The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-09-15
Washington Letter.


i Washington d. c., Sept. 10 1899.
President Mckinley returned to
Washington Saturday afternoon, but
left today for Philadelphia, to attend
the annual encampment oi the G. A.
K. He kept so thoroughly in touch
with all important public matters dur
ing his absence that he found only
routine business on his desk when he
returned. He had informal talks with
all the members of the Cabinet, except
Secretary Long, who is not in the
city, and there was regular Cabinet
meeting today. He also heard q ver-
bal report by President ySchurman, of
the Philippine Commission. He an
tlcipates a pleasant time at the en-
campment owing to the large number
OF friends he will meet there.
Commissioners Evans of the Pension
Bureau completed his annual report
before leaving for the G. A. r. encamp-
ment, and copies of the document will
probably be distributed among the
veterans. There is more or less talk
of the probability of an attack being
made upon Commissioner Evans
method OF administering the Pension
bureau, i'll the report Of the G. A. r.
committee, which made an investiga-
ton several months ago, and which
will be submitted to the encampment;
but Mr.. Evans is confident that the
Committees report will show that he
administered the laws properly, and
that if there is any censure, it will be
OF the laws and not of him. The re-
port Of the Commissioner recommends
the repeal Of the law granting arrears
of pensions to the widows of pension
ers; he also recommends that the law
shall be strictly enforced which re-
Equires every pension agent to prepare
and mail TO each pensioner whose pen
fsion is payable at his agency, vouch-
er fifteen days preceding each quart
erly pension day. The report says
that during the present fiscal year, the
arrears OF work will be greatly dimin-
ished and that all claims will be made
practically current. The report also
EXPRESSES satisfaction with the work
accomplished during the year, and
says: "The work is in far better con-
dition than at any time since assum-
ed charge OF the Bureau, and it is be-
lieved that further progress will be at
tanned by the system that has been
instituted in the different DIVISIONS.
No new rules Of evidence have been
introduced, but the work has been ac-
complished under prescribed rules of
many years standing"
i The most talked of event in political
circles, just now, is the buying of the
democratic nomination for Governor
]of Ohio, by Mr.. John r. Mclean,
whose actual residence is in Washing
. ton, but who has large property in
terests in Ohio corporations, and who
is also the owner aud nominal editor
OF the Cincinnati Enquirer. Repub-
licans, including President Mckinley,
>
: do not regard the nomination of Nc
Lean as an important factor in the
gubelnatorial campaign, because they
believe that it has been from the day
q of the nomination of Judge Nash by
the Republican convention of Ohio,
+ only a question OF how large major
lily he would be given-there has never
s been and is not now the slightest
4 doubt of his election. But the Bryan
4 democrats are in almost a state of
panic. They do not trust Mclean.
They believe that he has secured this
nomination as a part of the plot to
!. defeat Bryan for the democratic Presi-
i dental nomination, next year. They
are too badly frightened to talk pub
licly, but among themselves, they are
talking as hard as they can, and the
wires have been kept hot with mes
sages to the Bryan leaders, and to Mr..
sfBryan himself, containing plans to
ifhdad off McLean's ambition. That
Mfr Mclean is mnlti-millionaire
I everybody knows, but why he should
|be willing to spend any portion of his
millions to get the empty honor OF =
democratic nomination for Governor
of Ohio, the Vice Presidency, or even
tile Presidency, is something beyond
tile comprehension of ordinary NOR
I|tafs. But he has already made start
Fin IN lavish expenditures for a very empty
honor, and that is what is worrying
tthe Bryanltes:
s Secretary Root hopes and believes
/ that the situation in Cuba will warrant
the holding Of municipal elections not
later than next May.
The tooth Century, Acety1ine Gas
i Z s<~t,4 41.n ~, % y nest and hest light IN