The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-11

10 the soldiers. said that they deserved
at the hands OF the government thcy 80
unsclhshly served anxious ana tender
care" and. after reference 20 the pre-
/ gent sham inquiry az Washington, made
this explicit announcement and pro-
mise:
~ am in favor Of an Investigation which
shall investigate: which shall place the
respouslhiity-let the blow fall whore 70
vflj.-The people Of western Massachu-
setfs demand a. II is their right and 1
pledge my efforts TO that end"
The Commission stares steadily ahead
an the time. utterly unable TO take IT'S
eyes or OF vacant space ana fix them
upon definite objects directly before SO,
and the result will be that after havins
stared into space for a decent and re-
spectacle time. IL will report to the pco-
pie that % has been wholly unable 10
sec ono single object that was OF sufh-
cient size to attract the organs Of the
naked eye. Their case strongly calls 10
mind scene in the immortal trial Of
Bardell versus Pickwick. When Mr.
Willer. ST.. had called to the Judge from
the gallery. spell 81 with WI. my Lord
spell 81 with . wu' the Judge sternly
called for silence and demanded Of SAM
uei II he could point out the offender. who
sat in the front row ana was seen by
every one Sam stared up at the ceiling
for half a minute and turning to tho
Judge. said ne could not see the person
The Commission is staring up al tho cell
ing and so it will entirely fail 20 see what
lies directly before it.
The Commission is asking Gen. Wheeler
and Gen. Lee all sorts Of irrelevant ques-
lions about the number of barrels OF pork
and boxes of crackers that were sent to
their commands when the vital inquiry
relates TO the alleged jobbery in the War
Department. where political favorites Sc
cured everything whether the public SER
vice suffered or prospered
why 80 on with this tomfoolery any
longer? 1t does not impose upon the
public i'm the smallest degree. The public
believes Secretary Alger has used the
power and authority conferred upon him
By the law for the benefit of the American
people as bag Of plumber from which
he could fish out rewards at his pleasure
for those who had rendered him personal
services or from whom he expected SER
vices in the future. That is the point at
which TO start the investigation. There
is The source of the evil Let the Com
mission find out the nature ana charac-
ter OF Mt Ayers appointments and then
follow these aDpointees I'm their actions
and the nature of the case viii Dee fully
disclosed TO the people
We will state a suppositious case Go the
Commission to answer as guide for it,
When the Spanish war began, one of the
most eminent military engineers now live
Ing. who served through our civil war as
an engineer and who has O letter from
General r. q. Lee certifying TO his efl-
cheney and ability as o. military engineer
i'm the strongest terms. applied for
place as colonel Of engineers. a very disc
unguished United States Senator went to
Mr. Algcr several times with This ongi-
necrs Application, slelHa nus p'iii-''
lions and the fact that be had General
Leos unqualified endorsement. The Sec
rotary ought of course. Of he had the
public good at heart. to have been dee
lighted to secure for the government iDe
services of such valuable man. The
papers certifying 10 h's qualifications
were fled in the War Department, but
The appointment went 90 some whipper-
snapper. who knew nothing but had
quill" IT could be easily shown that inc
Secretary never looked at the papers or
considered the application
Those are the cases that the people
want investigated that it may appear
whether our business was conducted as