Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-01-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan is, 1S9:

Sec Alger is offering as great an insult
10 the country by protecting COmmissary
General Eagan, as Eagan offered to General
Miles, by his baekguardism in calling him
numerous kinds of liar in his testimony
before the War Investigators. If Alger
thinks that the people will allow this dis
graceful affair to end with Eagan's revision
of his testimony. he will find himself mis-
taken. Esgan deserves punishment just as
Alger does, and if they don't get it, so
much the worse it will be in the end for
the Administration. There can be no Iea-
sonable excuse for any man accustomed to
the association of gentlemen, descending
to the use of Billinsgate, no matter how
great the provoeation. In this particular
case, Eagan knew that the Administration
had done everything possible to humiliate
Miles and don htless thought that his abuse
of him would increase his popularity
with the Alger crowd Instead of Alger
promptly ordering Eagan under arrest, to
be court msrtialed for language and con-
duct unbecoming a soldier aud agentleman,
be had the nerve to say that Mr.. Kinley Is
promise of protection to all witnesses made
it impossible to arrest him, and to come
forward with the revised testimony idea.
Congress is fairly bubbling over, but is
waiting to see whether the Administration
intends to do the proper thing Gen. Miles
is also patiently waiting on the Admins
tration, and is said to have some additional
facts about the bad beef furnished our SOL
diers, which may be made known later on
Representative Berry, of Kentucky, in a
speech on the Naval bill, took occasion to
4 aorao aborn and 1acarvaI rona
at the Navy Department clique, which has
so persistently tried to deprive Schley of
the credit due him for the destruction of
Cervera's fleet, in order that it might be
given to Sampson. Mr.. Berry said !: "There
is no doubt in the minds of the American
people who is entitled to the credit OF that
victory. But there are people who are try
ing to steal away from Schley the credit he
won on the Sd day of July, 1898.
Senator Allen thinks the right sort of an
investigation could be made by a commit
tee of five Senators, no more than two of
whom shall be members of the same politi-
cal party, and he embodied his idea in a
resolution which he offered in the Senate,
and which is now before the Military Com
mittee.
A funeral is always sad, but funeral at
the Capitol always seems sadder than if
held elsewhere. Two weeks ago funeral
services were held in the Senate Chamber
over the remains of the late Senator Nor
rIli to-day, in the House of Representa-
tives, over the remains of the late Repre-
sentative Dingley, of Maine. Mr.. Dingley
resembled Mr.. Morrill, in some respects !;
he was always partisan, but never aroused
luminosity on the part of his opponents.
Senator McLaurin, of South Carolina,
made strong speech against colonization
and Imperialism by this government, in
which he referred to the change of position
on the part of those Senators who are will
ing to control colonies without allowing
the ignorant natives to vote. He was
referring to Senator Platt's speech when he
said; The Senator from Connecticut has
most amply indicated the South, perhaps
unintentionally, but we thank him the
more heartily for his completely announce
ment of the divine right of the Caucasian
to govern the inferior races
Senator Sullivan, of Mississippi, made
his maiden speech in favor of the Nicara-
qua Canal bill of Senator Morgan's, which
is TO be voted on this week. Senator Pasco,
OF Florida, also made a speech IN favor of
ZIG btlAs HUI 10 CCAbdlu " UO Pdbccu W
the Senate.
The anti-imperialism Senators supported
the motion of Senator Berry to consider the
Treaty of Peace in open executive sessions
of the Senate, but they couldn't carry it
The treaty will be considered in the usual
way. An attempt is to be msde to put the
Senate on record. either by an amendment
20 the treaty or resolution, against the
permanent ownership of the Philippines
by the US, before the treaty isv voted upon.
There are also two resolutions pending,
one offered by Senator Bacon, of Georgia,
and one by Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts,,
providing for immediate recognition of the
present Philippine government, having a
bearing on the treaty.
A delegation from the National Civil
Service League threw away some time by
appearing before the House Census Com
mittee to advocate the placing of the Cen
sns Bureau employees under the Civil Ser
vice rules. Congress is hungry for the
patronage of the Census Bureau, and no
power on earth could make it give up its
expected feast on official pap, even if there
were any real advantage in having the
Census Bureau employees put under the
Civil Service rules.