davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
THE SPECIAL rxAM1SArros FARCE.

Mr.. Evans is spending every year $780,
600 on special examinations. Under Gen.
Raum and his predecessors, the Special
Examiners were sent into the field to help
claimants complete their claims. That is,
the Examiner acted with judicial impair
tiality. His purpose was TO get at the
actual facts of any case, and if he dis
covered any facts which would help the
claimant, he gave him the benefit of them,
as well as the adverse effect of facts that
were against him.
Mr.. Lochren changed all that. He
made the Special Examiners a corps of
spies to find reasons for refusing or taking
away pensions, and Mr.. Evans has con-
tinued this system and aggravated it, He
has made all hopes of promotion to the
corps Of Special Examiners, or of retaining
the place when once there, rest on servile
sleuthness in scenting pretexts for denying
or dropping pensions. See what sums
have been expended on this disreputable
work by Lochren and Evans:
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
ADVENTURES OF A CoSscRIpr.

We shall begin in the issue of Nov. %
The publication of thrilling story which
will run through several numbers of the
paper, entitled, The Adventures of a
Conscript." The writer was the son of a
loyal family in western North Carolina,
and his narrative deals with his efforts to
escape service in the Confederate army
and his final enlistment and escape some
two years later into Sherman's lines with
So of his comrades. The narrative is
unique, and covers field about which we
have published little before. Our readers
will find this serial an unusual treat and q
contribution to the history of that stormy
period in the mountain country of the
South, which is little understood by the
people of the North.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
as that all. Cantain2"

"Yes, except that in closing my testi-
mony | feel that it is my duty to impress
upon the court that so fragrant case as
this should be made the opportunity for an
example in the interests of discipline in the
whole army. ! have known this prisoner
for some time. and watched him. This is
not the first time that he and the Sergeant
have insulted NE. They are leaders in
that class of uneducated fellows who have
entirely too little respect for officers and
gentlemen. They should be taught a
lesson. This is necessary for the dignity
and effectiveness of gentlemen who bear
commissions, and
81 will ask the witness if this lecture on
military ethics is part of his testimony"
asked the Major.
81 think it is needed" answered the Lieu
tenant tartly.
Let me see, Steigermeyer," said the
Major, adjusting another chew of tobacco
to his mouth, and balancing the knife with
which he had cut it off, judcially in his
fingers, favorite position OF his when, as
a lawyer, he was putting witness through
a cross-examination. How long have
you been with this army Come West
with the Eleventh Corps. didn't you?"
mo; | was left behind on duty. didn't
come for several weeks after"
$50 | thought. You weren't with us at
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
CHARGE 1.-INSULTING, THREAT
ENING AND STRIKING A SUPERIOR

CHARGE INSULTING, THREAT
ENING AND STRIKING A SUPERIOR
OFFICER.
Specification I-That Corp1 Daniel
Elliott, Co. Q, 20Oth Ind. Vol. Inf, did
strike and perform other physical violence
upon Second Lieut.. Adolph Steigermeyer,
of the Second Corps, U. S. Engs, who was
his superior officer, and in the Performance
OF his duty, in violation of the 9th Article
of War, and contrary to the discipline of the
Armies OF the United States. This on the
march of the army from Dalton, Ga, To
Calhoun, Ga, and on the 10th dayof May,
1864.
Specification H.-That said Corp1
Daniel Elliott, Co. Q. 2OOth Ind. Vol. Inf,
did threaten physical violence to the said
Second Lieut.. Adolph Steigermeyer, Second
Corps, L. 5. Eng'r's, his superior officer.
and who was in the performance of his
duty, contrary TO the 9th Article of War.
and the discipline of the Armies of the
United States. This on the march of the
army from Dalton, Ga, TO Calhoun, Ga,
and on the 10th day of May, 1864.
Specification IiI.-Tblt said Corp1
Daniel Elliott. Co. Q, 20OIh Ind. Vol. Inf,
did insult with many opprobrious words,
the said Adolph Steigermeyer. Second
Corps. L. S. Engr's, his superior officer, in
the presence OF many enlisted men. in
violation of the 9Th Article of War and of
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
REPORT OF PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.

