Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1899-03-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
Washington. Feb, %, 1899.


According to statement made by q
member Of the court OF inquiry, which
this week began the taking Of testimony
on the embalmed beef charges, the court
regards itself as sitting as court-martial
to trv General Miles on the charge OF ly-
ing. although without authority to pass
sentence should it find him guilty. No
other construction can be placed upon
this language, used by the member OF the
court referred to: "We look to Gen.
Miles to prove his allegations. We have
no concern as to the witnesses as to that
side Of the inquiry, and it is incumbent
upon Gen. Miles to secure and produce
before us those whom he expects to es'
tablish his case" In other words, the
court believes Gen. Miles guilty, but will
give him a chance to prove otherwise.
Gen. Miles will produce sixtv-odd officers
who reported from the field against the
beef issued including Gov. Teddy" OF
New York, and the proof will be made 90
hot that it is likely to scorch Secretary
Alger and other officials as well as the
beef contractors.
There is some talk Of a compromise on
the army bill, winch is now before the
senate. but it * not coming from demo-
Gratis. Senator Cockrell, who reported
the democratic bill TO the senate, says
that measure will give the administration
temporarily all the troops it can possibly
have anv need for, and that further than
that he and his democratic colleagues are
not inclined to go. 1t is believed by
many that the semi-repudiation OF inn
perialsm made by Mr.. Mckinley in his
Boston speech was intended to help the
Hull army bill in the senate. This may
or may not be true. Democrats IN con.
gress were glad, of course, that Mr.. Nc
Kinley should have disclaimed imperial
intentions, but, believing the saying that
acts count for more than words and hav
ing their wits about them, they fail to
see the point OF the disclaimer, while he
insists upon having at bis command a
large standing army. and refuses to ac-
cept the democratic offer OF a temporary
force large enough for his admitted in.
tentions. The Hull bill provides large
number Of juicy p!ums in the shape Of
commissions for civilians in the regular
army, and the attempt is being made to
get democratic and populist support for
the bill by Offering big chunks Of this
patronage to senators. This week is
likely to determine whether the bill can
be passed or not.
The scheme to make this government
pay private comp my subsidy Of $780,.
600 year for 90 years for the use Of
Pacific cable, was thought to have been
knocked out some time ago, but it is on
deck again as an amendment to the sun.
dry civil bill, proposed by Senator Frye.
1t cannot be knocked out in the senate
on point OF order as the Nicaragua canal
bill y as in the house, nor can the same
tactics be followed in the house when the
bill goes back with senate amendments
That is why the senators who are trying
to get the Nicaragua canal bill through
have had what is practically the Hep
burn bill added to the river and harbor
bill, as an amendment. They have not
undertaken an easy job as it is understood
that Car Reed has declared his inten-
ton to prevent canal legislation, no mat
ter what has to be held up to do so, but
the senators are confident Of getting the
best Of the czar, who is said to oppose
the canal only because he is unwilling
that work should be begun upon it under
the Mckinley administration.
There are few democrats in congress
who are opposed to our paying the $20,-
100000 to Spain which the treaty OF peace
calls for, as most of them recognize it as
treaty obligation which must be paid
After the ruling out on point OF order OF
the Nicaragua canal bill, as an amend
ment to the sundry civil bill, it was only
question OF waiting for the same point
to be raised against the amendment pro-
viding for this appropriation, for it to re-
ceive the same treatment. Two separate
bills have already been introduced max
ing this appropriation, one by Mr.. Can
non and one by Mr.. Gillett. The latter's
bill also contains the McEnery resolution
which the senate adopted last week.
When vote is taken on this appropria-
ton there will not be half dozen demo-
Gratis recorded against it, although the
democrats are all practically opposed to
the permanent retention Of the Philip
pines. The prompt payment OF this
money is question Of national honor,
not of policy.
Senator Tllman got in a good joke on
Senator Lindsay, when he interrupted
the latter's argument in favor of abolish
ing the two years cruise that is now a
portion OF the regular course Of the naval
70 datc nv yopootipo tho o1J t;,oo ,-or-1