The Scranton chronicle., 1900-11-17
our wAsntnoTon LETTER.

Washington Is filling up again rapidly
from the return of government clerks
who have been absent on the stump or
who went home 10 vote for the Repnbli'
can candidates. OF course all these EN-
ploycs, while away telling the people
how to vote, drew full pay from the
government, and were carried without
a murmur on the pay rolls. The cm-
pioyes thus enjoying the lavish bounty
that enabled them To be away from their
desks while they played politics. point
for excuse to Governor Roosevelt OF
New York. who WIS away from his
State for several months, yet Continued
to draw his pay. They argue that II
the Governor OF a State can do those
things, surely a Federal bureau chief
has the same privilege-espeeially
when he is eiectionering Ia the interest
OF the Administration supporting him.
The coming session of Congress will
be in many respects an exciting one.
II will he short one expiring by limi-
tation on March 4 next. but will be
crammed full OF incident Three im.
portant MEASURES will he taken up--the
ship subsidy steal, the army increase
bill, aud the nsw Congressional reap
por, ioument. The first named Is un-
doubtedly one OF the most shameless
raids upon the Treasury attempted
since the bonanza of the salary grab
aud the Credit Mobilier, thirty years
ago. That bill, when enacted, will be a
heavy drain upon the Treasury for years
to como aud will furnish the opportnni-
ty for another gigantic trust to control
shipbuilding and an ocean transporta-
ton. twill for years stand as one OF
the obstacles in the way OF any reduc-
tion OF taxation, aud after il is firmly
established It's repeal will be declared
impossible ou account of impairment
OF vested interests. II is likely that
nothing will stand in the way of the
enactment of the bill at this session.
1t was introduced last winter. but was
allowed to go over on account OF the
election.
The arrant had faith Of the Republican
administration is shown by the fact
that while the votes were being cast an
order was being prepared in the War
Department reyoking all orders for the |
return OF the volunteers from the Phil |
ippines. This, 1t was frankly declared |
was to be issued no matter which side
would win and il has now been issued. |
In other words, II was practically con-
fessed that all the talk about retiring
the volunteers because the war was
over was merely prediction CUFF, in
tended to fool the voters and not to be
carried out. While il is not stated
when the instructions to begin the
transportation OF volunteers home will
be renewed, il is expected that under
present arrangements the entire force
will remain on duty in the Philippines
until February or March. and meantime
i, is the understanding OF War Depart
Inent officials that the coming session
of Congress will adopt some law for
hc increase OF the army. SO that il may
rot be necessary TO return The entire
orce. This must be done this winter I
Is the army will be reduced by existing
aw to abou' 27,ooo, 900 on July next.
Tue theory OF Congress in passing the
aw, was tha, the conquest OF the Phil
ppiue Islands would be completed by
he time it expired. But the strength
nd spirit OF the people OF those islands !
nd their love OF liberty were underes- =
imated. II is now necessary. il their
onquest is to be completed, TO continue !
he army on war footing possibly for I
n indefinite period. Provision has Il
iready been made for the education ii
( a larger number OF officers at West b,
'cint, thus indicating that the Ad- Y,
bas no expectation OF ever 81
the army to $4,000, ,ooc, which ly
as The total before he Spanish war. III