The evening times., 1899-01-21
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.


mission.-The report of the Alger Relief
Commission has apparently been held up
again. 1t was scheduled to appear this
week; that Is. Vice Chairman DENLY stat
ed that it would be handed to the Presi-
dent this week. He said today, however,
that it would be a week or ten days yet
before the report was finished. He ex-
planned that the delay had been caused
by the embalmed beef scandal. But for
that the Commission would have compiet-
ed its labors several weeks ago. I'VE will
| be glad" said a member of the Commits
sion, when we get this Job off our hands
1t has been a thankless task. We have got
very little but abuse out of the investiga-
tion thus far. but perhaps the future will
deal more gently with us. Time, they say,
corrects good many things
Cost of Mr.. AIger's InvestigatiOn.-
There is some curiosity as to the cost of
the so-called investigation of the War De-
! partment rottenness. When the bills OF
| the relief workers are all audited 1t is
| believed that they will make formidable
| total something in the neighborhood of
| 100000. A gentleman who is in a position
! to speak with some authority on the sub
| ject said today: Il do not see how the
| cost of the investigation can be kept below
| 100000, and perhaps ii will be over that
! sum. No one knows-that is, no one out
| side of the Commission-just what the
| compensation Of the Commissioners will
| be. This matter. / believe, has been left
| open When the Commission organized
! arrangements were made to pay the actual
| living expenses of the Commission, but, of
course, the Commissioners naturally expect
| to receive retainer in addition.
| Il am told that the President asked the
| Cnn1 m fp Themselves
| as to what pay they ought to receive for
| their services. So far as have been able
| to find out the Commissioners have dis
| played some hesitation in tackling this
| subject, perhaps for fear that they would
not put the figure high enough Some of
the Commissioners are quite poor, DR..
Conner and Colonel Sexton, for instance;
and the compensation will mean a great
deal to them. / have heard it said that
the Commissioners had informally hit up
| on $4,000 apiece as proper reward Tor
| their services However, l suppose that
| Congress may have something to say about
| that
Mr. Croker and Free SiIver.-Mr.
Crokers latest interview, in which he ex-
plains to the extent of more than half a
column just how dead an issue free silver
is, did not attract very much attention
among Democratic leaders at the National
Capital today. Mr.. Croker's views upon
this subject were made known some time
ago, SO there was no news in his mani
festo. Senator James X. Jones, chairman
of the Democratic National Committee,
said he would advise Mr.. Croker 10 60
West again and make another attempt TO
get at the real sentiment of the people OF
the country. The man who made the as
| bat fraa silver longer a
live issue only displayed his ignorance OF
the situation.
In Senator Jones judgment it was as
much living issue today as il was in 1895.
1t was true. as Mr.. Croker stated, that
the Democratic platform OF 1900 had not
been written yet, but no sane man could
doubt for a moment that If the Democrat
ic National Convention were to meet to-
day that the platform of 1896 would be
} substantially reaffirmed. There was moth
ing to indicate in Senator Jones judg-
ment, that political conditions would un-
dergo any material change between this
time and the meeting of the Democratic
National Convention next year. One thing
was quite certain, Senator Jones added
and that was that New York would not
, dominate the Democratic National Con
vention in 1900. On many accounts it was
perhaps fortunate that a discussion of The
subject had been started at this time
Forewarned was to be forearmed. Mir
2 Croker had apparently uncovered the
= plans of the gold cure Democrats and the
Democrats of the South and West woulc
make their plans accordingly.
Another Democrat of national promi
t nence, in discussing Mr.. Croker's inter
= view, said: Il am glad to obser tha
2 ! Mr.. Croker says that the Democrats o
. New York and the East will abide by tn
decision OF the Democratic National Goa
vention whatever it may be. He has N
intention of leading bolt. That is for
Y | tunate. think-for Mr.. Croker.
4 Il do not believe. however, that Mr.
T | Croker reflects the sentiments of the grea
mass of Democratic voters in the Empi.
State. I have reason to know that h
I the rank and file of the Democrats ever
S in New York are strongly in favor OF f.e
: silver. Mr. Croker. if | am not mistaken
| will discover this fact before another yea
rolls around. He has stated his position
in manly fashion and we will accept tn
challenge The fight will be carried righ
: ! into Mr.. Croker's own State. Let US Sc
| | whether he can control the Democratic
State convention in New York next year
: Croker and his friends his delegates ma
| not be admitted to the Nationa. Conyen
2 ton. Senator Hills experience at Chicag
f in 1896 will be insignificant to the recep
o tion that Mr. Croker may find await m
him at the Democratic National Conyen
, | tion next year"