The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-02-09
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

mlnistration managers and frightened
the War Investigating Commission,
by again charging that embalmed
beef was issued to our soldiers. Sec
retary Alger would like to have Miles
court martialed, but he is afraid TO do
SO, even if Mr.. Mckinley would con-
sent, because he knows that would
give Miles an opportunity to prove
his charge, and that is just what Miles
wants. The positive assertion of
Miles that he has abundant proof
that the beef was embalmed has
greatly disturbed the War Investigat-
ing Commission, which had about
completed its report, declaring that
no embalmed beef was furnished the
army. 1t is now little bit afraid to
make its report SO strong in favor of
the beef contractors. This thing
isn't over by jugfull.
1t is now believed that sufficient
number of Senators, who were in
clined to vote against the treaty, will
content themselves with the adoption
of the resolution declaring that the
treaty does not commit us to reten-
tion of the Philippines to-day.
Nobody had any cause to be sur
prised when the bill authorizing the
increase of the regular army to Ioo,-
900 men, was passed by the House
by vote of I6S to Ia5. Four Dem.
'ocrats and one Popullst voted for the
bill, and six Republicans voted against
it. The humbuggery of the amend
ment giving the President authority,
in his discretion, to reduce the army
to $4,000 men, was fully exposed by
the Democrats before the bill was
jammed through under orders from
the White House. 1t is Mr.. McKin-
ley who is clamoring for a standing
army of 100, 900; consequently no.
body will expect him to voluntarily
make the number smaller. Just be-
fore the bill was passed a shrewd
move was made to add to its strength
in the Senate, by the adoption of an
amendment for the adjustment OF the
army canteen. For several years
the temperance and reform organiza-
tlons of the country have been asking
Congress 10 do away with the "can
teen," but their requests have been
ignored until now, when their inhu-
ence is needed to get the Senate to
agree TO standing army Of 100, 900
men. The Republican leaders are as
slick as they make them, when it
comes to manipulating legislation.
The Hull bill for the perpetuation
of the gold standard, the retiremen,
of the greenbacks, and other purposes,
has been favorably reported to the
House from the Coinage Committee,
under pressure from the gold stand
ard men who have been demanding
financial legislation, but easy as il
ought to be for the Republicans tc
put the bill through the House, it is
very doubtful whether they can do it
~.
Representative Handy, of Della
ware, has filed the minority commit
tee report against the Hanna-Paynt
shipping bill, and it is a singer
Words are not missed, but the bount
les provided for by the bill are namet
tor just what they are, personal grabs
into the peoples money. Or the
cost. the report says: "By a careful
and conservative estimate we fine
that the government will be obligated
by the contracts likely to be entered
into during the first twelve months
under this bill to pay bounties
amounting to more than $I65,ooo,
ooo," Its concluding words are
"This bin is the offspring of mere
bounty beggars AMI should be repudi
ated by Representatives of both po
litical parties. 1t is vicious in prlncl
pie. 1t is not necessary for the re
habitaton of our merchant marine tC
give hundreds of millions of the peo
ple's tax money. The bill is wholly
unjustihable."
When the Ambassador of foreigl
country allows himself to be inter
viewed for publication, it is general.
to help the government of the coun
500 Reward 500