The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-20
STAFF Is DOOMED
THB FOSSILS ARE WEEDED
OUT
BUREAUCRACY is TO BLAME
It's Direct Results an Overturning
In Several of the Offices of the
War tment-Debate May
Imperu the Fate of the Peace
Treaty.


WASHINGTON, JAN 1s-(special)-
Bureaucracy and beef, each more or
less decayed, are engrossing the pub
lie attention. Official notice has finally
been taken Of Commissary General
Eagans outrageous assault upon Gen.
Miles, but that there should have been
such delay in treating a disgraceful
episode, which 200 years ago would
have provoked a score Of duels, which
100 years ago would have awakened
fatal shots on the streets of Wash
ington, and which, occurring now, In
the army circles of any other nation,
would produce instant suspension and
prompt degradation, has aroused
mingled feeling Of amaZement, dismay
and Indignation, as If the portals Of a
whited sepulchre had suddenly swung
apart.
The belief had been universal among
the heads of bureaus at the war de-
partment that Eagan would not be
called to account. He has explained"
said one; ''he has withdrawn" said
another. Such childish blindness to
the inevitable consequences of an Of
f1cer's applying the vilest metaphors
Of the slums to his superior, not YER
bally, in the heat Of passion; but de-
Aberatey, in an elaborate written
statement, Of which copies were pre-
pared beforehand for the press, indI-
Gated belief In and reliance on the in
veterate hostility of Secretary Alger to
Gen. Mlles-the supine participation of
underlings in the prejudices Of their
chief.
The effects of all of this are to be
far-reaching. The surest of these is
that there will be no army reorgan-
1zation bill passed this session, which
does not contain provisions for q COM
plete overturning and rebuilding of
the army staff. The fossils must go,
and live men take their places, execut-
ing the will of the general command
ing, whoever he may be, and holding
assignments subject to his pleasure.
COMPLICATIONS POSSIBLE.
From the rancorous debate, which
must ensue, when the army bill Is con-
sidered, may arise combinations and
new alliances, which will defeat the
treaty Of peace, which, subject to the
unexpected, seemed certain Of ratif-
cation.
Meanwhile, the offense Of the en-
balmed beef continues to rise to high
heavens. No distincter picture Of the
constitutional f1abbiness of the Alger
investigating commission could be OBJ
tanned than flashes from a considera-
ton OF Its treatment of this fragrant
subject. 1t is unnecessary to accuse
any witness Of perjury. The fact is
that there was beef and beef, some
high and some higher. Instead of re-
morselessly tracing back each instance
OF the latter, until the responsibility
FOR Its shipment was clear and undi-
vided, the commission has proceeded
upon system Of general averages,
matching criticism with a eulogy. a
refusal to eat with a hearty appetite,
and over all will throw glamour of
what wonders we accomplished in so
short time" All Of which is an IL
lustration of the old truth that
stream cannot rise higher than it's
source.
Inc marvellous literary development
which the war caused in the army and
navy Is not alone exhibited by the
magazines. but has a further laugh
able side in the seriousness with which
the bureau chiefs treat their annual
report. For instance, Capt. A S.
CrOwninshield, chief of navigation in
the navy department, issued, Of course
at public expense and for public use,
an appendix containing practically all
the communications which passed be-
tween the navy department and COM
manding officers afloat and ashore,
which. at this time, may have some
cherishes the pamphlets as If they were
the lost volumes of the Fatimites. for
getful, In the fond infatuation of au-
thorship, that in a few short months
even the junk shops of Washington will
be chary Of them.
POSTOFFICE BILL.
The postoffice appropriation bill, which
began today to occupy the attention of
the house, contains interesting items.
For the first time fund is provided.
$4,000 in amount, for the purpose of
allowing clerks to have a vacation
without increasing the work of their
fellows. Rural free delivery receives
$500, 900, instead of $150,0O0: while the
pneumatic tubes. for the past year or
Sc on trial in New York and Boston,
must content themselves with their
own wind. Clerks and their pay are
classified; and henceforward will be
subject to statute law rather than de-
partment regulation.
Gen. Sternberg, who has just re-
turned from Cuba, reports that while
the sanitary conditions of the troops
Is fair at present, the surgeons are ap-
prehensive of a large increase in sick
ness as the spring approaches. yell
low fever is still epidemic at the sea-
ports. The surgeon general himself
seems WELL and is bearing with equa-
nimity the change of public attention
from himself and his so-called meth
eds, to beef. Time-unlike his depart
ment-cures all things, even army
scandals; and the dead at Chicka-
manga sleep well.