The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1899-02-25
GENERAL EAGAN's REWARD


Brigadier.G General Chas. P. Eagan,
commissary general of the United
States army, has just been suspended
from duty for period of six years to
receive the full nay OF his rank during
the entire term, which is $500 per
year. The extraordinary sentence inn
posed upon General Eagan by the pres.
ident justly causes people generally to
ask, sis it intended as a reward or a
punishment Under the laws the
president has no authority to confer
a leave of absence for meritorious con
dnct or for any other reason upon any
officer of the army an1 allow him full
pay during such leaye, for a longer
period than thirty days. After thirty
days have elapsed oue-half pay can be
allowed which Ia the limit under the
law. Therefore, the only rational
conclusion that it is possible to draw
from the liberal and complimentary
sentence passed upon General Eagan
is that under the guise of punishment
the president found the means of con-
ferring upon him a mark of esteem
and favor of an extraordinary char
acter.
The question will naturally suggest
itself what brilliant achievements on
the part of General Eagan has singled
him out for such extraordinary favor,
or what distinguished services to his,
country has won for him a reprieve
from duty with full pay for term that,
undar the statutes. the president could
not have bestowed on Grant, Sheridan,
or Sherman.
When the answer is received that
the term of six years suspension from
service with full pay shal not been ac-
corded to General Eagan as a favor,
but on the contrary Is the sentence
upon him by the president
as punishment, in pursuance of YER.
1ict rendered by court-martial, which
'ound him guilty of conduct unbecom.
ing an officer and prejudicial to good
order and discipline in the army, it
difficult for those not familiar
With the mysteries of the war depart
nent in the conduct of the war with
spain to understand it's meaning.
That President Mckinley should or
Ter high official of the war depart
nent to be court-martialed for an Of !
ense. and after being tried. duly con:
icted, and his dismissal from service |
recommended by the court, he should |
hen pronounce such an extraordinary
Is certainly one ofthe things |
hat is beyond the ken of ordinary
lortals to understand. The sound |
hind and the enlighteaed conscience
the American nation will not recog-
ize this sentence as punishment,
nd will esgerally inquire further into
he whole matter in search of ration
| explanation of this unseeming con-
uct of their chief executive.
The question will naturally suggest
self, what was the offense or crime of
'hich General Eagan was convicted.
nd for which he receives such an ex.
sentence. The offense
onsisted in villifying his superior
fhcer, namely. General Miles, the
cad of the army. in his testimony be.
IRE the commission appointed by the
resident to Investigate the conduct
the war. using low, vulgar bilings
ate "a follows:
"He lies In bis throat; he lies In his
cart; he lies in every hair Of his head
nd every pore of his body. He lies
ilfully, deliberately, Intentionally
nd maliciously."
In pronouucing the sentence the
resident prefsees 1t with the follow.
,g:
The accused, after trial by court
artial combosed Of officers of high
ink and distinguished services, has
sen :ound guilty of conduct unworthy
IN olscsr holding . commission Of