| GLIDING the Rev. Randolph ii. Mckim
| and a former Commissioner of the Dis
| trict.
| The gentleman who was at the White
| House Saturday and who is quoted, says
| that IL Black is reappointed the District
| will lose two of the best Commissioners
| that have ever held office, namely, Com
| missioners Beach and Ross.
commissioner Beach, he said, sis one
of the most popular Engineer Commis-
sioners the District has ever had. The
movement in his favor is wide-reachins
and entirely spontaneous. This popularity
| is fully known to the President and he is
| too broad and too, liberal a man to ignore
! the wishes of the disfranchised citizens OF
| the District whose only resort is an ap-
| peal TO his sense of justice. If the ques-
| ton were put to a vote. nine out of every
| ten citizens would favor the retention ..
| Capt. Beach. In the name of justice,
| do not think the President Will act con-
| trary to the wishes of the people in the
| matter
Gen. John NJ. Wilson, chief of engineers
| of the army, who is the superior of both
Capt. Beach and Col. Black, is known to
| have a high personal regard for the for
| mer officer If the matter of appointment
| We're left to him II is believed that he
would prefer the retention of Capt. Beach
| Being a military man, however, he will
| make no suggestion to his superior officer
| President Mckinley, who is the commar-
der-in-chief of the army and navy of the
| country.
0DImn ADV NOmEC