The report of the Philippine Commission
is a most conclusive document, and says
the last word necessary to justify ourselves
TO ourselves and to the civilized world.
1t is impossible to understand how, after
reading 1t, any right-minded man can
have the slightest doubt as to our duty and
rights in the archipelago. 1t makes it
clear that whatever civilization and pro-
lection to life and property there were in
the Philippines was wholly dependent upon
the Spanish power. When we broke that
power the responsibility for the same de-
volved upon us as one of the consequences
of our victory There was no time after
Dewey fired the first shot when our flag
could have been withdrawn with honor
To have left the greatly weakened Spanish
garrison would have been to surrender
all the civilization of centuries to destruc-
ton by a mob of rapacious barbarians.
and involved the islands in horrible inter-
necine war. This would have been a
crime against humanity. There is no
such thing as the Filipino Nation. There
are some 80 distinct, jarring, hostile tribes,
with one striving 10 establish despotism
over the rest. The other tribes are eager
TO help suppress the Tagals, and will be so
employed as fast as our officers can become
sufficiently acquainted with them to trust
and manage them. The Tagals have
absolutely no capacity for self-government,
and no education or training in that direc-
ton. They do not know what the phrases
employed by self-governing peoples mean.
The end Of the rebellion is close at hand,
and we shall soon bring about condition
Of peace and prosperity such as the islands
have never before known, when they will
become exceedingly valuable not only to
their people, but to us.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
VALUABLE PIECES OF REAL ESTATE.

| Uncle Sam has had the usual experience
of extensive purchasers of real estate. in
finding great and inexplicable variations
in the price he has had to pay for the vari-
Gus lots he has acquired.
His first investment-in 1SO3-was quite
speculation. Napoleon had to sell Louisi-
ana at sacrifice, in order to concentrate
his business interests, and he threw Ill.,
931 square miles of fertile valleys, timber
lands and prairies on the bargain counter,
which Uncle Sam picked up for s15,OOO,OOO
or roughly little under SIS mile.
His next-in 1S19-was Florida-5o, ,26s
square miles, which he got for ST, 500, 900,
or say Sill square mile. Spain got
great deal more than it was worth to her,
especially since Andrew jackson and the
Georgians We're making Florida an JILL
pleasant Spanish residence.
In 1915 he got 376,17S square miles Of
Texas plains-a mixed lot of fertile prairies
and desert-for SO ,0OO, 900, or nearly S27 a
square mile, showing that American real
estate was advancing.
In 1913 he bought 545,7S3 square miles
of California mountains, deserts, valleys,
etc-a high mixed lot, with much choice
values and some utterly worthless Iem-
nants, for $4,000. 900. or less than $50
square mile and it was very cheap at that.
In 1875 he bought 45,535 square miles
more from Mexico, to straighten out his
lines, and paid S1o,OO0, 900 for it, or about
S22O Il mile This was exorbitant, for the
"Gadsen Purchase has never raised much
but horned toads and Apaches; but man
must pay fancy prices when he wants 10
round out his property.
Alaska in 1S67-577.39O square miles
for 81 200, ,OOO-was his next investment.
This was about s12 a square mile. and was
thought to be even more extravagant than
the Gadsden Purchase. for it then produced
little else than high latitude and low tenn
perature but Uncle Sam has not seen
day since when he would sell back for
double price.
But lie went on then for 80 years without
buying any real estate until he picked up at
a bankrupt sale the Philippines 500
square miles-at $40, 900, 900. or less than
$50 mile. This will prove the most lucra-
tive investment that he ever made, outside
of Louisiana and California and 10 years
from now Americans will be thoroughly
alive TO its enormous value.
OUR greatest difficulty in discussing
pension Legislation is i'll making the present
generation comprehend how much bigger
thing the rebellion was than the Spanish
war, of any war i'll history.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
mEYANS,S TRANSFER {"

