The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1900-04-28
Washington, ID. e., News.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
Washington. April 23d, 1870

the War Department, which cam
not fail to add to the wave of
public sentiment, daily becoming
higher and stronger that will
sweep the Republican party,
with its record of scandals, out
of power. The particular scan
dal was discovered quite by acci-
dent and it's existence was not
denied by Secretary Root, who is
responsible for its continuance,
although it was originated by AL
ger. It is to speak plainly, the
robbery Of the Cubans, for the
benefit of officers of the U. S.
army. Hints Of extravagant liv-
ing by American officers in Cuba,
and of large sums paid for their
expenses, have been frequent,
but it was not until within the
last 48 hours that it became posi-
lively known that officers in the
U. S. army were in violation Of
law, drawing two salaries, one
from the q. S. and one from Gu
ban revenues. The ground upon
which Secretary Roet justiies this
robbery is worthy of a shyster law
yer but not of q member of the
Ct. S. Cabinet That the money
drawn from the Cuban revenues
by these officers, is net salary
from the U. S., and consequently
their receiving it is not viola
tion of the law prohibiting two
salaries. Mr.. Rect goes even
further than that. He says this
robbery was carefully considered
and endorsed by Mr.. Mckinley
and his entire cabinet before it
was started, and that he intends
to increase the number of, officers
who are allowed to participate
therein. But he won't, unless
prominent Republican Senators
who have expressed surprise and
regret at the scandal, change
their minds. The Senate has
adopted a resolution calling for
all the facts.
Experience doesn't always
teach. Notwithstanding the aw-
full experience of our soldiers in
the war with Spain, thousands of
whom were made sick and unfit for
duty Inv eating the se-ealled canned
rsast beef, the War Depart
n,ent has ordered a big lot of the
stuff sent to the Philippines for
the use of the soldiers over there.
Gen. Miles is as much opposed to
this meat as he was during the
war with Spain, and the War De-
partment acted without consult
ing him.
Representative Livingston, one
Of the most level-headed Demo
Gratis in the House. says the Re-
publican leaders have-determined
to jam the ship-subsidy job
through at this session of Con-
gress. Speaking of this deal,
Mr.. Livingston said II know
that a conference of Republican
leaders was held at which it was
determined to push the Ship
Bounty scheme at all hazards.
| also know that the next day,
Pacific Mail, which may fairly be
considered the barometer of the
scheme, shotup nearly feur points
on the New York stock exchange.
The man who can't plainly dis
cern a chain of cause and effect in
this, is indeed blind. Obviously,
somebody who attended that con-
ference communicated to the men
who control the market for Pa
cife Mail securities. the news that
the Ship Subsidy bill would be
brought forward and rushed
through at this session, under the
party lash. It would not surprise
me if a special rule for its cosid-
Grafton and passage should be
prescribed by the Speakers Com
mittee. Such rule, it may be
confidently expected, will limit
debate almost to the vanishing
point. Indeed, it may be that
81 debate will be cut off on the
biff;fe, the House. I believe they
are waiting for a time when an
unusual number of Democrats are
absent frenl The House, to force
the bill forward for q needed con
sideration. The Republicans are
beund to get this bill through. /
am informed that a large part of
their campaign fund depends up
on its passage. Therefore, it be-
hooyes us Democrats to keep our
eyes peeled for the Ship Subsidy
scheme. Every mothers son of
us ought to stay right here in
Washington until the session
|closes and keep a sharp look cut
fer the Hanna-Payne bill.
It was an Ohio man John
Sherman-whe originated the
phrase which has since become so
widely used ssI am going home
to lock after my fences. Z Mr..
Mckinley, who is in Ohio this
week, said before leaving Wash
ington, that he was gsing to s.look
after repairs to my house, :
which IS d slight deviation from