Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-05-04
rom our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, April q, 1900


WASHINGTON, April 81, 1900.
There is little doubt of the liability
of Mr.. Mckinley and Secretary Root
to impeachment for Their open VIOLA
ton of law in paying two salaries to
favored army officers in Cuba, and
they would be likely to get it if Con-
gress had a Democratic majority.
Secretary Roots answer to the Senate
resolution asking for information is q
pettiioggying document from start to
finish. 1t tells only part of the
truth, which is often much worse
than telling lie, but even then it
contains practical acknowledgement
OF violation of law by the executive
branch Of the government, in the CT
tation of acts of Congress in 1919
and 1858 authorizing extra compensa-
ton for army officers who performed
civil duties in Mexico and California
This Congress would have done the
same for officers in Cuba, had the ne
cessity for such action been brought
to its attention by the War Depart
ment; but that does not excuse the
violation Of law on the part OF the
President and the Secretary of War
In citing acts of Congress as prece.
dent Mr.. Root shows that he knows
that Congress alone has the authority
which the executive branch of the
government has in this case usurped.
And that isn't the only ugly thing
about Mr.. Roots answer. His argu-
ment that the regular allowance of an
does not constitute second salary for
the officers named, il farcical, but his
failure to name all the officers who
are known to have had an allow
ance" is worse. 1t is too much To ex-
pect anything approaching a thorough
investigation of War Department ex-
penditures in Cuba, from a Republi-
can Congress, but steps will be taken
by Others to get at the truth aud
make it known TO the people of the
country.
Mr.. Mckinley is unquesiionably
the man who engineered the plans
which resulted in the refusal of the
Senate by a vote of 33 to 81 to seat
Mr.. Quay. Mr.. Mckinley has had it
in for Quay for just about four years
and has been patiently awaiting a
chance to get even. In order TO
throw Quay and his friends of the
scent, Boss Hanna allowed himself to
he counted as q Quay man until the
day OF the vote, when it was an
nounced that he was paired against
Quay. 1t would be interesting to
know how Mr.. Mckinley induced
Senators Aldrich and Beveridge, both
Quay men, to absent themselves with.
out pairs. Their votes would have
seated Quay. Mr.. Mckinley may,
however, find his triumph a dearly
bought one, as Mat Quay is about as
relentless an enemy rs any politician
could possibly have following his trail
awaiting an opportunity to strike.
Admiral Dewey will not make .
statement of his attitude toward inn
pOrtant public questions. unless he
changes his mind, but will ask the
Kansas City convention to nominate
him for President solely on his record.
That shows how guileless, in politi-
Cal way, the dear old boy is. Think
Of the absurdity of great party NOM
mating man for President without
knowing how he stood upon a single
one OF the great issues upon which
the campaign will be fought. Only a
man like Dewey could think such a
thing possible. Notwithstanding the
public declaration of almost every
prominent Democrat in the country
that Col. Bryan's nomination WAS a
certainty, and the failure of q single
Democratic State leader to advocate
the nomination of Dewey, the Admi-
raj still believes that he will be nomi-
mated.
A hearing was granted by the select
committee of the House which has
charge of the bill to a delegation in
favor of the bill appropristing SIS ,OOO.-
600 towards the holding of q Worlds
Fair at st. Louis in 1903 to celebrate
the centennial of the Louisiana Pur-
chase. The delegation included Gov
ernOrs of the States within the Louis
lana Purchase and number OF prom
inent citizens Of St. Louis.
Ex-Representative Lewis, of Wash
ington, sized up the political situation
out his way thusly: "Col. Bryan will
receive the unanimous vote OF the del
egstion for the State of Washington,
at Kansas City, and l am confident
he will get the electoral votes Of the
State. My belief that he will carry
the State, in spite of the existing
strong sentiment for expansion, is
based on the stronger sentiment in
opposition to trusts and the faith the