Last week the following dispatch ap-
peared in the papers:
| NASHVILLE, TENN, Nov. Quite a
stir was caused in political circles tonight
when Assistant District Attorney Lee
Brock announced that he had received a
| letter from Pension Commissioner III. Clay
Evans in regard to the story that he had
been offered the Governor-Generalship of
Cuba by the Administration, providing he
would resign as Pension Commissioner
I'm the letter Commissioner Evans stated
that he positively refused the offer; that
he was doing his duty, and was not to be
intimidated o. exchanged He stated
further, that if he should. be exchanged
for doing his duty in the Pension Office,
and sent TO Cuba, that he might be eX-
changed there also. The news has caused
a sensation here. Evans is being men
toned in connection with the next guber-
material race"
This bears every internal evidence of
truth. No one can reasonably doubt that
Evans wrote just such letter, and it re-
veals that at the time the Administration
felt that he was a load which it was polite
to get rid of in some way that would not
make much stir. The only improbable
feature is that the delicate and responsible
position of Governor-General should be
offered to man so VIGOROUSLY deficient in
tact and management. There is an ego
tism about the letter, and a readiness to
impute unworthy motives TO everybody
States, which stamps it unmistakably as
Evans'S work. Under President Harrison
such an imputation would have promptly
cost him his official dead.
Evans saw his danger. and came out
promptly in the following interview:
"Some time ago "A telegram was sent out
from Washington TO the effect that | had
been selected as the GOvernor-General of
Cuba, and it was hintel that the offer had
been male by the Administration to get me
ont of the Pension Office. Ny friends in
tennessee, as soon as they read the dis
patch, Wrote me a letter asking if the dis
patch was true, and urging me, If it was,
10 decline the prolfer. | replied Immediate
ly that there had been no such offer made.
nor had the Administration even limited
that my conduct of the Pension Depart
ment was not satisfactory. | can not I'M
derStan1 why this story has been reprinted,
for | assure you there is no foundation for
it. Since have been at the head of affairs
III TIC Pension Bureau it has been my
~ az eiil "
fairs of the Government in accordance
with the law. The most earnest support
has always been given me, both by the
President of the United States and the
Secretary of the Interior, and there is alb
soluteIy no friction in the Department.
OF course. there have been complaints
from beneficiaries under the pension laws,
but it is my Impression there always will
be. | am not seeking any other Office.
You may say, however. in the strongest
language IN at, either directly or indirectly,
there has been no proDosition made TO me
TO relin1uish the helm at the Pension
Office, and this being the case. Of course,
| haven't declined any other Office"
Putting the two together, our readers
will not fail to draw their own conclusions.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

SINCE our last issue the Beers have
scored some remarkable successes, one
being the capture of two British regiments
and a battery of artillery, misfortune that
has not happened to British arms at least
since the end Of the Napoleonic wars. The
Beers have followed this up until they have
the whole British force on the anxiously
defensive, and in urgent need of the heavy
reinforcements which are going forward to
them as fast as steam can drive. When
these arrive the tables viii be promptly
turned, for it is not possible that the small!
force the Beers can put into the field, and
its imperfect organization and supplies, can
Withstand the immense force the British
will lanch against them. The only hope
of the Beers is that the British commander
may not be equal to the occasion.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

AGE and ill-health do not descend alone
upon the veterans. The announcement is
made that f. L. Godkin, who assumed to be
the exponent of the ultra rich and exclusive
class in New York, and who has said more
wantonly vicious things against the vet
Grams than any other newspaper writer in
America, has been compelled to relingush
the editorship of the New York EUening
Post on account of failing health.
IT looks as if the troublesome Samoan
problem is about to be settled by the par
tition of the islands. The United States
will take Tutuila, the smallest of the three
principal islands, but which contains the
fine harbor Of Pago-Pago, to which we have
indefeasible rights. The partition between
Germany and Great Britain is not so easily
arranged. The Australians insist upon
Great Britain retaining a strong position
in Samoa, but the Germans own most of
the plantations in the island of Upolu, on
which Apia is situated, and which has
the only good harbor outside of Pago-Pago.
1t is believed that Great Britain has offered
Germany the Solomon and Gilbert Islands
if she will cede all her rights in Samoa.
Something has to be done. The tripartite
arrangement was simply intolerable.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
NO "LoorING THE TREASURY"


