The National tribune., 1899-03-23
CHAT OF THE CORRIDORS.

The Encouragement of seats in the Sem
ate Chamber has been made, and it was
found that for the first time in years
eight Republican Senators next Congress
will have to sit with the Democrats. The
first three seats in this section will be oc
cupied by Senator Foraker, Senator De-
pew, and Senator Kean, of New Jersey.
Senator Spooner s,ndf Senator Beveridge
will sit Immediately behind Senators Fer
seats will be retained for Senators from
Delaware, California, and Nebraska.
There will be two vacant seats.
The Utah Legislature adjourned after
16l futile ballots for the Senatorship. This
cuts the Democratic party in the Senate
off from one vote during the forthcoming
session of Congress; that is, according to
precedent already firmly established by
Democratic majority, no appointment by
the Governor to fill the vacancy thus Gre
ated can be recognized. The State has
had its chance regularly to select SEN
ator and has failed to do so.
-Four years ago Delaware bOlted in the
process of choosing n Senator. Yet the
program has been repeated, and for the
next two years Delaware will be repre-
sented by but one Senator.
Hkx
Only two Maori Generals will be ap
pointed at this time out of the five author
lied by the Army reorganization act, IN
view of the decision OF Mr.. Mckinley not
to organize the volunteer force of $1,000
until the Regular Army shall have been
recruited to 65,00O. Gen. T.. S. Otis and
Gen. Shafter, Rripadiers in the Regular
establishment, have been chosen.
49,
Army men here are confident that Gen.
Lawton will prove an excellent assistant
10 Gen. Otis. One Of Lawton's numerous
Indian sobriquets, being literally trans
lated, is "The-man- -who-g up and
fghts-in-the middle e-Of-the night" 1t was
his sunrise dash into Siboney that sent
the Spanish detachment there flying to
La Guasimas, leaving its breakfast on
the fire Tor the American troops TO eat,
and it is more than likely that this early
morning discontinue had something to
do with tho Spaniards being chased out
of their La GuaSimaS intrenchmentS by
the Americans. The Department fully
expects Lawton to spring few like sur
prises on the Filipinos, and is waiting
news of the field campaign with proper
tionate interest.
There is an apparent effort in certain
Army circles to prevent the retention OF
Gen. Wheeler in the Army. Gen. Wheel
er's friends are becoming agitated, it is
said, over the stories which are being
told about him. The chief charges. in
circulation are that Gen. Wheeler fought
the battle of La Guasimas against posi-
tive orders, and that he wanted to retire
from in front of Santiago on the night Of
July 2, the second day of the battle with
the Spaniards. These charges are vigor-
ously denied, and it is claimed by Gen.
Wheeler's friends that they were started
by men who want to prevent his entrance
in many quarters that Mr.. Mckinley will
appoint him a Brigadier General.
4&+
The neighborhood of Fifteenth street
opposite the Treasury and Seventeenth
street near the State Department are
favorite meeting places at noon for Grand
Army men, many Of whom are in the De
partment mentioned in the State,
War, and Navy Building. Here in and
near the lunch-rOUms the veterans talk
over the local and general affairs of the
Order, and much committee work is
planned out, Post entertainments are ar
ranged, and the chances of candidates for
the various GAR. offices canvaSsed in
proper season. Another gathering point for
the veterans is near Seventh and G. streets,
where clerks from the Pension. Patent,
and PoStollice Departments may be seen
daily.
80
We have in the past Spoken disparag
ingly Of the gFOundhOg. We humbly beg
his pardon. 1t was six weeks last Thurs
day since he wisely returned to his hole,
and it has been six weeks Of as unpleas-
ant weather as ever Washington was
afflicted with.
Geo. Webster, who was a seaman on the
Congress- at the time of her fight with the
Meuimac, and lost his arm in the strug-
gle, died at Garfield Hospital in this city
last week. The comrades took charge OF
his body, and had it properly inferred at
Arlington. He is supposed to have rela-
tiyeS in Missouri and Arkansas.