New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-25
WILSON'S ETCETERAS."
INTERESTING ITEMS IN THE REEF IN
vEsTIGATIoN ACCOUNTS.
GOVERNMENT PAID FOR THE WREATH 41r
LAID OK COLONEL sExToNs BIER
ALSO FOR AN 5000 SPECIAL.
TRAIN-A HUGE PRINT
ING BILL

TRAIN-A HUGE PRINT
ING BILL
Washington, April "a CSpeciaD while the
Eagan episode was uppermost in peoples minds
The Tribune often pointed out the dangerous
extent 10 which the Executive IS always moro
or less at the mercy Of the military bureaucrats
There has recently come TO light further ex
ample az II which ought not to pass unnotfced
I receives. moreover. peculiar emphasis bv the
Presidents report TO the Senate that he did nor
authorize the payment Of $4,000 COMPENSATION
each 70 Admiral Dewey and General Otis as
Philippine Commissioners because he doubted
i such payment, IN addition 10 their salaries
as officers Of the Government. would have hean
legal
One OF the items IN the expense account Of the
Commission TO investigate the beef scandal Ias+
year shows thar General Wilson Chief Of En-
gineers. received more than s. OO0 compensation
as member Of that commission besides draw
ing SO day for expenses and other allowances
in connection sne-ewith. # there was doubt
about the cases Of Dewey and Otis. ought there
rot 70 have been precisely the same doubt about
The compensation OF General Wilson? The
ava-ice and rapactty Of those in the life tenure
employ OF the Government disclosed in these
beef expenditures are amazing
II answer TO q Senate resolution. the Beef
Commissions expenditures are set out or rather
one may say hidden away in a little panphIet
OF eight pages, Senate Document No 90 bv the
Auditor for the Treasury Department under
the misleading title OF National Defence
Treasury and further ambiguousIy disguised
under the descriptive and discursive introduc-
Tory OF Schedules showing tented statement
OF expenditures from aIIotulents made TO the
Treasury Department from appropriations made
by act OF Congress" etc. Allotment S1O5-
IA "a covers the cost Of the beef investtga ton
Il IS worth studying. Perhaps that was the
purpose for which the Senate required il. Even
2 cursory glance at the figures leaves 4 strong
conviction that it would never have been volun-
tarily given OUT by the War Department
Now. sanCwiched among a myriad Of appro-
priaton items aggregating upward Of 5000 OnO-
00 The palrry sum OF sos IA - does not strike
the casual observer as an exorbitant one In
these days, when anything under billion DOL
lar Congress" is a dream OF the past. q mere
oaGatelle Ike that expended fer the ostensible
purpose OF Urnasking frauds upon the Gov
eminent would ordinarily pass unnoticed into
the limbo Of the bureau document crypts. II
IS indeed surprising that this bill Of particulars
has excited no comment, notwithstanding the
grave significance Of the Senate's request for its
production. Perhaps consideration for the good
name and dignity Of the country has con-
strained Official silence But there is no sound
reason why this silence should be continued
HIGH PRICED PRINTING.
i is not the aggregate sum OF the "aIlot-
ne2t' which co-lpels attention but the peculiar
nature Of some Of the items which enter into II.
The Commission apparently had money 70 throw
a. the birds The lump sum Of SIS. s31 35 was
expended for printing only fifty copies Of the
Commissions report, e document which il is
notorious was subsequently suppressed for some
unknown purpose. but probably because its
broadcast dissemination was held by somebody
high in authority 10 be incompatible with the
public interest" Doubtless however the re-
port would furnish some very interesting matter
for the public press could il be put into avail
able shape.
Another curious expenditure, perhaps not
morally improper. though clearly without var
rant Of law, was the payment Of S2T5 30 for the
funeral expenses Of Colonel James \. Sexton.
member OF the Commission who died in the
course OF its existence. Among the items Of
this funeral account is one Of SOS for expenses
Of Mrs, Sexton and son; another reimbursfng
General John N. Wilson SO for wreath Of
flowers for funeral Of Colonel Sexton; another
for SIT for transportation Of the body Of Colo
neI Sexton" This last leads To the conclusion
that 500 30 did not cover The whole cost TO the
Government Of Colonel Sections funeral be-
cause another item in the same settlement in
cludes travelling expenses for the others
travel probably incurred n the same behalf
When Nj Cleveiands accomplished Master
of Ceremonies al the Executive Mansion
thoughtfuIIy laid a wreath Of flowers upon Colo
Tel Sexton's bier, perhaps the other august Com
rlissioners. mostly unfamiliar with the lavish
manner n which The Government guided By
experienced hands. does the 'grandsrand act"
We're chagrined ny their colleagues quicker con-
ception q the official and incidental require
uen1s Of such e solemn occasion. But what
ever his fearful and sacTificiaI impulses in the
presence Of the dead, once the funeral was over
Treasury Settlement No. Is. 463'' conclusively
proves that sober second thought quickly came
the rescue and that subsequently General
Wilson concluded 70 put i IN the bill" With
the Treasury door yawnirg wide open 70 this
Commission rapacity he doubtless felt that
Il would be absurd 70 sacrifice 10 mere sentiment
even SO rrtfing q sum as SO. VIII MS col
leagues be surprised 70 notice this charge for
the wreath among its expenses?
FUNERAL EXPENSES
This funeral expense account leads TO some
serious reflections. Is the National Treasury
henceforth 70 be burdened with the burial Of all
is employees? Heretofore they have seemingly
been glad 10 receive its pay, maintain them
selves while living and provide for their own in
ternent when dead. Why should a member Of
This Commission have been buried at the public
charger He was drawing greater compensation
and allowances than any man IN the Govern
naenr except the President L was q most
vicious precedent 70 establish or follow.
The next feature is charge Of 1888 - for
Pullman cars etc" and the still more ex-
trzordtnary one OF 81 400 for a special train
As the TWO are bracketed together it is fair 10
..zrr hes