Tt suits Mr.. Evans and his literary bu'
reau to keep up great pretense that the
veterans and their widows are ravenously
eager to loot the Treasury" and riot ir
the hundreds of millions of dollars boarded
there, and that the only thing which pre-,
vents this dire robbery is Mr.. Evans's
superhuman shrewdness and unparal
| leled integrity.
| As we have frequently said before, we
have not the slightest objection TO any
public man trumpeting his own ability and
honesty to any extent that he can impose
upon newspaper space, so long as he does
not attempt to build himself up at some
one else's expense.
But nothing can be more aggravatingly
untrue than this brazen claim. The differ
ence between Evans's policy of niggardly
injustice and one of fair and honest inter
pretation of the pension laws represents in
the aggregate an astonishingly small
sum, instead of the tens of millions which
Evans would make out.
is only 500 year, it will be seen that he
has to deprive an immense number Of
people, poor old men and women, of
their rights in order to save even so much
as s1,OOO,OoO year.
For example, since Mr.. Evans has been
Commissioner he has turned back into the
Treasury of money that Congress gave
him to pay the just claims against the
Government
In 1898. Observation-Disclosures. S3,166,00O
III 1SS9.... l,I46,ooO
Total. S4,912,OOo
Congress certainly had no idea that the
Treasury was being looted" when it freely
and willingly appropriated that money,
and Congress is not noted i,i its liberality
toward public creditors. It's sins are on
the side of grudging parsimony rather
than on that of generosity. Yet it took
the view that at least that much was due
the poor old, long-waiting men and women,
and that they should be paid The sum
'-i''' Evans 'HIiNi JAIN "O'ii nav az
tually put 10000 of them on the roll at
SIS month, and as Mr. Evans reported
that there were probably 65, 900 only original
applications on file from parties who have
not heretofore received any pensions, this
would have, in connection with the years
mortality, virtually cleared up the pension
docket
If this had been done it would have gone
far to satisfy all reasonable expectations
as to this Administration management of
the Pension Bureau.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

IL school-room 10 or u years hence:
Teacher: Dewey. go to blackboard and
Write out that sentence"
Ten small boys start for the blackboard
Teacher: Il mean Dewey Smith"
All but four of the boys resume theil
seats.
The teacher desperately: Dewey Roose
welt Smith is the boy had in mind"
Two Of the boys resume their seats, bu
two approach the board
Teacher, resignedly: well, both of you
write"
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
PERSONAL.

Sparta Post 1S1, Sparta, Ill, and its
auxiliary, W.R.C. So. recently gave u
banquet in homer of Comrade G. X. Car
son, Co. |, 22d H., who is soon to move to
Evans. Colo. Capt. S. B. Dow, on behalf
of the Post, presented Comrade Carson with
a beautiful gold GAR. badge, and the
Corps gave him gold watch-chain. Com
rade Carson served three years in the I'D
H., and afterWard enlisted in HaneoCk'S
Veteran Corrs. He has served two terms
as Commander OF Sparta Post.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

EvANS's literary bureau his discovered
another bold, bad man who tried TO get a
pension of IS month, but was detected
and overwhelmed with confusion byEvans's
94-candle power brilliancy. One trouble
about all this effulgent shredwness in the
Pension Bureau is that it throws everybody
else in Washington into dark electric light
shadows. Nobody but Henry Clay Evans
is saving the Government a cent
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

or enough to put 1000 claims on the roll at
IS a month, and every time a preteXt can be
found for cutting off 500 year from poor
old man or woman he will call upon the
rewspapers to applaud his supernal smart
ness and extraordinary honesty in saving
the TreaSury's money!
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
NO PENSION LESS THAN s1e A MONTH

One certain remedy for many of the evils
OF the present situation is the passage of
a law making no pension less than s12 a
month, and giving that to every man who
has served not less than 80 days, and was
honorably discharged, as matter Of right.
The widows should have the same. This
is reasonable demand, and if the com
rades unite upon it it can be secured.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
Office: sss Pennsylvania Avenue N. W.
MEETING OF THE PENSION COMMITTEE.
ESTABLISHED 1879

1t is now arranged that the Commander
in-Chief and the Special Committee on
Pensions authorized by the National En-
campment, will meet in Washington,
Monday Nov. 13, and make visit to the
President
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

COMMANDER PET JoUBERT. who is
said TO have served an enlistment in
Pennsylvania regiment during the rebel
lion, does credit to his American training.
The capture of two British regiments in
the open field was worthy of Gettysburg,
where he may have learned the trick.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

THE month of October wound up in very
gratifying way to the Treasury. The
receipts for the month were s47 ,533, ,5Ss,
and the expenditures s44 ,O12. 600, making
a surplus for the month of So ,521 ,5SS. For
the same month last year the receipts Were
only s39,630,051, and the expeditures.
So Qn2 600
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

EVEN if the Transvaal is wiped out, Mr.
Kruger will be by no means destitute. He
has capital invested in Germany which
brings him in about S15O,OOO year, and
would probably settle in that country,
supposing things to go wrong with him in
South Africa
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

