The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-04-25
Republican RottenneSs Ex-
posed.

Washington. April % Another
ugly scandal has cropped up under
the rule Of the war department,
which csnnot fail to add to the wave
of public sentiment, daily becoming
higher and stronger. that will sweep
the republican party. with it's record
of scandals, ont of power This
particular scandal was uncovered
quite by accident and it's existence
was not denied by Secretary Root,
who is responsible for it's continu
ance. although it was originated by
Alger 1t is to speak plainly, the
robbery Of the Cubans for the benefit
OF oficers of the United States army
Hints of extravagsnt living by Amer.
icsn 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 be-
came positively known that officers
10 the United States army were. in
direct violation of law. drawing two
salaries, one from tho United States
and one from the Cuban revenues
The ground upon which Secretary
Root justifies this robbery is worthy
of q shyster lawyer but mot of q
member OF the United States cabi.
net-that the money drawn from the
Cuban revenues by these officers is
not salary from the United States.
aud consequently their receiving it
is not violation of the law prohib.
iting two salaries. Mr. Root goes
even further than that. He ssys this
robbery was carefully considered and
endorsed by Mr. McK inley and bis
entire cabinet before it was started,
and that be 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 ct the scandal change their
minds. The senate has adopted a
resolution calling for all the facts.
Experience doesn't always teach
Notwithstanding the awful experi.
ence Of our soldiers in tho war with
Spain. thousands of whom were
made sick and unfit for duty by ca.
ing the 80 called canned roast beef,
tho war department has ordered a
Dig lot OF the stuff sent to the Philip
pines for the use of our soldiers over
there Gen Miles is az much . ,.
posed TO this meat a. he was during
the war with Spain, aud The war de
partment acted without consulting
bin,
Representative Livingston, one OF
the most level headed democrats 10
the house, ssys the republican lead
ers have determined to jam The ship
subsidy job through at this session
OF congress Speaking of this deaf,
Mr Livingston said 81 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, shot up nearly four points
on the New York stock exchange.
The man who can't plainly discern a
chain OF cause and effect in this is
indeed blind Obviously. somebody
who attended that conference com
municated to the men who control
the market for Pacific Mail securities,
the news that the ship subsidy bill
would be brought forward and rush. .
ed through at this session under the
party lash 1t would not surprise me
if q special rule for it's consideration
aud passage should be prescribed by
the spesker's committee. Such q
rule. it may be confidently expected.
will limit debate almost to the van.
ishing point Indeed. it may be that
all debate will be cut off on the blu
in the house l believe they are
waiting for time when an unusual
number Of democrats are absent from
the house to force the bill forward
for needed consideration. The re
publicans are bound to get this bill
through am informed that O large
part Of their campaign fund depends
upon its passage Therefore, it be.
hooves us democrats to keep our
eyes peeled for the ship subsidy
scheme Every mothers son of us
ought to stay right here in Washing.
ton until the session closes and keep
a sharp lookout for the Hanna Payne
bill
1t was an Ohio man-John Sher.
man-who originated the phrase
which has siuce become so wide by
used "Im going home to look
after my fences " Mr. Mckinley,
who ia in Ohio this week. said be.
fore leaving Washington that he was