CONTRARY to expectations, Vice-Presi-
dent Hobart has survived the week, and at
the time of going to press-Tuesday noon
was resting quietly, but growing weaker.
His mind was clear, and he took lively
interest in the elections and the Boer war.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

THE country can well afford TO have
Senators Mason and Pettigrew ashamed
of it. 1t has never been particularly proud
of either of them.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
Grand total. s2,975, 900

That is, nearly $1,000, 900, or enough to
put 10000 claimants on the rolls at So a
month, has been spent in the disgraceful
work of spying around, gathering up neigh
borhood gossip as to whether this old PEN
sioner is able to hoe in his garden, or that
old widow has had lapse from virtue.
This shows Mr.. Evans's absolute in
sincerity. He has appropriated S4OO, 700
for Special Examiners for the current year,
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

THE English are electrifying the world
by serious proposal for railroad from
Alexandria, in Egypt, to Shanghai, on the
fartherest shore of China. This would
more than offset Russias great Trans
Siberian Railroad, and make British in
fluence paramount in Asia.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09
SYNOPSIS.

ST and Shorty return to their regiment,
which they find encamped on the side of
Mission Ridge, near Chattanooga. They
were ordered to bring with them batch of
boyish recruits. whom they succeed in
getting through, after some lively ex-
periences on the road. The recruits are
divided up among the companies-Co Q
receiving seven.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

AGUINALDoi is the only man in the coun-
try who will keep on running just the
same after the election.
The National tribune., 1899-11-09

OUR greatest difficulty in discussing
generation comprehend how much bigger
thing the rebellion was than the Spanish
war, of any war in history
Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-09-02
NAVAL WEDDING.
Lieut.. Chase And Miss Taylor United
In Wedlock.

The marriage of Miss Mary Virginia
Taylor, daughter of Capt. Henry c. Tay-
lor. of the battle ship Indiana, and Lieut..
Valentine Chase, u. 5. N, yesterday, at
Newport, K. l., was witnessed by dis
tinguished gathering. The bride was
dressed simply in white satin and lace.
Her bridesmaids, who were Miss Neville
Taylor. her sister, maid of honor, and
Miss Virginia Evans. of Washington. ID.
c., daughter of Capt. Robley ID. Evans,
u. S. N, and a cousin OF the bride; Miss
Frances Eddy, of Ogdensburg. n. Y;
Miss Mildred Merrick and Mrs. Charles
Marsh. of Washington. ID. c.; Miss En-
lily N. Taylor. OF Poughkeepsie. and Miss
Emily w. Taylor. OF Augusta, Me-, wore
pink liberty satin and picture hats of
black and white tulle. They carried
bouquets OF clematis. A reception at
the home of Capt and Mrs. Taylor fol-
lowed the ceremony. Lieut.. Chase is
welLknown in Annapolis. where he at
tended college for several years.
Lieutenant Victor Blue, U. S. N, who
was an usher at the Chase-Taylor we'd.
ding, will be married on October 18th at
Morristown, N. J. His fiance is Miss
Eleanor Stewart. niece of Capt. Philip
II. Cooper. U. S. N. late superintendent
OF the Naval Academy. a.
Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-09-02
RECRUITS WANTED.
A Recruiting Office Will Be Opened In
This City on Monday.

Lieut.. J. Edward Abbott. recently ap-
pointed a second lieutenant in the Forty
second Volunteer Infantry. and temper
arily assigned to duty in getting recruits
for that regiment. will open recruiting
Office in this city on Monday next for the
purpose Of receiving any able-bodied
men from the ages OF is 10 IS who may
wish to enlist.
When he has finished recruiting Lieut..
Abbott will proceed with his recruits 10
his regiments headquarters At Fort Nj
agara. N. Y. All cost of transportation
from Annapolis 10 Fort Niagara will be
borne by the government. the recruit be
ing at no expense whatever. After the
Forty Regiment has been taught
and drilled in the military tactics until
the members are deemed sufficiently we'll
in them, it will be ordered to San Fran
cisco and probably from there to the
Philippines. All able-bodied men in
Annapolis and Anne Arundel county,
who are in position TO do so. are urged
TO join this regiment and report TO Lieut..
Abbott. who will receive them and give
detailed information if so desired